ReConnect China MOOC courses

• Introduction to Chinese Politics and Society, spring term
• Introduction to EU-China Relations, spring term
• Introduction to Chinese Economy, autumn term
• Introduction to Chinese Popular Culture, autumn term

These courses aim to impart fundamental knowledge about China to a broad audience, specifically tailored for European students. However, civil servants, journalists, teachers, and similar professionals will also find them valuable.

Each of the courses is worth 3 ECTS credits which correspond with circa 80 hours of active learning. The courses consist of five to six thematic modules which are built upon short recorded expert lectures (ca 20 minutes), slideshows, reading materials and podcasts. Various automated assignments and exams complement the flexible learning process.

You can take the courses independently in the DigiCampus-learning environment without teacher’s supervision and complete the coursework in your own schedule.

Everyone who enrolls in a ReConnect MOOC course and passes the course may download an automatically created course certificate for free in the DigiCampus learning platform. The certificate can be verified with a code.

Students of the University of Turku who have enrolled to the course via the Peppi system will get their grades registered in Peppi.

The courses are graded pass/fail.

You can sign up to the courses on this page https://digicampus.fi/course/index.php?categoryid=247

Introduction to Chinese Politics and Society PASI5240

Spring term

This course provides learners with a solid foundational understanding of contemporary Chinese politics and society. By the end of the course, participants will be able to identify China’s key political and administrative institutions, while also gaining a comprehensive grasp of the policy implementation processes within the country. Moreover, learners will explore significant issues prevalent in Chinese society, including migration, inequality, an aging population, digitalization, and the role of civil society.

This course comprises six thematic modules: 
1.Introduction to China 
2.Short Overview of Modern History 
3.Political System: The Party-State 
4.Policy Planning and Implementation 
5.Population Issues 
6.Digitalization, and Civil Society

Introduction to EU-China Relations PASI5243

Spring term

This course offers a comprehensive introduction to the relations between the European Union (EU) and China. It is designed for learners who wish to develop a foundational understanding of key issues in Sino-EU relations and how they have evolved in the recent global context. Upon completing this course, participants will possess the essential tools to analyze the dynamically evolving relationship between the EU and China. They will also be acquainted with the primary sources of information on Sino-European relations, enabling them to continue engaging and learning even after completing the course.

The course has five thematic modules: 
1. Historical background 
2. Political relations 
3. Economic and societal relations 
4. EU-China relations in a global context 
5. Interdependence between EU and China

Introduction to Chinese Economy PASI5241

Autumn term

This course offers a comprehensive introduction to China's economy. It is designed for learners seeking a foundational understanding of the key factors that influence China's domestic economy within a global context. By the end of the course, participants will have gained essential knowledge about the drivers behind China's remarkable growth as well as the reasons for its current challenges. The course begins with an overview of China's economic development path and the basic characteristics of its domestic economy. Subsequent topics explore the role of the party-state in the economy, the engines of China's economic growth—including trade, investment, and consumption—and issues that have a fundamental impact on China's economy, such as economic geography and demographic changes. Participants will also become familiar with primary sources of information on the Chinese economy, enabling them to continue their engagement and learning even after completing the course.

The course has five thematic modules: 
1. History and legacies 
2. Overview of China's domestic economy 
3. Trade, investments and consumption 
4. Economic geography and demography 
5. Role of the party-state in the economy

Introduction to Chinese Popular Culture PASI5242

Autumn term

This course offers a comprehensive introduction to popular culture in contemporary China, exploring its emergence across cinema, music, television, and social media creator culture. Participants will explore how popular culture intersects with gender, class, national identity, and political power within the Chinese context. Additionally, the course will examine Chinese popular culture as a part of cultural flows within East Asia. By the end of this course, participants will be familiar with the various forms of popular culture, the factors driving its rapid evolution, and the platformisation of cultural production in China. They will also become familiar with primary sources and academic resources related to China's popular culture, facilitating ongoing engagement and learning beyond the course.

The course consists of five thematic modules 
1. History and Legacies 
2. Film 
3. Television 
4. Music 
5. Platformisation of cultural production