Bridging
Gaps
A
Dialogue between theologians from
The Netherlands, Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe
The Netherlands, Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe
A project of the Faculty of
Theology of the VU University Amsterdam, sponsored by ‘Kerkinactie’ (Protestant
Church in The Netherlands) and the Protestant Diacony of Amsterdam
Meeting
new worlds in Amsterdam
Contents
Bridging Gaps_____________________________________________ 2
Background of the
project:___________________________________ 3
Foreign students speak
…____________________________________ 4
With whom do we
co-operate?________________________________ 5
Your stay in The
Netherlands_________________________________ 6
Study activities___________________________________________ 6
Place of residence_________________________________________ 6
Use of library and
computers at the faculty____________________ 7
Visa____________________________________________________ 7
Financial support_________________________________________ 7
Insurance_______________________________________________ 7
Excursions______________________________________________ 7
Church participation______________________________________ 8
Application procedure_______________________________________ 9
Requirements to apply_____________________________________ 9
Applicant Profile_________________________________________ 10
Proposed study plan and
study project_______________________ 10
Criteria according to
which the applicants are selected__________ 10
Documents to be
submitted with the application________________ 11
Address________________________________________________ 11
what the
influence of culture and context on theology is, and vice versa? To have the chance
to pursue your academic subject of interest in a new and stimulating
environment? What it’s like to study in the heart of Europe ?
To live and learn with other theologians from totally different cultures? To
step back and take a critical look at your own culture? To discover Amsterdam
Bridging Gaps
Every year,
from September through to December, a number of students from our partner
institutions study for 3 months at the Theological Faculty of the VU University
Amsterdam. The main focus of Bridging
Gaps is to offer these students the opportunity to further deepen a part of
their theological studies in The Netherlands, without the burden of a ‘regular’
Western academic curriculum. Students are offered a scholarship which covers
travel and living expenses. Scholarships are mainly provided by Kerkinactie.
Also the Protestant Diacony of Amsterdam sponsors this project.
Students are
intensively supervised by VU teachers and are exposed to Dutch ecclesiastical
and social reality. Although the academic side of their stay has priority, all
students also participate in church activities and – through lectures and
preaching – share stories about their life back home.
Bridging Gaps consists of
the following four central activities:
1.
Personal research done under
the guidance of a staff member of the Faculty of Theology of the VU University Amsterdam.
2.
Intercultural exchange and
lectures. This exchange consists of: classes, exposure and group dynamics.
3.
An introduction to and exchange
with Dutch churches.
4.
Exposure to Dutch society,
culture and church life.
Background of the project:
Since 1980 the
Faculty of Theology of the VU University Amsterdam has maintained valuable
contacts with many theological institutions throughout the southern hemisphere
and Europe . What started hesitantly as a
dialogue with liberation theologians and an exchange of students, has evolved
into the programme Contextual Theology.
This programme is financed by ‘Kerkinactie’[1]
and implemented by the Faculty of Theology of the VU University Amsterdam.
Bridging Gaps is an important part of the programme.
As part of the
programme Contextual Theology, VU students can spend time studying at reputable
theological seminaries and faculties in Latin America, South Africa , Indonesia ,
India and Eastern
Europe .
Since the
beginning of the nineties, the programme Contextual Theology has become more
reciprocal and the result of this is the project Bridging Gaps. Now, students from the southern hemisphere and Eastern Europe can come to the VU University for a period
of study and research, also receiving personal supervision and comfortable
housing. This meeting of the minds between theologians from Africa, Latin
America, Asia and Eastern Europe has produced
some fascinating discussions. Time and again it has become clear how important
it is to look beyond local boundaries and local theology. It cannot be denied that discussions with
people ‘from another world’ offer much insight.
By now we have
had the privilege to offer hospitality and guidance to a large number of
students from different countries of origin. We happily share some of their
experiences in their own words.
Foreign students speak …
‘It is a great
joy for me to be a part of this bridging gaps program because we could learn
about other's faiths, cultures and contexts. It really broadens my thoughts and
worldviews in my theological journey. I am motivated to be a global person in a
global age through sharing our differences and contextual reading of the texts.’
