CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
Study Project 2021
„Urban Agriculture in Berlin, Nairobi and Dar es Salaam“
If you are interested, please send us (eager.trans-net@hu-berlin ) until 06. April 2021:
1) an informal, brief motivation letter (max 1 page): information about your background, motivation for the participation in the study project, academic interests and experiences
2) a Curriculum Vitae.
Who are we looking for?
EAGER Trans-Net (https://hu.berlin/eager-trans-net) is looking for highly motivated junior staff members of Ardhi University, Karatina University, University of Dar es Salaam and University of Nairobi (one person per university, staff members of institutions/departments that are members of EAGER Trans-Net). Together with Prof. Dr. Sabine Fuss and Dipl. Geogr. Maria-Caterina Velte from Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, they will form an interdisciplinary team of lecturers who organise and lead the student study project „Urban agriculture in Berlin, Nairobi and Dar es Salaam“ which is taking place from 12.04.2021-31.10.2021.
All participating lecturers are encouraged to give an e-lecture of about 45 minutes (+15 min. break and max 30 min. time for Q&A). We are especially interested in topics covering interesting methods, where we will mainly cover systematic literature reviews and qualitative techniques based on interviews, but are keen to include a wider set of tools to address research questions in urban agriculture. Furthermore, the course contains a student project, where students will conduct research on self-selected research questions in small teams. We will introduce a couple of interesting case studies on urban agriculture in Berlin as a background for this part of the course and would be very interested to feature lectures on cases in Dar Es Salaam and Nairobi as well. Appointments where time is allocated for guest talks is highlighted within the tab in yellow. Needless to say that, as a consequence, involvement in the study projects and network beyond giving lectures is very much welcome, too.
Usually, this EAGER Trans-Net activity involves a 10-day trip to Berlin (funded by Erasmus+, usually in the time between May to July). Due to the pandemic and thereto related entry regulations requiring a 10-day quarantine, we have to switch to online formats. Nevertheless, we hope to be able to offer a trip at a later date (maybe in September/ October 2021?). 1
What can lecturers gain from the study project?
The task of a lecturer in a study project is different to other more „classic“ course formats. The basic concept of a study project is research-based learning. This means also that a study project is very much driven and shaped by the students themselves. Lecturers are not leading the process and the students, but are there to provide input only at certain points, to give support, guidance and feedback.
In participating and engaging in the study project, academic staff members can: • gain experience in research-based teaching and learning, • gain experience in teaching of international and interdisciplinary groups, • gain experience in teaching with other international and interdisciplinary lecturers, • can be editors of a possible publication (if the students‘ report is publishable)
Time line (approx.)
Date Activity
12.4. 9-13.00 Introduction, getting to know each other, presentation of the literature to be read
19.4. 9-13.00 Block 1: Preparation of reading notes
26.4. 9-13.00 Block 1: Guided discussion of theoretical concepts based on reading- notes
3.5. 9-13.00 Block 2: Presentation of case Studies by staff
10.5. 9-13.00 Block 2: Students prepare own case studies
17.5. 9-13.00 Block 2: Presentation of student case studies
31.5. 9-13.00 Block 3: Finding a research question (Short input on research design, guided brainstorming on research questions and building teams)
7.6. 9-13.00 Block 3: Students prepare research question and reflect on methods
14.6. 9-13.00 Block 4: Methods Input (by staff, eventually by students)
21.6. 9-13.00 Block 4: Methods Input (by staff, eventually by students)
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28.6. 9-13.00 Block 5: students develop the research design and are supported by staff in smaller group sessions
5.7. Block 5: students develop the research design and are supported by staff in smaller group sessions
12.7. Block 5: Presentation of projects/ exposé in class
Until 31.7.2021 Joint field research in international teams
Until 31.9.2021 Further field research, analysis of data, writing of the report (MAP)
Sept./ Oct. 2021? Staff from partnering Universities visit Humboldt University in Berlin
• Final presentation of reports • Dissemination of research findings to stakeholders and the communities • Discussion on publications/ further projects
What is a study project?
