ABOUT THE FACULTY
The Faculty of Development and Multicultural Studies (FDMS) brings together two very important sub-disciplines in the social science – development and multicultural studies. Development studies focus is mainly the Global South or the developing countries where nations are characterized by a diverse tapestry of cultures partly as a consequence of the historical experience of most
developing countries and the socio-political emancipation, social-economic and spatial mobility of people in a globalized world. Development and “multiculturality” are critical facets of societies in developing countries, they are both boon and bane for these societies. The programmes of study at FDMS investigate the dynamics of development processes, the essential of “multiculturality” today, and the tenuousness of multicultural society in the context of nation-state and the global village. One strand of this investigation aims at developing a critical holistic understanding of development at multi-scale, and development processes in the context of multicultural society especially how it engages ethnic and other social minorities and the poor. The other strand emphasizes the “multiculturality” of society aiming at developing a comprehensive knowledge of the nature and constituents of cultural diversity and explores how this multicultural backdrop influences such policies and views as multiculturalism, nation-building, minority rights, and other universal values and practices that are being propagated among and demanded of citizens of this global village. Drawing on the knowledge and perspectives adopted by the development studies and the multicultural studies components of the Faculty of Development and Multicultural Studies and incorporating selected courses from other faculties in the university, FDMS is offering the following undergraduate programmes of study :
Development Studies. The development studies programme engages students in the investigation of development issues via the lenses of the major social science perspectives. The course units are drawn mainly form sociology, anthropology, economics, management and environmental science. Lecture-room learning is combined with empirical field-based practical experience in micro-level development processes. Most course units are characterized by substantial element of familiarization and skill building in the use of relevant technology. Multiculturalism and Communication in the Professions. In this programme, students explore and examine the intricacies and dynamics of cultural diversity with the objective of taming its negative potential and developing communication skill with which to navigate the often delicate interethnic relations in the context of social groups such as the work place and the larger society. Course units in this programme draw upon such disciplines as cultural anthropology, sociology, politics, management, communication especially intercultural communication, and sociolinguistics. Both programme requires students to complete a 21 weeks course combining lectures, workshop, research, and videography/photography. The lectures will cover basic topics in visual anthropology while the workshop would cover the basics of photography and documentary filmmaking. Student researches would focus on any topic of his/her own choice under two broad areas of cultural diversity and local-level impacts of development in Sabah. This course is offered during the second semester of the second year and runs through the following short third semester culminating in a 5 minutes video clip or a reasonable-size compilation of still photographs (to be presented during week 21).
