3 ECTS credits
84 h study time
Offer 2 with catalog number 1020030CNW for working students in the 1st and 2nd semester at a (C) Bachelor - specialised level.
‘Reason and Engage’ is an interdisciplinary course that puts into practice the VUB’s vision on society and education. Evidence-based education, free research, co-creation, sustainability and civic engagement are the VUB’s core values. Based on these pillars, ‘Reason and Engage’ wants to stimulate critical reflection on some of the most urgent and challenging issues of our times. The course focuses on one overarching and thought-provoking topic each year. |
‘Reason and Engage’ is based on the principle of community engaged research & learning (CERL). Students work in a multidisciplinary team on a project. The project describes a societal challenge in line with the overall theme. The annual theme is discussed from various disciplines.
Students are provided with up-to-date academic information through the public activities along which the course is built: a series of cross disciplinary lectures, debates and workshops, in which academics, researchers, professionals and active citizens elaborate on the topic from a specific perspective and/or academic domain. These activities take place on diverse locations in Brussels and are open to the general public.
Seminars take place in between the public activities. Students are supported by the student counselors for the research project, in particular the processing of information provided and collected.
‘Reason and Engage’ closes with an event where final findings and recommendations are presented to a broad public (the education team, non-profit organizations and peers).
The course ‘Reason and Engage’ extends over the entire academic year. All contact moments take place on Tuesdays from 18h till 20h. Students’ presence is required, absences are noted.
The concrete planning is subject to the dates of the public events. Timing of the public events (lectures and workshops) might change in order to meet the availability of the invitees. A more detailed and yearly adapted content description (speakers, themes, locations, etc.) is made available on Canvas.
Course and contact moments (lectures and workshops) will be organized in real life on campus as much as possible. If circumstances (exceptional measures as a result of Covid-19) do not allow real life meetings on campus, online alternatives (synchronous and asynchronous) will be provided. |
The language of instruction is Dutch. Invitation of English lecturers is possible.
Academic learning goals - The students distinguish, know and respect different academic perspectives concerning the overarching theme - The students reflect critically on the arguments presented in the lectures, debates and scientific literature concerning the topics discussed - The students can formulate their ideas and opinions with respect to the topics discussed - The students can collect scientific arguments to strengthen their opinion - The students can cooperate in an interdisciplinary group
Civic learning goals - The students are able to understand a societal challenge from a transdisciplinary perspective.
Personal learning goals - The students relate the acquired knowledge to their own study-expertise and -environment |
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Other Exam determines 100% of the final mark.
Within the Other Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
The evaluation procedure for ‘Reason and Engage’ follows the pass/fail-principle. The evaluation implies both process and product evaluation. Process evaluation concerns the preparation on and individual contributions to lectures, group work, attendance and active participation during counseling. Product evaluation concerns the quality of tasks fulfilled and handed in.
The student counselors use an evaluation sheet. The evaluations are combined in a global rating: pass or fail. There are thus no numerical scores. The evaluation of ‘Reason and Engage’ does not influence grading of the student concerned. There is no re-examination for ‘Reason and Engage’. If it becomes clear from the mid-term peer evaluations and permanent evaluation of the teaching team that a student does not show the expected commitment and participation, an individual remedial trajectory can be imposed.
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Students work out an assignment(s) according to the principle of Community Engaged Research & Learning (CERL). Students work in a multidisciplinary team on a concrete societal challenge within the annual theme that can be approached from different disciplines.
At the end of the academic year the research project is presented on a presentation moment (online or physical gathering, depending on the circumstances).
