African Dynamics

This joint minor is offered in collaboration with Leiden University, Erasmus University and TU Delft. Education will take place at all three institutions.

Through an unique collaboration between Leiden University, Delft University of Technology and Erasmus University Rotterdam the minor aims to capacitise students from all fields of study to identify, track, and strengthen Africa’s role in the globalised world.

Fusing expertise in the humanities, social and natural sciences and technology, and building on the goals set in the African Union Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Agenda 2030, this multidisciplinary minor will foster a deeper understanding of integrated and sustainable approaches in Africa. In the first quarter, two subject - Reading Africa (5 EC) and Exploring Africa(10 EC), serve as the theoretical underpinning of the study. Leading Africanists depict the continent from different perspectives and expose students to approaches, theory and expertise in diverse fields with an emphasis on how Africans themselves view their continent and the world.

The second quarter that entails the practical component of the minor, builds on the accumulated knowledge of the first block. The objective of the only course - Collaboration Africa (15 EC), is to expose students to real-life scenarios, develop a critical lens, investigate transdisciplinary and innovative sustainable approaches and establish future partnership networks. The online environment is an integral tool employed to facilitate virtual exchange and intercultural dialogue.

Target group

If you are concerned about issues impacting on Africa, want to know more about emerging opportunities and sustainable approaches, interested in the continent’s rich socio-cultural traditions and diversity, and/or considering to pursue a career in Africa, this minor will provide you with a solid multidisciplinary foundation. You will be discovering African realities and dynamics together with students from different study and disciplinary backgrounds, and collaborate with students from African universities. Whether you are completing a bachelor study at the universities of Leiden, Delft or Erasmus* in Archaeology, Architecture, Art, Business and Economics, Education, Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Geosciences, History, International Relations and Global Affairs, Languages, Law, Management, Medicine and Health, Natural Sciences, or Social Studies and Behavioural Sciences, you could be an ideal candidate for this minor. Students from other disciplines are also encouraged to apply.

• In general, EUR students can only take part in the first quarter (15 ECs) of the minor. It is however possible to complete the whole minor (30 ECs) under certain conditions. Please discuss this with your study coordinator.

African Dynamics applicants are required to complete a Background and Commitment Form https://forms.office.com/e/F4ic62VtNs

E-mail: MinorAfricanDynamics@asc.leidenuniv.nl

This minor requires full-time study from September 2024 until the last week of January in 2025. Experiences of students in previous editions of the minor show that it is difficult to combine participation in this minor with other studies or retake exams. The minor has a layered first come first serve admission procedure. A maximum of 40 students (equally distributed among the three LDE universities) will be admitted and an equal distribution among disciplines will be aimed for.