The ability to critically analyze the meaning of gender in the different lines of development thinking and in development co-operation practices.

Understand and identify differences between various theories on gender, as well as diversities in gender systems in different contexts.

Course dates: either 22.1-6.5. 2018 (long) or 12.3-6.5.2018 (intensive)

The course content offers an outline of debates about gender and gender equality in social sciences and Development Studies. The historical shifts from Women and/in Development to Gender and Development will be studied. Major theoretical perspectives within Gender Studies and postcolonial feminist theory are made familiar through a study of texts. One thematic field (health, poverty, education, democracy) will be studied more thoroughly by each student through a case study Project.

Learning Methods:
Reading, video lectures, on-line discussions in teams, case study. Please make sure you can participate (on-line) throughout the entire period: the course requires continuous work throughout the 9 weeks, all weeks are equally demanding, and absences longer than one week cause problems for the team you work in.

The course is organized by HILMA Network for Gender Studies. Application to the course no later than 19.1.2018. For further information and enrolment, please see:

All phases of the course are assessed through self-, peer- and teacher evaluations. The final mark will consist of an evaluation of group discussions, where texts are discussed (50%), and a final group work assignment, the case study (50%).

– Texts, www-materials – access to internet is essential

The course is designed for BA students with a background in Development Studies, Gender Studies or Social Sciences. The preferred level is roughly second year BA students, but depending on your interests and needs, even PhD students are welcome. Dates of the course & application procedure will be announced later.

If you are selected to the course, please contact the course contact person in Tampere University (Hanna Ojala, Hanna.L.Ojala@uta.fi) for agreeing on the registration of the course.