Study Guide

Objective

The main aim of this course is to strengthen the capabilities of future social professionals to analyze and intervene in situations that involve urban tensions and complexities, as well as to create opportunities for inclusion and participation. More concretely, the module has the following learning objectives:

Acquire knowledge of:
- Human needs, human rights and social justice
- Theories on identity and diversity
- Social work approaches to urban complexities

Acquire skills to:
- Use participatory methods in working with individuals and/or groups
- Be creative in finding arenas of participation in communities
- Cooperate in international teams

Develop reflections on:
- Inclusion, exclusion, power (im)balances, opportunities and challenges
- The personal learning process

Content

- Urban complexities and opportunities
- How to “read the city”
- Human rights and social justice
- Intersectionality
- Participatory methods

Materials

Course lectures.
Supplementary material:

Mitchell-Smith, Zinnia (2021). Urban Complexity. https://deb.tuas.fi/urban/urban-complexity-video/

Schrooten, M., Withaeckx, S., Geldof, D., Lavent, M. (2016). Transmigration: Social work in a world of superdiversity. Acco. Chapter 1: Transnational living in a superdiverse society.
A link to the chapter 1: https://deb.tuas.fi/urban/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Schrooten-et-al-transnational-living-in-a-superdiverse-society.pdf.

Teaching methods

Online lectures.
Group discussions, reflection in the international teams.
Group work, locally and internationally.

Exam schedules

-

International connections

Practice based, experience-based learning.

Completion alternatives

For the Bachelor of Social Services students of Turku University of Applied Sciences, the course is suitable as a substitute for either the Cultural Diversity and Supporting Immigrant Integration or Principles of Social Work with Adults.

Student workload

- small group assignments (local groups present their city at the 2. online meeting; international groups present their learning outcomes in the intensive week).
- in relation to assessment, reporting practices may vary. TuAS students write a learning diary, where they describe their reflextions and what they learned during the course.

Content scheduling

The course is an international BIP (Blended Intensive Program), which includes both online learning (3 online meetings) and an intensive week (5.5.-9.5.24) in Turku. At TuAS, 10-12 socionom students can take the course. In addition, students from the following universities of applied sciences (5-6 each) will participate: HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, Odise University of Applied Sciences (Bryssels) and Evangelische Hochschule Freiburg.

For the Bachelor of Social Services students of Turku University of Applied Sciences, the course is suitable as a substitute for either the Cultural Diversity and Supporting Immigrant Integration or Principles of Social Work with Adults. After completing the course, make a transfer application(see Messi) and send it to Olli Toivonen.

Turku group meets and starts the course 25.2.25 9.30-10.30 (classroom/ Teams).

Online meetings of the course (in English):
- 25.2.25 11-13 (Central European Time 10-12)
Welcome to the course. Introduction (Sirppa Kinos)
Presentation of the participants.
Lecture: Human rights (Jeroen Knevel).
Group discussion.

- 25.3.25 11-13 (Central European Time 10-12)
Students present their city (fan facts included!)
Lecture: Urban Complexity (Dirk Oesselmann)
Group discussion.

22.4.25 11-13 (Central European Time 10-12)
Lecture: How to read the city? (Nele Gulinck)
Group discussion.
Preparations for the intensive week in Turku (Sirppa Kinos).

Intensive week programme (in English):
Monday 5.5.25
13.30-15 Turku tour (by local students)
15-16.30 Campus tour (by local students and teachers)
18.00- Welcoming dinner

Tuesday 6.5.25
9.30-11, 11-12.30 Introduction to the topic and the program of the week /Sirppa Kinos & co.
Nadezda Broshuis: Intersectionality workshop
12.30-13.30 Lunch
13.30-15 Challenges and opportunities of urban diversities – sharing practical experiences.
15-16.30 Closure of the day.

Wednesday 7.5.25
9.30-11 Simon Sohre: Action research on urban neighborhoods (challenges and opportunities)
11-12.30 Challenges and opportunities of urban diversities – sharing practical experiences.
12.30-13.30 Lunch
13.30- Study Visit(s)
18.00 Evening program (sauna opportunity)

Thursday 8.5.25
9.30-12.30 Urban Diversities: What is futuring?
Futuring workshop (all together)
12.30-13.30 Lunch
13.30-15 International groups prepare their presentations (learning outcomes of the course).

Friday 9.5.25
9.30-11.00 International groups (5) present their learning outcomes.
11-12.30 Closure of the week.
12.30-13.30 Lunch

Further information

Communication with TuAS teachers by e-mail.

Evaluation scale

H-5

Assessment methods and criteria

Assessment practices in the course are flexible. TuAS students write a learning diary, where they describe their reflections and learning process during the course (evaluated 1-5/to be completed).

Assessment criteria, fail (0)

The students does not understands the basic concepts of urban diversities and complexities.
The students has not participated actively in the course activities.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

The students knows some basic concepts of urban diversities and complexities.
The students has mainly participated actively in the course program.

Assessment criteria, good (3-4)

The student understands the basic concepts and is able to describe urban diversities and complexities.
The student has actively participated in the course program.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The student understands the basic concepts and is able to analyze urban diversities and complexities from different perspectives. The student has actively participated in the course program.