- About this minor
- Programme
- How to apply
- Minor orientations
The world is characterised by various development issues, such as spatial inequality, the contrast between rich and poor, an environment that is under pressure, access to sufficient and safe food, dealing with violent conflicts and bad health. As a global citizen, consumer and future professional, you are likely to be closely involved in these development issues. Wouldn’t it be interesting to learn more about these issues and be able to partake in this debate with well-argued opinions? Moreover, wouldn’t it be motivating to come up with small-scale possible solutions and put these solutions into practice during an internship abroad? Consider doing this minor if your answer to these questions is ‘yes’!
The aim of this programme will be to learn how to identify and analyse global development issues and how to contribute to a potential solution in your own profession, bearing in mind the four, all-embracing aspects of society, i.e. the economic, ecological, social and cultural dimensions of existence.
Content
The minor consists of four parts:
A Course: Justice (4 EC)
B Course: Introduction to development issues (10 EC)
C Course: Culture and interculturality (6 EC)
D Internship (10 EC)
The minor consists of four parts. The first three components work from a theoretical foundation using scientific literature and concepts in order to give you tools to analyse various development issues in detail. The last component is a practical internship in a developing country.
The four parts are:
- A Course: Justice (4 EC)
- B Course: Introduction to development issues (10 EC)
C Course: Culture and interculturality (6 EC)
D Internship (10 EC)


The internship is the synthesis module of all parts of this minor. For four weeks, you will participate in an existing project in a developing country where – in addition to substantive goals – you will have to show that you are able to collaborate with people from different cultures.
In the months leading up to the internship, you will prepare yourself and your stay abroad during weekly meetings. On the basis of a work plan, you formulate learning objectives, you describe the project and you prepare for local conditions. The preparation includes making the previously mentioned work plan, a culture analysis and several guest lectures by experts.
Examples of internships in a developing country in recent years:
- Organizing activities for young people in Malawi;
- Making a video report about a sustainable agricultural project in the Moluccas;
- Supporting an exchange project between schools in the Netherlands and Romania;
- Reorganising and maintaining a school building in rural Nepal;
- Teaching disabled children in Vietnam.
Costs
In addition to the standard costs of a stay abroad, the internship in a developing country brings additional costs of around €2000 (incl. flight). It also requires necessary preparation concerning, for example, a visa. In cooperation with your teacher you’ll search for a suitable place for your internship.
Minor starting in February 2024
- Application period opens on 1 July 2023
- Application period closes on 15 December 2023
Minor starting in September 2024
- Application period opens on 1 February 2024
- Application period closes on 1 July 2024
Please note!
The application deadline for the minor abroad differs. Some minors have a numerus fixus or fill up quickly. So always check the page of the minor of your choice.
To attend in the minor, the student must have:
- Passed the propaedeutic phase or;
- permission form the examination board of his/her programme.
Have you already thought about your choice of minor? Do you want to immerse yourself in your profession, or do something completely different? Your choice of your minor can be quite difficult. The most important thing is that you choose something that really suits you. This way you can distinguish yourself from others and make your studies even more personal. But how do you choose? And what can you choose?
(Online) minor orientation week
To help you with your choice, we organise an (online) minor orientation week in November. During these information sessions, you will learn more about the content of the minors and you can ask any question you may have. You can register here for the orientation week, available from October.