Than Sang Awi,
Myanmar, (BG 2012)
‘After we
studied very hard, there was an opportunity of visiting some sites such as
Utrecht museums and the Dome Church which was destroyed by a storm hundred
years ago, historical areas of Amsterdam central station were some of the most
significant areas. Moreover, we have visited historical sites such as the
Protestantse Diaconie Amsterdam (the place where the poor work and eat, the
addicted persons helped and counseled, street persons met and served and so on),
Jewish historical Museum, where the oldest Bibles and other manuscripts are
found, Jewish Synagogue, Kerk in Actie, Bijbels Museum, the churches of
Catholic and Protestant joined together and where the poor are being fed and
helped and finally, we have visited the tourist site at Zaanse Schans.’
Teku Kebede Ashame, Ethiopia (BG 2012)
‘It has been
a privilege to do research in a well-resourced environment. Although the system initially was new and
frustrating, once it became more familiar it really worked well for me. It was a blessing to be able to find material
that is not necessarily available in my home institute.’
Dawid Mouton, South Africa (BG 2012)
‘From the
first day of my arrival, when dr. Hans de Wit and Maria Berends met me at the
airport, all through the program and to its last days, I have had the most
wonderful combination of intensive and effective individual research,
stimulating class discussions, unforgettable church visits, and an amazingly
enjoyable fellowship and friendship with my colleagues from the Bridging Gaps
2003.’Corneliu Constantineanu,
Evangelical Theological Seminary Osijek Croatië, member Pentecostal Church Romania
With whom do we co-operate?
Over the years,
strong bonds have been forged with a great number of seminaries and institutes.
In Latin America , this entails all major
seminaries and faculties. Within Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe we have
contacts with many institutes and seminaries. All Theological Students are encouraged to apply, even if you are not
sure about official bonds with the Bridging Gaps program.
Your stay in TheNetherlands
Your stay in The
Study activities
During your
stay, your main activity will be working on your research. You will meet
regularly with your supervisor and at the end of your stay you will be expected
to present a final paper. Besides this paper you will be asked to write an
evaluation of your time in The Netherlands.
During the first
8 weeks you will join classes ‘Class and
Context’. ‘Class and Context’
consists of a series of 8 lectures held
once a week starting in the first week of September. These lectures are given
by dr. Hans de Wit and focus mainly on the contexts of the participating students
and questions arising from these contexts. The classes start with a
presentation by the students, detailing their own cultural context followed by
intercultural reading of the Bible. During the classes there are opportunities
for discussion and intellectual exchange. There are opportunities for
discussion and exchange of personal experiences. Students are expected to
prepare presentations for classes and to read the mandatory literature.
Place of residence
Your place of
residence will be the VU Guesthouse. The Guesthouse is situated near VU
University Amsterdam (2 kilometers). A tram and metro stop is located nearby
(metro/tram stop Uilenstede).
Foreign
students and lecturers of various departments stay at the VU Guesthouse. The
rooms are completely furnished, including blankets and sheets. They also
contain a ‘kitchenette’ and private bathroom. The Hospitium is part of the VU
campus called ‘Uilenstede’, home to many VU students. The rooms are available
from September 1st until November 30th. Uilenstede is
situated less than 20 minutes from the city centre of Amsterdam
Use of library and computers at the faculty
At the faculty
you will get an access-card to use the extensive library of VU University Amsterdam.
All computers have unlimited internet access. Information about the library can
be found at our website: www.godgeleerdheid.vu.nl/en/students/library/index.asp
Visa
For most of
the participants it is necessary to obtain visa. Information about obtaining visa
can be found on the website: http://www.minbuza.nl/en/services/consular-services/visa
Financial support
If selected,
you will receive a scholarship. This scholarship will cover all expenditure for
flight, accommodation, study,
as well as
those for board and lodging.
Also the excursions will be paid for. Other travelling and transport expenses
during the stay in The Netherlands will be on your own expense, you can pay
those from the weekly allowance you will get.
Insurance
To obtain visa
you are obliged to take out an insurance for the period of your stay in The
Netherlands (health, life, accidents). This insurance will be covered by the
scholarship.
Excursions
Every year we make a few excursions, the costs of which are covered
by the Faculty. These four excursions will be:
- Excursion
through historical
- Excursion
to
- Visit to the drugspastorate, streetpastor
and other social projects. These visits will show you some places where
diaconal work is done for people who live in the margins in Amsterdam
centre (drugaddicts, homeless, migrants, illegals).
Church participation
Every student will be asked to participate in church. A number of
weekends will be spent at a church community somewhere in The Netherlands
(students will visit in pairs).
