From the very first day you consider becoming part of the MA programme we want you to engage in a learning experience specific to you and your unique profile (see profiles). For this to happen one of the core approaches of the MA programme is case-based mentoring. Starting with your application we invite you to suggest and outline cases related to “Learning and development in multilingual and multicultural contexts”. A case doesn’t mean having answers right away – a case means rather coming up with guiding questions related to your own personal or professional interests. Case-work will go on throughout the programme be it in blended-learning seminars, exploratory studies, collaborative research projects, the internship or the final Master thesis (see list of past work).
You may want to dig deeper into your first case or to transform your initial questions by introducing related or different cases. Our case-based approach ensures in-built flexibility, thus allowing you to evolve according to your individual pathway of learning. The main goal of case-work is to help you grow in confidence and competence in analysing complex and challenging real-life situations as a researcher as well as an informed practioner, and to come up with new approaches in your academic or professional domain of knowledge construction and management. Furthermore, we will explore together how to deploy synergies by grouping different cases and by bringing the perspectives of the participants, course organisers and mentors together. On this basis we are conceiving and conducting innovative research projects in the following areas, propelled by advanced qualitative methodologies:
- New ways of reasoning and modeling when dealing with the dynamics of multilingualism and multiculturalism;
- The possibilities of fostering diversity-bound resources for learning and development in general and across the lifespan;
- The (individual, collective, societal) construction and negotiation of identity through and within discourse and interaction;
- The importance, nature and dynamic impact of semiotic systems, cultural artefacts and social mediations.