A study project is an innovative teaching and learning format. Central for a study project is research- based, interdisciplinary and international learning. In a study project, the students from the different departments/subjects, universities and countries participate in this activity. Together, they (ideally) go through a whole research process. Students learn to formulate research questions, to develop a research project corresponding to these questions, to apply adequate research methods to collect data in the field and analyse the collected data, and to report and critically discuss research findings. Throughout the different research steps, the students work in interdisciplinary and international teams.
EAGER Trans-Net strives also (see minutes of EAGER Trans-Net Capacity Building Workshop in January 2019) to:
1. involve communities and stakeholders throughout the research process and thus, to identify the (research) needs of communities and stakeholders 2. disseminate research findings to stakeholders and the communities; a (scientific) publication is envisaged if the students’ report is of good scientific quality. The term „study project“ derives from HU (there could also be different names), where a study project is a course format which is an integral part of bachelor or master programmes. In January’s EAGER Trans-Net workshop in 2019, it was agreed that every student participating in an EAGERLearn study project should be able to benefit from the study project for her/his study programme (credit points, curriculum) 3
Information about past study projects of EAGER Trans-Net, you can find here: https://www.geographie.hu-berlin.de/de/abteilungen/wirtschaftsgeographie/eager-trans- net/activities-since2016
What is the topic of the upcoming study project Urban Agriculture in Berlin, Nairobi and Dar es Salaam?
The topic of the upcoming study project was developed in the EAGER Trans-Net Capacity Building Workshop in January 2019. Based on these outcomes, the study project „Urban Agriculture in Berlin, Nairobi and Dar es Salaam“ was designed.
The interdisciplinary and international study project „Urban Agriculture in Berlin, Nairobi and Dar es Salaam“ is organised by the East African German Transdisciplinary University Network on rural-urban transformations (EAGER Trans-Net; https://hu.berlin/eager-trans-net ).
The study project aims to bring together students and staff members of various subjects/departments from Germany, Kenya (Karatina University, University of Nairobi) and Tanzania (Ardhi University, University of Dar es Salaam) to jointly conduct research on urban agriculture.
The main objective of the study project is to understand the urban agricultural landscapes of Berlin, Dar es Salaam and Nairobi through time and space, and to investigate current trends and challenges. Data collection will be mainly in Berlin. E-talks by partnering staff members will provide input on case studies and developments in Dar es Salaam and Nairobi as well as on research methods. The participants of the study project can focus on particular sub-themes of their choice and can apply different research methods.
Throughout the research process, the participants are guided by a team of lecturers from Germany, Kenya and Tanzania.
Urban agriculture is at the core of a sustainable development agenda (see Nicholls et al. 2020). In the Global South, food security is a prime goal with shortened transportation routes, reduction of post- harvest losses, and responsible consumption and production being important elements (Sheahan/ Barrett 2017). In the Global North, the focus shifts more towards strengthening links between the city and nature, promoting social cohesion and fostering health (see a.o. Dobele/ Zvirbule 2020; Pinheiro/ Govind 2020; Tornaghi 2014). In the face of climate change, urban agriculture can be an adaptation strategy.
To understand and analyze urban agriculture trends, projects and programs, it is first of all important to develop theoretical concepts and frameworks. The literature spanning the field of urban agriculture relies on many different framings and conceptual definitions. In a first block, an introduction will provide the background to the various concepts and approaches in the Global South and North. In discussions and working groups we will develop a common understanding and frame of analysis for the rest of the course.
In the second block, some case studies will be introduced for the city of Berlin, Dar es Salaam and Nairobi - in group discussions we will reflect on how this relates to what we framed in the previous blocks and whether we see regional heterogeneity with respect to objectives, design and outcomes.
