NCHU Course Outline

Course Name	(中) 跨文化思維與全球身份認同(6089)
Course Name	(Eng.) Transcultural Thinking and Global Identity Formation
Offering Dept	Transcontinental International Master Program
Course Type	Elective	Credits	3	Teacher	Theodorus Arnoldus Maria Richard
Department	Transcontinental International Master Program/Graduate	Language	English	Semester	2025-FALL
Course Description	Course that introduces students to diverse disciplinary approaches enabling them to frame their own studies of transcultural phenomena and perspectives. The concept of transculturality can be used both as a heuristic device (e.g. multi-perspectivity and multi-locality) and focus of study (e.g. cultural entanglements). It is embedded in a large and very heterogeneous landscape of theoretical and methodological approaches that come from various disciplines and cover different thematic, historical and geographic areas. The course will present transculturality as a method of scholarly inquiry which critiques and overturns traditional approaches which are focused on particular national traditions. The course will survey some of the most important ideas on nation state, problematize the notion of “culture” and show how the theory of transculturality builds on and provides alternative thinking to the same. This lecture and group discussion class will discuss the contributions and limitations of inherited and current notions of transculturality as they serve to nurture the understanding of processes of globalization and identity formation in an ever changing world. And we will explore how the case of Taiwan relates to these theories. On the Course Content: In the context of the above explorations, students will be asked to actively share their findings in the class. The course divides the treatment of the materials in two parts: BEFORE and AFTER Midterm. Before midterm, the materials will be discussed based on guidance by the teacher. After Midterm, the subjects and materials will be discussed in class based on group presentations. The Midterm assignment will include the task to provide a list of 5 subjects related to global identity formation that the student suggests to be discussed in class after midterm, based on the learning of the first half of the semester and the subject of the class, together with a argumentation for this choice of 100 - 200 words per subject. The subjects for the second half of the semester will then be chosen discretionarily by the teacher, and assigned for group / student presentation. The key to a good presentation is to realize that simply summarizing and presenting information, is not enough. Gathering information and organizing it in a PPT is just the beginning of the exploration of truly knowing and understanding. What is important is to ask yourself: what is the essence of this information; what does this information possibly mean to me and the class; and how can this information be used to reach conclusions that will support the debate and the deep understanding of the subject? This syllabus provides basic reading only. The students are encouraged to explore further reading and present it to the class. Please allow the teacher to check in advance whether additional reading that you wish to present, is appropriate. Each presentation will last around 40 minutes. The presenters will prepare 4 to 5 questions on the material which will be discussed in class. For this purpose, the students will be asked to form groups of 2 to 3 students (depending on the total class number) and choose a subject from the list given in this syllabus. The subjects and documents mentioned in the syllabus are only indicative and can be changed pursuant to the teacher’s ideas on the progress of the class. All materials are expected to be read and/or viewed by the students before class. Endterm papers are to be submitted in paper, on the relevant dates to the teacher, without late acceptance. Midterm materials will be submitted on I-learning.
Prerequisites				self-directed learning in the course	Y

Relevance of Course Objectives and Core Learning Outcomes(%)

Teaching and Assessment Methods for Course Objectives

Course Objectives

Competency Indicators

Ratio(%)

Teaching Methods

Assessment Methods

1. To introduce students to diverse disciplinary perspectives enabling them to frame their own studies of transcultural phenomena and perspectives.
2. To familiarize students with some key concepts and texts related to the transcultural perspective on globalization and identity formation.

topic Discussion/Production

Exercises

Discussion

Lecturing

Oral Presentation

Assignment

Attendance

Written Presentation

Course Content and Homework/Schedule/Tests Schedule

Week	Course Content
Week 1	Introduction and overview of the class
Week 2	The idea of nation state and its origins [Anderson, 1991; Welsch 2001]
Week 3	What is Transculturality? [Welsch, 2001; Juneja and Kravagna, 2013]
Week 4	Globalization and Culture [Appadurai, 1996]
Week 5	Globalization and the Planetary Consciousness [Heise, 2013]
Week 6	The world in the Anthropocene [Horn, Bergthaller, 2019]
Week 7	Transculturall Identity, Commonalities and Globalization [Welsch, 2009]
Week 8	Midterm: 1. provide an original, non-AI composed list of 5 subjects related to global identity formation that the student suggests to be discussed in class after midterm, based on the learning of the first half of the semester and the subject of the class, together with a argumentation for this choice of 100 (min) - 200 (max) words per subject; 2. make a 5 - 10 minutes filmed presentation about a subject that you have found interesting in the class so far. Upload both on I-learning on the day of the class before midnight.
Week 9	Group / Student Presentation: subject TBA, based on discussion and midterm results.
Week 10	Group / Student Presentation: subject TBA, based on discussion and midterm results.
Week 11	Group / Student Presentation: subject TBA, based on discussion and midterm results.
Week 12	Group / Student Presentation: subject TBA, based on discussion and midterm results.
Week 13	Group / Student Presentation: subject TBA, based on discussion and midterm results.
Week 14	Group / Student Presentation: subject TBA, based on discussion and midterm results.
Week 15	Group / Student Presentation: subject TBA, based on discussion and midterm results.
Week 16	End Term, Final paper, 4000 - 6000 words on any subject of the class, to be handed in on paper on the day of the endterm.
self-directed learning	02.Viewing multimedia materials related to industry and academia. 03.Preparing presentations or reports related to industry and academia. Find at least 5 (five) YouTube presentations of at least 15 - 20 minutes length that are directly relevant to the subject of the class. Provide a 500 word written original and not AI-composed summary of the main message of these films.

Evaluation

Evaluation is based on the teacher’s impression of level of participation and overall performance in the class by the students.
Grades are calculated on the following basis:
40% Class participation through assignments and discussions
30% Midterm paper (1000 words) and presentation.
30% Endterm paper (4000 - 6000 words)

Textbook & other References

Materials are multi-disciplinary.
Further materials will be given by the teacher during the course of the class.

Mandatory reading:
Anderson, Benedict. Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism. Verso, 1991;
Appadurai, A. 1996. Disjuncture and Difference in the Global Cultural Economy. In Arjun Appadurai (ed.) Modrnity at Large: Cultural Dimensions of Globalization (Minneapolis: Minnesota University Press), 27 – 47;
Heise, U. K. 2013. From the Blue Planet to Google Earth. E-Flux Journal, Issue #50, December 2013;
Horn, E. and Bergthaller, H. 2019. Scales I: The Planetary. In The Anthropocene: Key Issues for the Humanities (London: Routledge).
Juneja, M. and Kravagna, Chr., 2013. Understanding Transculturalism. In Fahi Amir et al. (eds.), Transcultural Modernisms (Berlin: Sternberg Press), 22 – 33;
Welsch, W. 2001. Transculturality: The Changing Form of Cultures Today. Filozofski vestnik XXII.2 (2001): 59-86;
Welsch, W. 2009. On the Acquisition and Posssession of Commonalities. In Frank Schulze-Engler and Sissy Heff (eds.), Transcultural English Studies: Theories, Fictions, Realities. (Amsterdam - New York: Rodopi Press), 3 – 36.

Teaching Aids & Teacher's Website

Office Hours

Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs(Link URL)

04.Quality Education 13.Climate Action 16.Peace and Justice 17.Partnerships for the Goals

include experience courses：N

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