Project Name: SIAS – UoE Field Course, 2019
Project Leader: Kaustuv Raj Neupane
Partners and Collaborators: Southasia Institute of Advanced Studies (SIAS) and University of Edinburgh (UoE)
Duration: 14 – 24 April, 2019
Brief Description of the Project:
Southasia Institute of Advanced Studies (SIAS) Nepal and University of Edinburgh (UoE) Scotland (U.K) inked collaboration through the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2019. The goal of this cooperation is to advance collaborative research and academic exchange in various aspects of social sciences, environment, development studies and public policy and further explore through research activities in specific but not limiting themes around environment, climate change, disaster, governance etc. In addition, it aims for joint research, and encourage joint publication, production of high quality science outputs.
For the activities under the MoU, the two institutions collaborated in hosting field courses for MSc in Environment and Development students of University of Edinburgh (UoE) . This course aimed to provide a unique opportunity to experience and explore at first-hand the intersection of environment and development issues within the global South. They were introduced to projects, practices and processes related to issues such as water management, community forestry, and adaptation to climate change, disaster risk management, and biodiversity conservation through series of lectures and field works. The sessions were conducted by 9 experts in Kathmandu and Dhulikhel. Students met with a range of people from government, development agencies, (I)NGOs, grassroots organizations, research institutions, and local communities in Kathmandu as well as in Dhulikhel. Based on these initial interactions and insights, students then designed, developed and conducted small group research projects, facilitated by UoE staff and SIAS. 29 students, 3 PhD Scholars, 2 faculty members from UoE along with 5 Master’s students from Nepal joined the field course.
For reflections of the participants please read the blogs:
- Transformative learning through fieldwork and collaborations By Dr. Sam Staddon (Lecturer in Environment & Development, University of Edinburgh)
- SIAS- UoE field course: Mutual learning experience By Parbati Pandey, Masters Student from Nepal
- Reflection for SIAS Beyond Informative: When Learning Becomes Transformative By Peter Rowe (masters student at the University of Edinburgh)
- You and I are no different By Nash Fleur Masters student at the University of Edinburgh
- On Nepal: Fieldwork Reflections By Sonya Manchanda Peres
