Cultural diversity: policy, care and education in multicultural societies

Course goals

At the end of the course students can

1. relate models and theories of culture, migration, and identity to issues of childrearing, parenting, education, and child development in the context of multi-cultural societies
2. explain models and theories of culture, migration, and identity in the context of multi-cultural societies
3. demonstrate knowledge and insight of how issues of cultural diversity are relevant for professional fields, such as clinical youth care, education, or youth policy
4. carry out a qualitative study and report about this according to APA standards
5. discuss issues of childrearing, parenting, education, and child development in the context of multi-cultural societies in a respectful and culturally sensitive manner

Learning goals 1, 2, 3 and 5 will be assessed by a written exam, based on the lectures and required readings. Learning goals 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 will be assessed by grading the students’ paper.

 

Content

In this course students learn to recognize, understand and analyze the cultural nature of settings of childrearing and education relevant to multicultural societies. They learn to deal with different theoretical perspectives on cultural diversity, related to issues of equity and migration more broadly, as well as to policy issues in these areas. The course will teach students to apply this knowledge in a number of relevant professional fields such as clinical work, parenting support programs, education, etc. The students will encounter perspectives of parents, children, and youth as well as with the perspectives of professionals who need to find a way to tackle the issues and dilemma’s that cultural diversity presents them with.

The literature and practice-based assignment will allow students to gain and apply knowledge of professional contexts in the Dutch society and at the same time, through a comparative perspective, learn about international contexts.