Beyond Borders: What It Means to Be a Global Citizen

The exchange programme Beyond Borders focuses on ‘world citizenship’ as a way to cope with globalisations’ challenges; an awareness that extends beyond the borders of your local or national community. It’s about insight in (inter)national developments, empathy with and respect for people from other parts of the world, reflection on the many connections between one’s personal situation and conditions elsewhere, plus the readiness to draw personal conclusions from them.

The minor has two important streams: World citizenship and Bildung or personal development. It is all about your personal as well as professional position in society. You’ll work on an individual basis and in subgroups on practice-related assignments. Excursions and study trips are part of the programme.

During this programme, you will:

• learn to understand and reflect on what it means to be a global citizen;
• develop an understanding of how the challenges of globalisation, nationalism and religion influence our society and what that means for your profession;
• become aware of the ethical and moral dimensions of world citizenship, by exploring the concept of (in)equality in current society;
• experience what it means to be a world citizen through an international field trip to Berlin;
• learn to apply your knowledge and skills regarding world citizenship in your professional and/or personal life by conducting a practice-oriented research project in block B. This project is an internship or traineeship of seven weeks, approximately two days a week, in an organisation of your own choice. You explore how the organisation and its professionals work with one of the themes of world citizenship and especially the UN sustainable development goals;
• formulate learning objectives and reflect on how the programme has influenced your personal-professional development (past-present-future).

Would you like to know more about this programme or do you have a specific question? Please contact the programme coordinator, Jess Morrin.

In this exchange programme you work on an individual basis and in subgroups on practice-related study assignments. In Block A you will be introduced to various global issues, from a cross-cultural and interdisciplinary approach, and we connect those global issues to your professional practice through excursions and other practice-oriented events. For example, field trips to an asylum seekers centre, Fort de Bilt and an international study trip to Berlin.

In Block B you will be given the opportunity to work on your own professional questions in an (international) organisation of your own choice (f.e. schools, press, companies) by exploring this organisation’s perspective regarding the theme of world citizenship. This programme also gives you the opportunity to explore your learning questions in an professional practice abroad.

The programme takes place during one semester and contains the following courses:

Block A

At the end of modules A, B and C, a joint international study trip to Berlin is organised.

Block B

In our Course Guides you can find all relevant information about the course in one practical document. You can download it here for your convenience.

• Course guide Beyond Borders

You need to have at least a propaedeutic diploma (issued after the first year of university studies).

The level of language proficiency necessary to participate in the minor is English CEFR level B1.

If you have questions regarding English proficiency, you can contact the programme coordinator, Jess Morin.

Please note: You may be asked to take a language assessment test before the start of the programme. If your English language skills are below the required level, you may not be able to enter the course, as you need to be able to actively participate in (parts of) the programme. In all cases, the programme manager makes the final decision.