CIS-22306 Introduction to Communication and Innovation Studies

Course

Credits 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Expected knowledge on:

BSc degree in technical or social sciences

Continuation courses:

Innovation Management and Design, Facilitating Interactive Processes, Major preparation Communication and Innovation Studies

Contents:

This course provides an advanced introduction into Communication and Innovation Studies that is especially tailored to international students who work in the field of agriculture and rural resource management. It describes historically how and why the field of 'Agricultural Extension Studies' has evolved into 'Communication and Innovation Studies'. Moreover, it provides an overview of the basic concepts, theories and issues that characterize Communication and Innovation Studies. Thus, the course discusses the relations between communication, knowledge and human practice, and connects this to theories of intervention, adoption, diffusion, participation, learning and negotiation. Moreover, attention is paid to different types of communicative intervention and to the practical methods, approaches and policies that are relevant to these. Some organisational and inter-organisational aspects of communicative intervention are discussed, including organisational learning, knowledge systems thinking and commercialisation in knowledge networks.

Aims:

- students have insight in the basic theoretical foundations of Communication and Innovation Studies;
- students can translate and apply these insights to practical problem situations;
- students are familiar with the international work-domain of Communication and Innovation Studies, including historical and policy developments therein.

Activities:

- interactive lecturing;
- discussion of literature in small groups;
- joint reflection on student experiences / video material.

Examination:

- written examination (for all participants);
- assignment on separate 'cutting edge' lectures (for MAKS students only);
- written essay (for non-MAKS students).

Literature:

A course outline can be obtained from the secretary of Communication Science. Compulsory literature includes (a draft version of) Leeuwis C. with A.W. Van den Ban (2003, forthcoming), Communication for innovation in agriculture and natural resource management. Building on the tradition of agricultural extension. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers. The literature will be handed out during the first lecture.