Concept

Approach
We conceived the Exchange International Educating Class: Development Studies (EIEC) from an integrative perspective. Its overall aim is to upgrade, expand, and deepen its participants' initial knowledge, skills, and attitudes.

The EIEC promotes knowledge that can be learned, skills that are long-lasting and robust, and an attitude rich in values such as perseverance, openness, ambition, inquisitiveness, and interest in learning (including 'learning to learn').

We approach our students as adults who want to increase their potential for:
 

• seeing what the issues at stake are
• gaining a relevant knowledge base (e.g. by studying the literature available)
• thoroughly assessing the alternatives
• acting effectively and in an ethically correct way
• solving problems at hand
• foreseeing and planning new courses of action
• taking on responsibilities
   

Characteristics of the educational method
The method behind the EIEC is:
 

• instrumental: We offer material that is first and foremost useful.
• reflective: We promote critical thinking.
• participative: We involve students, instructors, and other staff members.
• networking: We include the whole world.
• biographical: We draw from students' and instructors' real-life experiences.
• contextual: We sharpen students’ awareness of the creative and multidimensional interplay of the local and the global by using real-life cases as learning material.
• holistic: The program components form a meaningful whole and are at the service of the development of each one of our students.