Russia between East and West

Content

The online course consists of 11 modules. Each module is divided into separate case studies. Each case study can consist of video fragments (film, music, documentary, …), audio files, written texts (primary and secondary, academic and non-academic), photo materials, exercises (for example, an interactive map, a quiz, a forum discussion, ...), etc.

By way of introduction, the online course starts with the Slavic tribes settling on the European continent and then zooms in on the 18th and 19th centuries. After that, the early 20th centuries, Stalin’s era and the Khrushchev and Brezhnev years will be at the center of attention. The lion’ s share of the online course, however, focuses on the late 20th and early 21st century, more specifically on the 1980s and 1990s and Putin’s (and Medvedev’s) reign.

While the online course is organized chronologically, it is multidisciplinary in scope: a large variety of themes and aspects of Russian society is being tackled from different fields: history, culture in the broadest sense of the word, linguistics, politics, sociology, law, economics, media studies, translation studies, etc. 

Learning outcomes

• To acquire insight into the central issue of the problem-oriented online course in an autonomous way.
• To get acquainted with and acquire critical insight into different disciplines in the humanities that allow to tackle the central topic of the course in different, complementary ways, in an autonomous way.
• To think independently and analytically about societal issues that are related to culture.
• To design autonomously a proposal for a case study which is a valuable addition to the course, based on the acquired knowledge and in close discussion with peers. 
• To report on one's own research and solutions and on those of others to experts and non-experts in written form and in a constructive manner. 
• To reflect critically and comment in a constructive way on opinions of and papers by peers.
• To make a scientifically substantiated, critical analysis of current social, political and cultural developments with regard to Russia, Russian society and Russian self-perception.
• To take an informed, critical position in current social, political or cultural debates with regard to Russia, Russian society and Russian self-perception.

Teaching methods

Group work, Independent work

Extra information on the teaching methods: The students get insight into the central issue of the online course via electronic modules. They fulfill additional activating tasks and assignments. They are stimulated to participate actively and to interact with each other and the course coordinators through peer review assignments and forum discussions. On the basis hereof, the students autonomously design a proposal for a case study. This case study is related to the central issue of the course.

Assessment

Assessment moments: continuous assessment

Examination methods in case of continuous assessment: Participation, Peer and/or self assessment, Assignment

Possibilities of retake in case of continuous assessment: examination during the second examination period is possible in modified form

Extra information on the examination methods: As this is an interactive course, students are graded both for their participation and for their end paper. The online course has two lines of testing. 

1. The long-term line works towards the proposal for a case study. During the course, the students gradually prepare their proposal for a case study. At specific moments, students are asked to look for sources, to discuss them in group, write a tentative abstract, to review each other's work etc. Finally, the main task is to design a proposal for a new, concrete and substantiated case study for the online course, with pertinent links to the course. Provocative, but nuanced argumentation is most welcome.

2. The short-term line focuses on separate modules and cases. Students will be asked to fulfill several smaller assignments on a weekly basis. 

Calculation of the examination mark:

a) Students earn 50 % of the total score with their proposal for a case study.

b) Students earn 30 % of the total score based on their participation (tasks and assignments).

c) Students earn 20% of the total score with peer review reports (writing peer review reports and evaluating assignments of their peers). If the student does not pass the non-periodical evaluation, a second chance is offered by means of a compensatory task between the first and second examination period.

Lecturers

Dhooge, Ben: lecturer-in-charge

Geerardyn, Tilde: staff member

Course dates

This course takes place in the first semester of academic year 2025-2026:

• Educational activities: 11 weekly modules between September 22, 2025 - December 12, 2025, including one break week. Students can access the materials 24/7 during the week (no attendance required in synchronous sessions).
• Christmas recess: December 22, 2025 – January 2, 2026
• Final assignment: January 17, 2026 (to be confirmed)
• Resit: compensatory task: August 16, 2026 (to be confirmed)

Entry requirements: No specific preliminary knowledge is required. All information is provided in the course. Students should have acquired a bachelor's degree which is relevant to the topic (history, literature, cultural history, economics, law, political sciences, …); have acquired the necessary research skills; and have a critical-analytical mindset. Proficiency in English is mandatory. Proficiency in Russian is not needed. However, students who have a command of Russian will be able to use their language skills.

Before application: Please check with your home faculty / study programme if the course can be integrated in your curriculum in order to ensure recognition of the ECTS credits obtained

Students from ENLIGHT partner universities are eligible to participate. Students will be selected at each of these universities separately. Students interested in the course need to apply via their home university. The home university will select the permitted number of students, inform the students as soon as possible, and then send these names to the host institution. Unsuccessful students will be placed on a waiting list and may get a place, if other universities do not use all their allocated places. 

Please select your home university below and inform your ENLIGHT coordinator about your interest to participate in the course. Please include information on whether you have clarified recognition with your home faculty.

• University of the Basque Country:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
• University of Bern:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   
• University of Bordeaux:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   
• Comenius University Bratislava:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  
• University of Galway:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  
• Ghent University:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   
• University of Groningen:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
• University of Göttingen:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   
• University of Tartu:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
• Uppsala University: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

For information regarding the procedure to take part in this course: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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