The World We Live In – Responding to Global Issues Online Course

Eligibility

All DMU students are invited to join this extra-curricular DMU Global online learning course organised by the Global Mobility office. This opportunity would be of interest to students interested in developing their intercultural awareness, learning about the UN Sustainable Development Goals and more broadly gaining an understanding of some of the key global issues facing society.

The maximum number of places for this event is 20. Please check our eligibility criteria for further details.

About

The purpose of the course is to engage students in the conversation about current global issues as outlined by the United Nations through the lens of the UN SDGs. Topics such as climate change (Goal 13: Climate action), modern slavery (Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth) and the Black Lives Matter movement (Goal 10: Reduced inequalities) will be addressed over 3-4 weekly sessions and activities requiring approximately 6-8 hours of commitment from participants. A number of speakers from DMU, as well as those from external organisations will contribute to this learning activity.

The World We Live In – Responding to Global Issues Online Course will help enhance your knowledge, and develop a range of intercultural competencies, so that you can play an active role in making a positive social difference in society.

You will be required to complete a mini assignment after each weekly session to demonstrate your engagement and understanding of each topic that is covered. We aim for these to be fun and engaging activities, that will enhance your learning experience.

DMU Global Intercultural Awareness Digital Badge

Upon successful completion of the course, you can earn the ‘DMU Global Intercultural Awareness’ digital badge, demonstrating the skills and knowledge you have gained. This can be displayed on your LinkedIn page and in your digital backpack. Click here for more information about digital badges.

Course structure

Before you start, you’ll be asked to watch a short introductory video about the course, and share your reasons for participating with other students. You will then cover the following topics over three weeks:

Week 1: Climate Change

Attend a live talk with an expert from a sustainability background, to learn more about global environmental challenges and what we can do to address them.

Week 2: Modern Slavery

Watch a recorded session by a speaker with expertise in the field of modern slavery, learning about global challenges and steps taken to solve them.

Week 3: Black Lives Matter

Guest speakers will present perspectives from US and UK, looking at media depictions of the movement and what happens next in the struggle for racial equality. 

Learning objectives

The learning objectives of this DMU Global Online Learning course are to:

  • Gain knowledge of a range of global issues and the UN SDGs.
  • Encourage critical thinking through analysis of the depictions of various global issues in the media.
  • Foster civic-mindedness and a sense of societal responsibility by looking at a range of global issues and national and local responses to them.
  • Develop and improve skills such as listening, observation, evaluation and cross-cultural empathy by engaging with and learning from individuals from a range of cultural backgrounds.
  • Develop a stronger appreciation of the concepts of human dignity, human rights, justice fairness and equality.

Application

If you would like to join this online course, click the ‘Apply now’ button at the bottom of this page. You will receive a full schedule and link to join the sessions to your DMU e-mail account shortly after the deadline. Please, check your inbox as well as junk inbox regularly.

Key information

  • Application deadline: Monday 1 March 2021, 9am
  • Weekly sessions: Between Monday 8 March – Friday 2 April 2021
  • Session duration: 6-8 hours

If you have any questions about this opportunity please contact us at dmuglobal@dmu.ac.uk