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Afterwards, teams will adopt cases, for which they will do some first research - visiting the sites, documenting first insights for all course members and presenting and discussing the cases in class. Together, we will work out how the cases map onto the framings developed in the first block.
The presentations may already have resulted in ideas for the project work. We will brainstorm and further develop possible research questions in class in the third block. The fourth block will provide a set of tools to tackle these research questions, including review techniques, qualitative methods based on interviews, remote sensing approaches, etc.
Based on the first four blocks, the project teams will develop their research designs and present their projects in class. Mutual feedback between groups will be encouraged, as it is a very good learning experience to scrutinize each other’s research design. Subsequently, each project team will write a short expose, on the basis of which the project will be carried out. The MAP is a written report.
References: Dobele, M.; Zvirbule, A. (2020): The Concept of Urban Agriculture – Historical Development and Tendencies. In: RURAL SUSTAINABILITY RESEARCH 2020, VOLUME 43 (338). https://doi.org/10.2478/plua-2020-0003
Nicholls, E.; Ely, A.; Birkin, L.; Basu, P.; Goulson, D. (2020): The contribution of small-scale food production in urban areas to the sustainable development goals: a review and case study. In: Sustainability Science (2020) 15:1585–1599. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-020-00792-z
Pinheiro, A.; Govind, M. (2020): Emerging Global Trends in Urban Agriculture Research: A Scientometric Analysis of Peer-reviewed Journals. In: Journal of Scientometric Res. 2020; 9(2):163-173. https://doi.org/10.5530/jscires.9.2.20
Sanyé-Mengual, E.; Specht, K.; Grapsa, E.; Orsini, F.; Gianquinto, G. (2019): How Can Innovation in Urban Agriculture Contribute to Sustainability? A Characterization and Evaluation Study from Five Western European Cities. In: Sustainability 11 (15), S. 4221. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11154221
Sheahan, M; Barrett, C.B. (2017): Review: Food loss and waste in Sub-Saharan Africa. In: Food Policy 70 (2017) 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2017.03.012
Tornaghi, C. (2014): Critical geography of urban agriculture. In: Progress in Human Geography 2014, Vol. 38(4) 551–567. https://doi.org/10.1177/0309132513512542
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What are the objectives of the proposed project?
The main objective of the study project is to understand the urban agriculture landscapes of Berlin, Nairobi and Dar es Salaam through time and space, and to investigate current trends and challenges. Further objectives are:
• Master students of UDSM, Ardhi, KarU, UoN and HU are experienced in preparing and implementing a joint research project, trained in soft skills (e.g. team work in intercultural and multidisciplinary settings), in research methods, scientific, analytical and critical thinking, working and writing. • The research results are available for stakeholders and the research community (i.e. workshops, publication in the Arbeitsberichte des Geographischen Instituts); • Research and teaching cooperation between EAGER Trans-Net partners is heightened; • Intercultural exchange of staff and students from all EAGER Trans-Net partners.
What kind of students/participants are expected?
The study project is an official course at the HU Geography Department where students can gain up to 10 credit points for their study programme (the course is graded/marked). Participation of students from other EAGER Trans-Net institutions such as Thaer-Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences or the Institute for Asian and African Studies will be encouraged. The study project is also offered to the Master and PhD students from KarU, UoN, UDSM and Ardhi who will be studying as Erasmus+ exchange students in summer semester 2021 at HU.
What can students gain from the study project?
In participating in the study project, the students can:
• increase their research skills and experience, • deepen their thematic and academic knowledge, • gain experience in all phases of the research process up to and including publication and a reflective analysis of their results, • increase their international and interdisciplinary competences, • learn to work in international and interdisciplinary teams, • increase their employability, • widen their network and build friendships • every student participating in an EAGERLearn study project should be able to benefit from the study project for her/his study programme (credit points, curriculum)
You need further information or would like to discuss this partnership activity?
Please do not hesitate to get in touch with Maria Velte ([email protected])
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