Some churches will ask participants to act in a service by praying,
by preaching or by telling about their own backgrounds. During your three month
stay you will pay approximately two or three visits to different (protestant)
churches.
Application procedure
All partner
institutions receive a letter of invitation in July, asking them to nominate
students suited for participation in this project. Along with this letter of
invitation they also receive brochures to announce the project to their
students. The deadline for application is December 31st.
In February the
Committee for International Affairs of the Faculty of Theology of VU University
Amsterdam assembles to make a selection of the applicants. The Committee for
International Affairs consists of personnel and students of the Faculty and a
delegation of Kerkinactie. Every year, the number of applications is greater
than the number of scholarships. This unfortunately makes selection necessary.
The selection is made partly on the merit of a research proposal submitted by
the student. This proposal must be relevant to the local situation of the
applicant and the VU University (or one of its sister faculties in The
Netherlands) must have adequate expertise to make the stay worthwhile.
In March the
selection procedure will come to an end and the VU University will announce the
selected students. At that moment the procedure to obtain visa must be
initiated. Selected students will
maintain close contact with dr. Hans de Wit and his assistant.
Requirements to apply
You are
required to submit a research proposal, which defines the academic question and
the research objectives. You are also required to specify which part of the
research project you would like to complete at the Faculty of Theology of VU
University Amsterdam. The research proposal is to be approved by the student’s
local faculty or seminary, as well as by the student’s supervising dean or
tutor. You are to include your curriculum vitae and a description of the
academic path followed so far. In addition to this, the Faculty requires a
testimonial from an authorised institute concerning your command of the English
language. It is considered essential for application that you have a good
command of English. Therefore you may be asked by the Faculty of Theology of VU
University Amsterdam to take the TOEFL-test (short for: Test of English as a
Foreign Language).
Applicant Profile
You are a
theology student in at least your third or fourth year of bachelor study.
Ideally, you have already obtained a first degree, and are now specialising.
The three-month stay would make an important contribution to a specific study
project or a MA thesis. You are not older than 40 years old.
Proposed study plan and study project
-You are to
submit a proposed study plan to the secretary of the selection committee (i.e.
dr J.H. de Wit). In this proposal, you explain why you consider it important to
your study project to study at a European or more specifically a Dutch faculty.
- Your
proposal has to be approved by one of the official authorities of the sending
faculty or seminary (e.g. the dean, the examination board, or the supervisor).
This approval should be mentioned in your application.
- The proposal
must specify the different phases in your study project, as well as the desired
result at the end of the period.
- The proposal
will be analysed by the selection committee. If the committee has selected you
and approved your proposed study plan, you will be assigned to a supervisor or
a team of teachers with whom you will be working for the duration of your stay.
The tutor(s) will be responsible for intensive monitoring and direct
supervision of your progress.
Criteria according to which the applicants are selected
- Consistency,
originality and thoroughness of the research proposal.
- Economic,
social and cultural situation (precedence is given to students from underprivileged circumstances)
-
International experience of the applicant (less experience being better than
more).
- Your
academic situation
- Your
academic specialisation. The committee will ensure that the number of
applicants is distributed evenly over the teachers at the Faculty of Theology
of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
- Availability
of the eligible university teachers at the VU.
- Potential
contribution of the VU to your field of research.
- Even
geographical distribution (i.e. not all students can come from one particular
country or region).
- Even
distribution between male and female students.
- Your
religious background (Preference is given to those who have a strong
relationship with their local and/or national church)
- Are you
officially supported by a seminary or faculty acknowledged by the Faculty of
Theology of VU University
- Your
willingness to be actively involved in Dutch church life.
Documents to be submitted with the application
You are
expected to submit the following documents:
- The format
which is sent to you with this brochure. This format contains your curriculum
vitae and your research proposal.
- A
testimonial from an authorised institute concerning your sufficient command of
English.
- A
testimonial from a teacher, dean or other authorised academic institute
concerning your academic ability and the study project in The Netherlands.
- The signed
declaration of intent (included in the letter of invitation).
Address
Applications should be sent to the following address, which
can also be used to obtain further information. You can sent your application
by email or hard copy.
Prof. Dr. Peter-Ben Smit
Faculty of Theology
VU University Amsterdam
De Boelelaan 1105
1081 HV Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Tel: + 31 20 598 66 19
E-mail: p.b.a.smit@vu.nl
[1] Kerkinactie is the name for all diaconal and missionary work of the Protestant Church
in the Netherlands both in
the Netherlands
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar