This seminar discusses the prospects for African workers in an era of rapid global change and asks what African governments and their development partners can do to help African workers enter and shape the global knowledge economy. Core questions are: How can we classify African economies, and what roles can African knowledge workers play in a post-ChatGPT world? How does the global debate on artificial intelligence and job automation translate to Africa? Is catch-up development bound to happen or could we be moving toward greater geographical inequality and an eventual 'useless class' in the Global South? What role do platforms and internet connectivity play for inclusive growth in the coming decade? Can a globalized services economy emerge as a driver for African job creation?
Course medium: this is an in-person seminar, taught on campus in Duisburg, every other week in 7 blocks of 4 semester-week-hours (SWS) each (90min class - 20min break - 90 min. class). A maximum of two sessions may be conducted entirely remotely via Zoom. For the session on campus, no hybrid solution exists (i.e., when we meet on campus, the format will be exclusively analogue). All assigned course material can be accessed via Moodle.
Student eligibility & output: this course is offered (i) as part of extension module 7 (BA PoWi Aufbaumodul 7, i.e., for those who also sit Prof Hartmann's lecture), and (ii) as an elective (Wahlpflicht).
i. Extension module students (Aufbaumodul 7) hold a 15-minute presentation (graded pass/fail) and write a 20-page term paper (Hausarbeit).
ii. Elective (Wahlpflicht) and other students (e.g., exchange students) hold a 15-minute presentation (graded 1-6).
Term papers: extension module students write a 20-page term paper (Hausarbeit, i.e., 6,000-word text, excluding references and annexes). Term papers are chosen from the range of topics discussed throughout the course (facilitated by consultations with the lecturer). A detailed outline of the seminar paper needs to be submitted by 23 July 2021. Students who choose to hand in the full paper by 23 July 2021 will receive comments within two weeks and the option to revise and resubmit to improve their grade. Either way, the final deadline for seminar papers is the last day of the semester (30 Sept. 2023).
Presentations: all students hold a 15-minute presentation. Presentation slides must be completed and emailed to the lecturer latest 7 days before the date of the presentation. The lecturer will comment within days, suggesting revisions.
Short Essays: elective and other students who wish not to hold a presentation may instead write a 5-8-page short essay. An outline of the short essay needs to be submitted by 18 June 2023. Students who choose to hand in the short essay in full by 18 June 2023 will receive comments within one week and the option to revise and resubmit to improve their grades. Either way, the final deadline for short essays is the last day of the lecture period (14 Sept. 2023). |
