Take semester abroad at the Netherlands Institute in Mocrocco (NIMAR). More information http://www.nimarrabat.nl Varied program where you learn new skills and languages, and practice in independently performing ethnographic fieldwork. A series of lectures by scholars based in Morocco on various aspects of Moroccan and North African culture and society, such as social movements, gender, migration, urbanisation, relations between town and countryside, media, from different disciplinary angles: sociology, anthropology, history, etc. Individually or in small groups specific during six weeks well-defined projects under supervision of a lecturer. Weekly inter vision. An ethnographic report as term paper. A combination of original empirical research, study of existing literature, and theoretical framework. For example fieldwork in the village of Skoura. Excursions to various sites of cultural interest and to social organisations in the surroundings of Rabat and Casablanca. Finding your way in the inner ‘Islamic’ city. Museums and the culture of memory. Casablanca and colonial and post-colonial modernity.

1. Prof. dr. Léon Buskens
1
Minor Culture and Society in M0rocco
starting from September 2016

2. Minor Culture and Society 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 in Morocco
• 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 of on-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

5. 5

6. A course ‘Methods of 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 ‘Research Design’
• 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 instruction in 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 fieldwork project
• 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
Weeks 1 - 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 living in 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
• ‘Culture and 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 from September 2016!
• Excellent classrooms
• Facilities for research
• Library
• Access to Leiden digital collections
• Students’ lounge
• Easy to reach.
13

14. Summarizing
• Challenging program at 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 in Rabat!
• Further information: nimar@hum.leidenuniv.nl
*) pictures Mike Spaans & Jan Hoogland