International LivingLab: Good Life Health and Wellbeing

In this course you will dive into the world of a wicked global issue of a particular target group. Throughout the course you will work on your international competences and skills and qualities of the Inner Development Goals (IDG) like Openness and Learning Mindset, Critical Thinking, Co-creating, etc. which will enable you to deal with increasingly complex environment and challenges. In collaboration with stakeholders and the target group you and your international project group will do research about this wicked issue in the global and local health and welfare practice. You will design and co-create with stakeholders, a sustainable service or product that contributes to the good life of the assigned target group. In this class you learn about action-based research and apply Design Thinking technics and how it can be useful in a changing world in the area of health and welfare.

Worldwide, countless families are impacted by health and welfare issues like; poverty, migration, health literacy, prosperity disease, addiction and sexual health. One of the objectives of this course is gaining a better understanding of how a community or society affects the individual and their family in time of crisis. By working and learning together in intercultural and multidisciplinary groups, each student contributes from his own personal and professional background to a better understanding of these crisis and their effect on individuals and families. In the course you will focus on a local existing crisis and how this crisis globally unfolds. You will gain more insight by looking at theoretical frameworks, experiences from professionals and individuals/families affected.

The programme enables you to compare your own professional practice with that of other countries and gain insight on the influence of the international context in local situations and health issues experienced by families in crisis. You will gain understanding in how to positively contribute to society and the solution of international complex issues. Learning how to individually, or within an organization, contribute in innovative ways to international and/or regional sustainable development goals, is the focus of this course. This means you are flexible, curious and open to innovations and are able to transform new ideas into implementations. Through this course you will work on competences like, leadership and entrepreneurship within the context of good life and wellbeing for all ages.

Do you think the world around you has changed because of social media? Is the next generation growing up online? Media have become an integral part of our society and are a defining force for our future. The profound impact of media is a growing concern among parents and professionals who support children and youth. How would you deal with these challenges as a person and as a professional?

In this programme you will gain knowledge, skills and awareness of media literacy among youth. The term ‘media literacy’ is used for competencies you need to actively and consciously participate in the media society. You will reflect on your own media use and create your personal and professional view on media literacy.

International and intercultural competences reflect what prospective professionals need to learn in order to communicate adequately and work effectively with clients and colleagues from a different ethnic-cultural and or professional background. Broadly speaking, this concerns: open to and knowing the backgrounds of “others”, being aware of mutual values and norms and differences between them. Increasing your intercultural communication skills, building partnerships, managing uncertainty and developing cultural awareness while working in a culturally diverse environment. 

To be able to participate in the training Global Professional, students will need to obtain knowledge, skills and a professional attitude by self-study, training, assignments and intervision classes. Besides that, you will practice and apply knowledge and skills in an international context by participating in our LivingLab projects and become a more reflective professional, who can tackle real life issues from a broad and intercultural perspective.

In this course you will individually explore and work on your vision of the future proof professional. The course is open to students from all fields of interest. 

Global challenges and developments, disaster and conflict, have an impact on many lives, organizations, businesses and societies. As a student you will be confronted with these issues in your future work environment wherever you go. For instance, a war often causes a great influx of immigrants and you may experience your client or customer population to become more culturally diverse. This will challenge your professional and your own intercultural skills. How can you learn from other countries dealing with this phenomenon. Or, if you are a health professional during a pandemic, you will become more aware of international institutions and their global impact on the local situations. What is your opinion on that, are there cultural differences in the way we can fight a pandemic or is there only one way to deal with this?

In this course you are free to choose a global issue of your personal and professional interest and develop, through critical literature study, a strong based opinion of the new professional skills needed within your field of expertise. You will work on the Inner Development Goals, like self-awareness, complexity awareness and perspective skills. 
You will present evidence based ways how professionals in your own working field will able to contribute to the societal solution of international problems in a positive way. 

Complete your exchange semester or year by taking one or two cross-departmental modules. You will receive ECTS credits when you complete a module successfully.

• Behavioural Change in Organizations
• Cambridge English B2 or C1
• Drama and Improvisation
• Dutch Language
• Dutch Society
• Economic Mindsets
• Innovation Research Competences for Urban Development  
• Intercultural Awareness
• Personal Leadership (7 Habits)
• Youth and Media Literacy

Want to know more about the exchange programme of International LivingLab: Good Life Health and Wellbeing? Check the course catalogue for more information about matters such as assessment and teaching methods.

Read the course catalogue