YES 05: Academic Professional

Course goals

Please note:
Tests and assignments are in English, unless the course manual explicitly states that a test or assignment may be taken in Dutch.

Ethics

Scientific integrity
1.After completing the Academic Professional yearlong course, students will have knowledge and understanding of the current ethical norms that apply when designing, carrying out and evaluating scientific research and will have understanding of the ethical dilemmas encountered in the social sciences in general and in the discipline of Youth, Education and Society in particular.
2. Students will also be able to critically reflect in ethical terms on their own discipline and on their professional/academic actions.

Professional integrity
3. After completing the yearlong course, students will have gained insight into, and be able to reflect on, the development of their professional identity regarding ethical dilemmas which they might encounter in their practice as behavioural scientists. They will be able draw conclusions as to which competencies they need to acquire (lifelong learning).

Job market orientation
4. After completing the Academic Professional yearlong course, students will have developed a clear view and pro-active attitude with regard to the possibilities the job market has to offer to them. They will be able to draw conclusions as to which competencies they need to acquire and/or develop.
5. Students will gain experience with applying for jobs, both orally and in writing.

Professional development
6. Students will be able to adequately describe a selection of scientific literature, completed analyses and resulting visions and viewpoints for one of the professional fields in writing in reflection dossier assignments, and be able to critically reflect on these with regard to their professional profile.
 
Relation learning goals and assignments
During the course, students will be asked to write reflection dossiers assignments (100% of the total grade; goal 1 till goal 6).

Content

The Academic Professional year-long course integrates the various course components in the Youth, Education, and Society Master’s curriculum. The underlying aim of this is to shape students into academic professionals – critical thinkers who can move smoothly between theory and practice and apply the latest knowledge and basic skills to identify, evaluate and resolve problems in social contexts. The professional field is actively involved in shaping this programme. Students can apply the knowledge, attitudes and skills they learn through various types of learning activities in assignments relating to the professional field of their choice.

Ethics and job market orientation are essential aspects of the Academic Professional course.

Ethics (1 EC, 28 hours) covers both academic and professional integrity and focuses on critically examining professionals' ethical behaviour in research and educational practices; critically assessing and discussing academic sources; developing academic curiosity; collaborating with stakeholders and taking account of their interests; sharing knowledge; maintaining professional networks; taking part in peer reviews; dealing with conflicting interests of organisations; exhibiting academic integrity as laid down in the  Netherlands Code of Conduct for  Research |ntegrity 2018; gaining an understanding of and being able to reflect on the development of your own professional identity; and being able to realise this by developing your own competencies as relevant to the needs of the job market. The faculty offers a course on academic integrity and ethics, comprising a lectures programme. The department offers Masterclasses correspond closely to topical debats on relevant subjects and policy areas in the field of Developmental Aid, Youth Care and Education. The programme invites experts (Youth, Education and Society lecturers, internship supervisors, alumni and/or specialists) from the professional field to share their practical experience with students – a glimpse of the work of an expert in the field and encourage students to think about professional integrity and  talk about topical and ethical issues / cases from the expert's professional field.

Job market orientation (1.5 EC, 42 hours) concentrates primarily on your professional identity, forming a view on who you are as a professional and being able to articulate this, orally or in writing, and taking your first active steps onto the job market. Students also explore the Association of Educationalists in the Netherlands [NVO, 2017] basic educationalist professional profile, as well as their own affinity with it and their motivation for pursuing it. Lectures and scheduled meetings are, in principle, compulsory for all Youth, Education and Society students, but there is room for individual choices in the job market orientation component (eight hours). Examples of these options include Youth, Education and Society excursions, visits to a research or educational conference, or a lecture.

You will complete the year-long course with interim individual and group reflection dossier assignments (1.0 EC, 28 hours), primarily dedicated to reflecting on your own professional development with regard to your study activities, including a reflection on the relevance and applicability of your internship, thesis and future professional profile. The reflection dossier assignments will be controlled (on best efforts obligation) by the course coordinator.

Juveniles and Law offers a concise introduction to some of the most relevant and most typical aspects of children and the law in the Netherlands. You will acquire knowledge and understanding of the legal aspects of working with children, youth, and their parents or guardians. This part of Academic Professional has a separate code and exam. For Juveniles and law, see the relevant course description (202200101).