Think Tank
Full course description
Students will form a ‘think tank’ and write and present an extensive and elaborate (policy) recommendation for an external client, i.e. a company or organization. The project coordinators will offer a topic in advance. A creative and critical analysis of the problem at hand will lead to the application of knowledge and skills acquired at UCM through previous course work, and new insights developed during the project.
The first week will focus on a problem analysis and an analysis of the knowledge and expertise of the members of the think tank. The second week will focus on doing research. The third week will deal with discussing and formulating solutions. During the final week students will present their report to their client.
Besides having meetings with their fellow students and a tutor, the group might meet with guest experts (either invited by the coordinators or by the students themselves) and undertake self-organized field trips and external visits in order to obtain the required information.
Note that students will receive an overview of the clients and assignments approximately one month before the start of the project. They are requested to indicate their preference by means of ranking. Based on that, students will be assigned to groups and tutors and scheduled accordingly.
Course objectives
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Let students work together and set up a problem analysis based on the assignment given by an external client, i.e. to develop skills concerning critical analysis, including the analysis of a problem, conceptualizing a problem as a case study (the ability to see the particular problem within a wider context), and to generate new knowledge relevant to the case at hand (Ernest Boyer’s scholarship of ‘discovery’ and ‘integration’)
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Let students write a report based on an assignment that was given to them, i.e. skills related to formulating finding and recommendations in a comprehensive yet concise manner (Boyer’s scholarship of ‘application’ and ‘teaching’)
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Let students present their report to the client’s representative and a group of experts (Boyer’s scholarship of ‘teaching’).
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Let students work together and do research based on the assignment that was given to them, i.e. to develop skills concerning organization of work, and collaboration in a team (not specifically related to Boyer, yet instrumental towards all four aspects at the level of collaborative learning).
Prerequisites
The following modules are considered highly relevant in preparation of the project and at least two modules from the following list are required: SKI2049 Argumentation I; SKI3002 Argumentation II; SKI2084 Writing in an Academic Context; SKI2048 Introduction to Discourse Analysis; Ethnography and Qualitative Interviewing (SKI2085, SKI3052, and PRO3009); SSC2053 Public Health Policymaking; SSC2061 Statistics I; SSC3018 Statistics II; COR1005/SCI1001/SCI2043 Theory Construction and Modelling Techniques; SSC3011 Public Policy Evaluation; SSC3056 Innovation Systems, Policy and Sustainability Transitions; UGR3001 MaRBLE; UGR3002 The Documentary; UGR3003 Applied Research & Internship Project.
The coordinators would like to emphasize that 1) the project and the nature of the assignment require some experience in academia. It is therefore recommended for students in their fourth semester or later, 2) the project is time-consuming and has a high workload that requires high motivation. Students should have a broad interest in e.g. policy development and research and analysis. Due to the specific nature of the project and the fact that group work is an essential element, students should take into account that they need to be available during entire weekdays throughout the project.
Participating in Think Tank as part of the regular workload at UCM is doable but demanding. Therefore, having a higher workload due to e.g. additional or parallel projects is not allowed.
Note that this is a project of 7.5 ECTS and is considered the equivalent of one regular 3000 level skills training and one regular 3000 level project. It runs over one regular course period and one project period.
Recommended reading
- There is no general literature or course books that students need to buy or possess. Students will choose, read and use literature that is specifically related to their topic.
- E-reader.