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2025-2026 / SOCI2261-1

Introduction to research in development and international cooperation (this includes a personal piece of work)

Duration

30h Th, 8h Pr, 14h SEM

Number of credits

 Master in population and development studies, professional focus North-South cooperation9 crédits 

Lecturer

Estelle Lecroart, Melissa Schneider

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

All year long

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

This seminar aims to help students produce scientific work related to development cooperation. Its objective is to support students in acquiring a research approach.

Based on an individually chosen theme, the seminar will help them formulate questions, carry out bibliographic research, write a state of the art and a bibliography, and experiment with certain research stages (semi-directed interviews in particular).

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

At the end of this seminar, students will be able to

- carry out documentary research

- distinguish between scientific and grey literature

- write a bibliography and a state of the art

- conduct a semi-directive interview

- put empirical data into perspective and articulate them with the scientific literature

- arrive at the construction of a problem

These abilities will be assessed by the production of structured personal work presenting a clear and relevant question related to development cooperation.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Students who come from another faculty and/or who do not have any additional credits are advised to read these works:



Beau & Weber. Guide de l'enquête de terrain, La découverte

Campenhoudt, L. V. & Quivy, R. Manuel de recherche en sciences sociales

Lejeune, Ch. Manuel d'analyse qualitative; Analyser sans compter ni classer. Deboeck.

Olivier de Sardan, J.-P. La rigueur du qualitatif

Paillé, P. & Mucchielli, A.  L'analyse qualitative en sciences humaines et sociales, 2012

Pirotte, G.  La fabrique de l'aide internationale, 2021, PUL.

Parotte, C. Méthodes de recherche qualitative. Approches et pratiques réflexives en sciences politiques et sociales, PUL.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Face-to-face support seminar with

  • sessions covering theoretical and methodological elements
  • practical exercises to be submitted (intermediate work)
  • sessions in the form of exchanges in subgroups based on intermediate productions. These sessions will be an opportunity to discuss with teachers the progress of their personal work and to ask questions throughout the course.
Attendance at the seminar is mandatory. More than 3 unjustified absences will result in postponement. A justified absence is considered to be: a medical certificate or an official document attesting to a medical appointment or the death of a loved one.

In the event of failure and re-enrollment for a new academic year, the student who registers the SOCI2261 course in their PAE is subject to all of these regulations, which implies mandatory attendance at the seminar.

Students will be required to submit intermediate work necessary for the successful completion of their personal work. A precise work schedule with deadlines to be met will be communicated to students during the first course.

These productions will be assessed for formative purposes. Failure to complete these intermediate productions may result in refusal of the submission of the personal work at the end of the year (June or September)

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face course

Course materials and recommended or required readings

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus


Further information:

A PPT will be available on eCampus, containing the theoretical parts and the discussions that took place during the sessions.

Required readings

A portfolio of texts will be communicated as the sessions progress and available on eCampus.

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam

Written work / report


Further information:

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam

Written work / report

Continuous assessment


Further information:

Exam(s) in session

All sessions combined

- In person

Written assessment

Assignment to be submitted - report

Other: Formative assessment via intermediate productions to be submitted.

Additional explanations:

The seminar will be evaluated through the submission of a personal assignment.

All assignment instructions will be communicated to students via eCampus: structure, eligibility criteria, and specific expectations.

The evaluation will be conducted jointly by the lab supervisor (40%) and one of the instructors of the "Introduction to Research in Development and International Cooperation" seminar (60%), based on the criteria contained in the lab instructions, available on eCampus, as well as on the discussions held and instructions given during the sessions.

Students must comply with the eligibility criteria, otherwise they will be dismissed. 

In their work, they must maintain a critical distance and refrain from any judgment regarding their research topic, and will judiciously use quality scientific literature and appropriate methodological tools.


A grade below 10/20 for the SOCI2261 course (for the personal assignment) will not be credited for deliberation.

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

Contacts

Estelle Lecroart, assistante : estelle.lecroart@uliege.be

Melissa Schneider, assistante : melissa.schneider@uliege.be

Association of one or more MOOCs