International Communications

Course: International Communications

Course number: PB1157
ECTS credits: 6
Prerequisites: None

Description

This course studies communication as it happens in world transformed by technology and globalization. Special attention will be paid to the impact of new technologies on the media and to the benefits that come from Innovation.

Learning Objectives

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

- Understand the impact of Information and Communications Technologies on communication and on society, paying special attention to the transition of old media to new media.
- Analyze globalization and innovation and how they impact in the way we communicate and work.
- Analyze the transition of mass media to participatory media, the relationship between the media and the public sphere and between the new ways of participation and the progress of modern democracies.
- Discuss opportunities and threats derived from these trends.
- Understand the importance of innovation, social capital, and networks for communication in a Knowledge Based Society.
- Write and do research on topic they will choose, (and that will be approved by the professor), synthesizing information from a number of sources, detecting bias, promoting their intellectual curiosity and their independent thinking.
- Present that topic to the rest of the class.
- Improve their Internal Communication Skills and their Leadership whenever they
work in organizations that operate in a changing environment.

Formative Activities
Reading, discussion, research and writing of papers.

Methodology
The methodology encourages active participation, exchange of knowledge and skills that will help students in their future professional careers.

Evaluation
The form of assessment is based on the core principles of the educational assessment, i.e., an active and participative teaching-learning process focused on the learner. The instructor uses numerous and differentiated forms of assessment to calculate the final grade received for this course. For the record, these are listed below. The content, criteria and specific requirements for each assessment category will
be explained in greater detail in class.

Grading System
In the Spanish educational system, it is required to quantitatively express the result of each student’s evaluation. In order to do so, Nebrija faculty uses different strategies and instruments such as: papers, exams, tests, projects, self-evaluation activities, etc. In order to issue a final grade for the Spanish Plus programs the following scale is established:
33 % Attendance and active participation in class
33% Daily work
34% Exams/papers/projects
Therefore, the final grade is the average between attendance and participation, daily work and exams, presentations, projects and essays.
Active participation in class is evaluated by means of different activities such as:

• Activities and exercises correction;
• Reflection upon the different contents in the course
• Oral activities (individual, in pairs or in groups). Fluency, correction, adequacy and relevance are taken into account.
• Daily work makes reference to any activity or task that is done inside or outside of the clas sroom, whether during the class time or at any other time.
• Exams/papers/projects

The course includes a midterm and a final written exam on theoretical concepts and course facts. Also, two projects will be elaborated, both including an oral presentation in front of the class. If a student, unjustifiably, does not do or submit an exam, paper or project, it will be graded with a ‘0’.

The final grade will be the average of active in-class participation, oral presentations and directed academic activities.

Attendance Policy
Attendance is mandatory. In case of missing 5 or more sessions in one course, the student will receive a zero in his/her participation and attendance grade. In addition, not attending classes will not excuse the student from handing in in any homework, papers or essays previously assigned.
The following situations must be considered:

• Each session of class will count as an absence.
• Two delays of more than 15 minutes will be considered an absence. The entrance to class will not be allowed after 30 minutes once it has started.
• There are no excused absences. E.g.: Not attending class because of sickness will count as an absence.
  The student is responsible for catching up with any homework done while absent.
• Exams dates have been officially approved by the University, therefore, they will not be changed.*

*Except for those courses where the professor will set up specific dates and inform the students at the beginning of the program.

 

NÚMBER OF ABSENCES PARTICIPATION
3 unjustified absences - 30%
4 unjustified absences - 40%
5 unjustified absences - 50%

If a student has more than 5 unjustified absences, the PARTICIPATION GRADE will be zero (0). Any student with 7 or more absences will NOT pass the course. Those students whose absences have been properly justified will get No presentado (N.P). Absences do NOT excuse the fulfillment of tasks, papers or essays.

Active Participation
The methodology used in class demands from the student a daily participation regarding the following:

- Debates about different topics;
- Questions posed in class;
- Opinions and comments;
- Documents and texts.

Criteria to Evaluate Participation Grade
The student participates very actively in the class activities. S/he
successfully does the requested tasks. S/he contributes to a good
development of the course, encourages his/her classmates and favor
debate in class.

8.5 -10

The student participates actively in the class activities. S/he does the
requested tasks and submits them on time. Shows great interest to learn.

7- 8.4

The student, occasionally, makes interesting remarks, but s/he basically
answers when s/he is asked. S/he does not show a clear interest in the
course. Misses classes occasionally.

5- 6.9

The student does not participate unless s/he is asked. S/he has unjustified
absences and delays. His/her attitude is not very participative.

0- 4.9

Warning on Plagiarism
When writing a University paper or essay and reference is made to certain authors, it is mandatory to cite them by
means of a footnote or a direct reference. In no case it is acceptable that a student uses a text, no matter how brief
it is, written by somebody else without putting it in inverted commas, as this means s/he is trying to make it look as
his/her own. This is called plagiarism and in a university context it could be penalized with expulsion.

