14182

WiSe 17/18: Methodenübung zur Gegenwart Chinas

Genia Kostka

Information for students

This course will be taught in English.

Comments

In this course, Master students work jointly with Professor Kostka to advise a ‘client’. The client for this course will be the China Team at Stiftung Wissenschaft and Politik (SWP). SWP advises political decision-makers on international politics and foreign and security policy. During a kick off session in October 2017, the China team at SWP will present students with a complex ‘real-life’ problem related to China. Students will be asked to apply the research methods and consulting skills learned in class to an actual case. They also learn to work together in teams and will receive feedback from SWP during a mid-term feedback session in November and a final presentation in early December. The goal of this seminar is to use a variety of research methods to help SWP in their advisory work on China. Students will read Chinese sources, conduct desktop research, and use other possible research methods. This course also introduces numerous consulting skills and introduce valuable tools used by and required in the consulting industry. In particular, basic consulting frameworks will be taught, such as the 80-20 rule, the elevator speech, 2-2 matrix, issue trees, and top-down communication. By working in a group to address SWP’s questions and tasks, the course will focus on further advancing students' research skills, problem solving skills, presentation skills, and Chinese reading ability. This course will be taught in English. close