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Challenging minor programme in Morocco - starting in September
The minor program on Culture and Society in Morocco, starting in September 2016, offers courses on social-scientific research, qualitative research methods, and intensive language instruction in Moroccan Arabic, alongside field research projects. Students will engage in on-site visits to cultural and social organizations in Morocco, and their work will culminate in ethnographic reports. The program, based in Rabat, provides a supportive living environment and opportunities for cultural immersion, with an emphasis on understanding Moroccan society and culture.
Challenging minor programme in Morocco - starting in September
- 1. Prof. dr. LéonBuskens 1 Minor Culture and Society in M0rocco starting from September 2016
- 2. Minor Culture andSociety in Morocco; in brief • A challenging semester in Rabat • A course on social-scientific research of and in Morocco • A series of on-site visits • A course ‘Methods of Qualitative Research’ • A course ‘Research Design’ • Intensive language instruction in Moroccan Arabic, including conversation classes • An independent field research project during the last part of the term • The courses are taught by NIMAR faculty and by guest lecturers from Moroccan institutions. 2
- 3. Social-scientific research inMorocco • A series of lectures by scholars based in Morocco • On various aspects of Moroccan culture and society • Such as social movements, gender, migration, urbanisation, relations between town and countryside, media • From different disciplinary angles: sociology, anthropology, history, etc. • Readings offering a good overview of the current state of knowledge • Anchored in the tradition of about a century of modern research on Moroccan culture and society • 5 ec. 3
- 4. A series ofon-site visits • Excursions to various sites of cultural interest and to social organisations in the surroundings of Rabat and Casablanca • The lay-out of modern Moroccan cities • Finding your way in the inner ‘Islamic’ city • Casablanca and colonial and post-colonial modernity • Fellow students and Moroccan universities • Exploring libraries • Out into the countryside • Museums and the culture of memory • Contemporary art and conspicuous consumption • Social movements and NGOs • Practicing fieldwork in Skoura. 4
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- 6. A course ‘Methodsof Qualitative Research’ • An initiation into doing independent ethnographic fieldwork • (Participant) observation • Conversations and interviews • Life histories • Focus groups • Writing ethnographic reports • Weekly assignments • Literature on doing fieldwork in Morocco • 5 ec. 6
- 7. A course ‘ResearchDesign’ • Planning your own research project • Formulating a research question • Designing your research: questions and time schedule • The uses of theories and concepts • Paper outline • Fine tuning your project • Relating to existing knowledge • Identifying experts. 7
- 8. Intensive language instructionin Moroccan Arabic • Learning to understand and speak Moroccan Arabic • Handbooks available in English/ Dutch/ German/ French • Phonetic transcription • Other languages/ alternatives: Tamazight, Standard Arabic, French, Spanish, English • 5 ec. 8
- 9. Your own fieldworkproject • Individually or in small groups of two to three persons • Specific well-defined projects • Under supervision of a lecturer • Weekly intervision • Six weeks • An ethnographic report as term paper • A combination of original empirical research, study of existing literature, and theoretical framework • 15 ec. 9
- 10. Program overview (provisional) 10 Weeks1 - 7: • Social scientific research in Morocco • Excursions • Methods and Techniques • Research Design • Moroccan Arabic (or an alternative). Weeks 8- 13: • Fieldwork • Weekly reporting and intervison. December - February • Writing your term paper. EC’s: • Social-scientific research in Morocco, and excursions: 5 EC • Moroccan Arabic: 5 EC • Methods and Techniques, and Research design: 5 EC • Research project and term paper: 15 EC.
- 11. Studying and livingin Rabat • Safe studying and living environment • A pleasant and easy going city with good facilities • Living with Moroccan families or in your own apartment • Contacts with Moroccan and international students • Excellent international connections (airport) • Excellent national connections. 11
- 12. Practical information • ‘Cultureand Society in Morocco’ will start on 5 September • How to apply: nimar@hum.leidenuniv.nl • Admission: students with a basic knowledge of the Humanities or Social Sciences • What are the costs: participation is free, except for a 100 euro contribution for cultural activities and excursions • Living/housing costs: housing approximately 400 euro/month, living costs approximately 300 euro/month, depending on your spending habits 12
- 13. New housing fromSeptember 2016! • Excellent classrooms • Facilities for research • Library • Access to Leiden digital collections • Students’ lounge • Easy to reach. 13
- 14. Summarizing • Challenging programat NIMAR, the national expertise centre for Moroccan Studies • Learning new skills and languages • A window on North Africa • Initiation into ethnographic fieldwork • Finding your way in a new society • Studying in a safe, pleasant and relaxed environment. 14
- 15. 15 See you inRabat! • Further information: nimar@hum.leidenuniv.nl *) pictures Mike Spaans & Jan Hoogland