Disclaimer
The continuation of this course might be impacted by the international and national (Philippines) developments regarding the Corona crisis and the availability of external funding.
Admission requirements
This course is part of the Minor Sustainable Development and is a selective course for third year BSc students Cultural Anthropology. To take part in the course Area Study Sustainability, students must have followed the previous courses Big Issues New Answers and Resilient Cities. Selected Cultural Anthropology students are exempted from these requirements.
Description
The Faculty of Social Sciences (FSW) and the Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) of Leiden University, in cooperation with Isabela State University and the Mabuwaya Foundation in the Philippines organizes an international, interdisciplinary course on sustainability issues in North East Luzon in the Philippines in January 2021. The focus of the course is sustainable development and environmental conservation. Each year a specific theme is chosen. Previous themes have included water management, natural disaster management and plastic pollution.
In January 2021, 30 international students (15 Leiden University, 15 Isabela State University) from different disciplinary backgrounds will conduct anthropological fieldwork in northeast Luzon, Philippines. The course will consist of an introduction to sustainability issues globally and in the Philippines by various organizations in Manila and an introduction to local issues at Isabela State University by external and academic presenters. Several field sites will be visited for an in-depth introduction to issues with sustainable development and environmental conservation and to practice field work techniques. The students will work in couples (interdisciplinary, multinational) on the development, implementation, analysis and reporting of a 1-week field study. The results of the study will be presented during a concluding workshop.
For students participating through Leiden University, a number of meetings will be organized in fall 2020 where the specific theme, field research area and practical matters of doing fieldwork in the Philippines will be discussed. Literature on the specific theme will be read by the students before departure. A final report will be written by the students in the Philippines. The written reports of the field studies will be compiled and printed as a booklet.
Specific theme 2020-2021: to be determined
Course objectives
The objective of the course is to gain experience with working in an international, interdisciplinary team on a problem-oriented research assignment. Apart from gaining knowledge on sustainable development and environmental conservation in a rapidly developing country, students will learn practical fieldwork skills and the application of interdisciplinary research methods and techniques.
Course load
Preparations in the Netherlands (fall-winter 2020): 26 hours
Introduction meeting in October: 4 study hours
Literature 100 pages: 12 study hours
Preparation meeting October/November: 6 study hours
Preparation meeting in December: 4 study hours
Philippines (January 2021): 254 hours
Visits to institutions/projects/field sites including travel: 8 days x 8h = 64 study hours
Lectures: 8 lectures x 1.5 h = 12 study hours
Fieldwork preparation: Work groups and teams: 4 days × 8h = 32 study hours
Fieldwork (6 full days + 2 days for travel and settlement): 6 × 8h x 2 = 96 study hours
Data analysis, report writing, presentation (5 days/evenings): 10 h/day x 5 = 50 study hours.
Total: 280 study hours (10 ECTS)
Assessment method
• Active participation during preparation, workshops, lectures and fieldwork – 50 %
Written report (3000 – 5000 words) – 40 %
Presentations – 10 %
Blackboard
The Blackboard module of this course will be open and available to selected students after the selection procedure is completed. Blackboard will be used to communicate course related information, including the schedule, literature, assignment details and lecture notes.
Reading list
Reading list will be announced on Blackboard and by email.
Registration
There is a maximum of 15 available places. Students are advised to join the information session about this course in September (date to be announced). Here, you will be informed of the registration procedure, the draft program and practical matters of the course. In order to have an interdisciplinary group of motivated students in this course, a selection will be made of students who register for this course on the basis of motivation letter and major study disciplines. The results of the selection will be announced mid-October. Registration in uSis is not necessary.
Contact
Drs. Merlijn van Weerd
Email: merlijnvanweerd@yahoo.com
Costs
•This course has some additional costs involved:
The contribution per student for local transport costs, accommodation and food is 650 Euros (still under consideration, the definite amount will be announced at the information meeting). This contribution needs to be transferred to the bank account of Leiden University before 1 December 2020 (details follow for selected students). The course is financially supported by the Waterboard Rijnland.
In addition, students have to arrange and pay for their airline ticket to the Philippines, their visa (free for a stay up to 30 days), insurances (universal health insurance with World coverage, Third part liability, travel insurance) and vaccinations (depending on personal travel history and doctor’s advice). The total costs of these differ per person but are estimated to be on average 850 Euros.
Disclaimer
The continuation of this course might be impacted by the international and national (Philippines) developments regarding the Corona crisis and the availability of external funding.