2023/24 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

SOEE5586M Environment & Development International Field Course

30 creditsClass Size: 20

Module manager: Dr Susannah Sallu
Email: S.Sallu@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2023/24

Module replaces

SOEE5585 Environment & Development Case Study: from theory to practice.

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module provides a structured opportunity to gain field experience in a rural landscape in Tanzania helping to broaden knowledge and deepen understanding of interrelations between the environment and development. It draws on staff research, local practitioner and grassroots perspectives on rural livelihoods, approaches to biodiversity conservation, protected area governance, climate change and climate-smart agriculture. Through experiential learning, participatory and reflexive practice students will critically reflect on class and desk-based learning, and develop skills relevant to environment-development professionals.Online enrolment does not guarantee a place on this module. In addition to online enrolment, students wishing to enrol on this module will need to submit a 'Statement of Motivation Application Form' and pay a field course fee deposit of GBP200. Students applying for this module should be aware that if accepted onto this module they will incur an additional fee of GBP1,800 (to be paid in two equal instalments spaced out October-January). The total cost of the field course (GBP2,000) is not covered in programme fees. This fee covers all costs for student participation in the field course, but does not include additional personal costs incurred by a student which may be necessary for safe travel to Tanzania e.g. vaccinations, medication, personal first aid kit and suitable clothing/footwear for fieldwork. The deadlines for completion of 'Statement of Motivation Form' and deposit payment will be released during induction week. If the number of students exceeds available places on the field course, the 'Statement of Motivation Form' will be used to select the most suitable candidates. Confirmation of a place on the module will be communicated before the module change deadline in Semester 1, however students are advised to apply for an additional back up module. Should a student not be accepted onto the module the deposit will be returned.

Objectives

The objectives of this module are:
1. To provide students a structured opportunity to develop contextual knowledge of the interrelations between the environment and development in a rural landscape of a developing country context.
2. Through field visits students will develop in-depth understanding of landscape and livelihood diversity and dynamics.
3. Through participatory dialogue with protected area managers, tour guides and villagers students will develop in-depth understanding of local community and practitioner perspectives on approaches to protected area governance and rural livelihood development.
4. Through farm visits and participatory dialogue with farmers, agricultural extension officers, local government and NGO representatives students will develop understanding on climate-smart agriculture approaches and innovation.
5. Through project work on a topic of interest, students will develop experience of planning, implementing and sharing outcomes of an exploratory study with a stakeholder audience.
6. Group dialogue will be used to build student capacity for critical reflexivity during the field course (ie. focus close attention upon one's own actions, thoughts, feelings, values, identity, and their effect upon others, situations, and professional and social structures).

Learning outcomes
By the end of the module students will be able to demonstrate:
1. Contextual knowledge of the interrelations between the environment and development in a rural landscape of a developing country context.
2. In-depth understanding of landscape and livelihood diversity and dynamics in the case study context.
3. In-depth understanding of local community and practitioner perspectives on approaches to protected area governance and rural livelihood development.
4. Understanding of climate-smart agriculture approaches and innovation.
5. An ability to plan, implement and share the outcomes of an exploratory study to a stakeholder audience.
6. Train and practice communication skills of relevance to environment-development careers and test in-depth knowledge on a focal topic, effective planning and implementation of project work.
7. An ability to focus close attention upon one's own actions, thoughts, feelings, values, identity, and their effect upon others, situations, and professional and social structures.

Skills outcomes
By the end of the module students will be able to demonstrate:
1. Contextual knowledge of the interrelations between the environment and development in a rural landscape of a developing country context.
2. In-depth understanding of landscape and livelihood diversity and dynamics in the case study context.
3. In-depth understanding of local community and practitioner perspectives on approaches to protected area governance and rural livelihood development.
4. Understanding of climate-smart agriculture approaches and innovation.
5. An ability to plan, implement and share the outcomes of an exploratory study to a stakeholder audience.
6. An ability to focus close attention upon one's own actions, thoughts, feelings, values, identity, and their effect upon others, situations, and professional and social structures.

Syllabus

Introduction to the case-study context (in Leeds), with focus given to the academic rationale for focus on:
- Biodiversity conservation, protected area governance and tourism
- Rural livelihoods, ecosystem services and livelihood resilience.
- Climate change, impacts, climate-smart agricultural practice and innovation.
Preparing for fieldwork (in Leeds)
- Research practice, ethics and methods in cross-cultural contexts
- Participatory and ethnographic methodologies
- Reflexive thinking and reflective writing
- Fieldwork logistics, project planning and health and safety

Field course (in Tanzania) – 14-day trip including travel.
1) Seminars from Nature Reserve staff
2) Field visits within Amani Nature Reserve, to smallholder households and farms, tea estate and climate-smart agriculture demonstration plots
3) Participatory dialogues with nature reserve stakeholders, including local government, non-governmental organisations, businesses, secondary school, local village leaders and villagers
4) Group reflection sessions
5) Project work
6) Oral presentations to stakeholders

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Supervision	3	0.30	1.00
presentation	1	4.00	4.00
Fieldwork	10	7.00	70.00
Lecture	4	2.00	8.00
Practical	1	1.00	1.00
Seminar	1	2.00	2.00
Independent online learning hours			2.00
Private study hours			212.00
Total Contact hours			86.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			300.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

- Immediate formative feedback will be provided during practical session and group discussions of project ideas with staff in Leeds in week 18
- Regular iterative feedback will be provided by staff during field visits, participatory dialogue sessions, all group reflective sessions, during one-to-one and group meetings with students during the field course. Learning can then be fed into project work.
- Detailed formative feedback will be provided on project presentation, learning from which can be fed into briefing note writing.
- Formative feedback will be provided on briefing note at the end of the module.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Oral Presentation	Maximum 10 minutes	20.00
Project	Project Briefing note, 1500 words	50.00
Reflective log	2 page summary	30.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Re-sit for this module will take the form of a 3,000 word written assignment.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 06/07/2023

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