A Multidisciplinary Approach to Climate Change (MACC)
Download: MACC Syllabus 2024
A) Introduction
Climate change is the main global environmental problem and one of the main economic and social problems facing humanity. And citizens increasingly perceive it as such. For example, the latest Eurobarometer survey, published in 2021 by the European Commission, shows that 93% of EU citizens believe that climate change is a serious problem, and 78% that it is a very serious problem. Moreover, compared to the previous Eurobarometer, published in 2019, climate change has overtaken poverty, hunger, and lack of clean water as the most serious problem facing the world.
On the other hand, climate change is a multidimensional problem that must be studied from all disciplines of knowledge. However, our curricula do not usually offer a multi- or interdisciplinary understanding of the problem. Furthermore, although the population perceives it as a very serious problem, there is a notable lack of knowledge about its nature, effects, possible scenarios, policies, and responses to the challenge it poses for humanity.
B) Objectives
The main objective of this course is to alleviate the shortcomings of our curricula and the lack of knowledge of a large part of the population mentioned in the introduction. To this end, the course offers a multidisciplinary and rigorous vision of the problem of climate change. Experts in each subject offer this comprehensive, university-level vision. Although academically rigorous, their classes are adapted to the necessary introductory level. This is necessary given the heterogeneous profile that students will have.
In addition to the main objective described in the previous paragraph, the course has other secondary objectives:
- To provide a first exposure to introductory level university courses from multiple disciplines, which can help students in their decision making about their future university studies.
- For non-native English speakers, to reinforce students’ academic skills in English, contributing to their training to study university courses in English.
- For students not residing in Spain, to provide an enriching “study abroad” experience, with all the benefits of academic, cultural, and personal enrichment that this type of experience provides.
Speaking and Writing Skills for Academic and Career Success (SWSACS)
Download: SWSACS Syllabus 2024
A) Introduction
The SWSACS course is a 2-week study program, taught in English, where students will focus on important skills that they need to master to be successful university students, such as effective listening and reading, delivering presentations, and writing papers. Students will also work in small teams to deliver a presentation to the wider group, and they will practice their writing skills.
B) Objectives
Public speaking and presentation techniques are designed to prepare our students to make unforgettable presentations. They will learn communication techniques and how to connect with the audience. Similarly, writing techniques are designed to prepare students to write superb papers. They will learn planning for writing, drafting, and proofreading; sentence manipulation devices (presenting the information in a sentence level, register); cohesion and coherence (structuring, presenting, and linking ideas); and paper designing.
In particular, the objectives are:
- Acquire knowledge and skills necessary to make attractive and successful oral and written presentations.
- Acquire knowledge and skills to achieve efficient, transparent, and fluent communication with their audience and with their readers.