Readings:

Basic Bibliography:

- Brainard Lael and Derek Chollet: Global Development 2.0. Can Philanthropist, the Public and the Poor Make Poverty History?. Brookings Institution Press.
2009.
- Del Río, Eduardo: El Trabajo en el siglo XXI. ¿Cómo afecta la tecnología al empleo?. Ediciones AENOR. 2003
- Del Río, Eduardo y otros: Gestión y administración de Fundaciones. Editorial
COLEX. 1ª Edición. 2012
- Del Río Eduardo: La importancia de la innovación organizativa para la obtención de beneficios derivados de la introducción de las tecnologías de la
información. Tesis Doctoral. Publicaciones U.C.M. 2000
- Del Río Eduardo y otros: Economía y gestión de entidades no lucrativas.
Editorial universitaria Ramón Areces, 2009.
- Del Río Eduardo y otros: Estrategia, innovación y colaboración intersectorial, dentro de Gestión de personas en la empresa social, Editorial Grupo 5, Madrid, 2011.
- Hammack, David and Steven Heydemann: Globalization, Philanthropy, and
Civil Society. Projecting Institutional Logics Abroad. Indiana University Press.
2009.
- Kanter, Beth and Allison H. Fine: The Networked Nonprofit. Jossey-Bass.
2010.

- Kanter, Beth, Delahaye, Katie: Measuring the Networked Nonprofit. Jossey-Bass. 2012.
- The Economist: Survey: Social Networking. January 30th 2010.

- Mair J, Robinson J, Hockerts K: Social Entrepreneurship, Palgrave Macmillan, 2006
- Reichheld, Fred: The Ultimate Question 2.0. How Net Promoter Companies
Thrive in a Customer-Driven World. Harvard Business Review Press 2011.
- Sievers, Bruce: Civil Society, Philanthropy and the Fate of the Commons. Tufts
University Press, 2010.

* Complementary Bibliography:

- The Economist: Articles on communication, internet, and information society from the last number of The Economist are distributed every week in class.
- @lliance for philanthropy and social investment worldwide Articles on communication, Web 2.0 and social impact are distributed in class from @lliance for philanthropy and social investment worldwide.
- EFFECT. Foundations in Europe together. Articles on communication, Web 2.0 and social impact are distributed in class from EFFECT. Foundations in Europe
together.
- Cuadernos de la Asociación Española de Fundaciones. I am Co-Editor of Cuadernos de la Asociación Española de Fundaciones, a magazine that analyses, reflects and communicates news from the foundation world. Three issues are
published every year with a circulation of 3.000 copies that are sent to members,
public authorities and the media of Spain. With 1059 foundations-members, Asociación Española de Fundaciones is the second most important in Europe.The September 2012 has been distributed among the students o International Communications at Nebrija University.

Virtual Campus

https://campusvirtual.nebrija.es

The university offers a virtual platform (Blackboard) where students can revise contents, do their tasks and interact with the other members of the group.

Blackboard is an e-learning environment and also a collaboration tool. The main goals of Blackboard are to be a user-friendly and flexible system. It is a tool for good learning, requiring minimal attention to the tools and allowing maximum attention to the content.

SESSIONS TOPIC READINGS
Introduction
The Revolution of Media
- Information and Knowledge
- Communication and News
- Media and Technology
- Relevance of a General Education

Week 1
Globalization and technology
- Different meanings of Globalization
- In Communication (Global Village)
- In Economics. International Economic
Integration. Free trade and foreign direct investment.Liberalization of
financial flows.
- Relationship between the progress of technology and Globalization.

Articles from The Economist, Stanford Social Innovation Review

Week 2
From Mass Media to Participatory Media.
- New Media and Old Media
- Bloggin or Conversations
- User is at the center and content is King?
- The Conversation. The Art of Listening, Learning and Sharing
Articles from The Economist, @lliance, EFFECT, Cuadernos de la Asociación Española de Fundaciones

Week 3
The Media Political Participation and Democracy
- The citizen and public sphere
- The Media and the public sphere. Ways of participation.
- Feeling of political efficiency.
- Cooperation
Research from BBVA Foundation, from Asociación Española de Fundaciones and Articles from The Economist, @lliance, EFFECT, Cuadernos de la Asociación Española de Fundaciones

Week 4
Communication, Social Capital and Trust
- Social Capital
- Trusts and Networks
- Elements of Trust
- Trust in Institutions

Research from BBVA Foundation, from Asociación Española de Fundaciones and Articles from The Economist, @lliance, EFFECT, Cuadernos de la Asociación Española de Fundaciones

Week 5
Social Capital and Networks
- Diversity of Networks
- Technology and Networks.
- Social Networks 2.0

-Telling tales

- Kanter, Beth and Allison H. Fine: The Networked Nonprofit. Jossey- Bass. 2010.
- Articles from The Economist, @lliance, EFFECT, Cuadernos de la Asociación Española de Fundaciones

Week 6
Communication in Organizations
- Leaders of Printed Media
- Communication groups
- Trends

-Taking the Stress Out of Stressful Conversations

Articles from Spanish Media

Week 7
Social Media and Organizations
- Technoglobalization and work
- New style of leadership
- New style of communication

-The Power of Talk

Chapter from Kanter, Beth,Allison H. Fine: The Networked Nonprofit.
Jossey-Bass. 2010
Harvard Business Review 10 Must Reads on Communication

Week 8
Presentation Techniques
-

Weeks 9 - 12
Group presentation and class discussion

Each student will do a fifteen minute presentation on a topic on which he has already written a paper and has done research, supervised by the professor, for the previous three months.

The presentation will be followed by a ten minute class discussion.