More detailed guidelines are available in the student manual on Canvas. |
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Adult Education: Profile Social Studies (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Adult Education: Profile Cultural Studies (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Adult Education: Initial track (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of History: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of History: Minor Minor Human Sciences (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of History: minor Social Sciences (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Art Studies and Archaeology: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Art Studies and Archaeology: Profile Profile Art Studies and Archaeology (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Medicine: Standard track (6 years) (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences: Default track (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences: Abridged (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Engineering: Mechanical and Electrotechnical Engineering (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Engineering: Civil Engineering (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Engineering: Chemistry and Materials (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Engineering: Electronics and Information Technology (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Engineering: Electronics and Information Technology Profile Profile Computer Science (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Engineering: Startplan (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Engineering: Biomedical Engineering (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Architectural Engineering: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Physics and Astronomy: Default track (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Biology: Default track (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Chemistry: Default track (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Geography: Default track (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Computer Science: Default track (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Applied Language Studies: Nederlands-Frans (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Applied Language Studies: Nederlands-Engels (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Applied Language Studies: Nederlands-Duits (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Applied Language Studies: Nederlands-Spaans (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Applied Language Studies: Frans-Engels (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Applied Language Studies: Frans-Duits (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Applied Language Studies: Frans-Spaans (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Applied Language Studies: Engels-Duits (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Applied Language Studies: Engels-Spaans (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Applied Language Studies: Duits-Spaans (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Political Science and Sociology: - afstudeerrichting sociologie, minor organisatie en beleid (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Mathematics and Data Science: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and LiteraryStudies: Dutch-English
Bachelor of Linguistics and LiteraryStudies: Dutch-German
Bachelor of Linguistics and LiteraryStudies: Dutch-French
Bachelor of Linguistics and LiteraryStudies: Dutch-Italian
Bachelor of Linguistics and LiteraryStudies: Dutch-Spanish
Bachelor of Linguistics and LiteraryStudies: English-German
Bachelor of Linguistics and LiteraryStudies: English-French
Bachelor of Linguistics and LiteraryStudies: English-Italian
Bachelor of Linguistics and LiteraryStudies: English-Spanish
Bachelor of Linguistics and LiteraryStudies: German-French
Bachelor of Linguistics and LiteraryStudies: German-Italian
Bachelor of Linguistics and LiteraryStudies: German-Spanish
Bachelor of Linguistics and LiteraryStudies: French-Italian
Bachelor of Linguistics and LiteraryStudies: French-Spanish
Bachelor of Linguistics and LiteraryStudies: Italian-Spanish
Master of Educational Sciences: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Psychology: Afstudeerrichting arbeids- en organisatiepsychologie (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Pharmaceutical Care: Standaard traject NIEUW (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Drug Development: Pharmacist (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Drug Development: AR without officinastage (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Biomedical Sciences: Management and Business (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Biomedical Sciences: Clinical Biomedical Sciences (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Bioengineering Sciences: Cell and Gene Biotechnology: Medical Biotechnology (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Bioengineering Sciences: Cell and Gene Biotechnology: Molecular Biotechnology (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Bioengineering Sciences: Cell and Gene Biotechnology: Agrobiotechnology (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Bioengineering Sciences: Chemistry and Bioprocess Technology: Food Biotechnology (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Bioengineering Sciences: Chemistry and Bioprocess Technology: Chemical Biotechnology (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Bioengineering Sciences: Chemistry and Bioprocess Technology: Biochemical Biotechnology (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Urban Design and Spatial Planning: Track 1 (Bachelor via SCH of VRB) (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Urban Design and Spatial Planning: Track 2 (Master indirect) (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Urban Design and Spatial Planning: Track 3 (Bachelor of Master direct) (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Electronics and ICT Engineering Technology: informatie- en communicatietechnieken met profiel ingebedde systemen (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Electronics and ICT Engineering Technology: informatie- en communicatietechnieken met profiel netwerken (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Electromechanical Engineering Technology: elektromechanica met profiel duurzame energie (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Electromechanical Engineering Technology: elektromechanica met profiel mechatronica (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Electromechanical Engineering Technology: elektromechanica met profiel vervoertechnologie (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Electromechanical Engineering Technology: luchtvaarttechnologie (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Biomedical Research: Standaard traject
Master of Movement and Sports Sciences: Physical Activity, Fitness and Health Profile Profile Research (only offered in Dutch)
Bridging Programme Master of Arts in Philosophy and Moral Sciences: Default track (only offered in Dutch)
Preparatory Programme Master of Arts in Philosophy and Moral Sciences: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)