KBM invites students to a 2-3 weeks study trip to China in June 2019. The purpose is to learn about Chinese agriculture, industrial development, economy, politics and culture. Due to inefficient spread of the information about the course, we have decided to extend the deadline to March 31st.
This is important, as China is developing fast and our century will be «China’s century». The Chinese fertilizer company Kingenta sponsor this study trip for NMBU students; they pay for the travel and costs during the trip, as well organizing the trip.
Kingenta is in many ways typical for China’s industrial development; young and expansive, rapid growth and great ambitions, and an increasing interest in environmental issues. Nevertheless, to make an omelet, you have to break some eggs … Kingenta and NMBU have agreed to organize travels every year until 2019.
Contents
5 preparatory meetings (time: Wednesday evenings) must be attended. Students must prepare for the meetings by reading preparatory texts. These meetings secure a minimum of knowledge, ideas and questions prior to travelling.
- Brief introduction to Chinese history: Dynasties, class structure, the hoku system, communist revolution, the great leap forward, the Cultural Revolution, the economic reforms.
- Modern Chinese policy: Ambitions, expansion, development aid, belt and road, the multiple narratives. Literature: David Kelly – Seven Chinas: a watcher’s guide.
- Chinese agriculture: Land tenure system, and environmental issues. Literature: Peter Ho – Institutions in transition, Land ownership, property rights and social conflict in China. NN – China agronomy facts. David Shambaugh – China at a crossroad.
- Religion, philosophy, sentiments, Confucianism versus legalism. Literature: Lin Youtang – My country and my people. Evan Osnos – Age of ambition: Chasing fortune, truth and faith in the new China.
- Fertilizers: A crash course in agronomy for non-agronomists. Literature: Lu et al (2015) – Addressing Chinas grand challenge of achieving food security while ensuring environmental sustainability.
Task prior to travelling:
- Write a short draft (1-2 pages) for an essay on an aspect of Chinese agriculture, development, history, politics, environmental issues etc.
Tasks during travelling:
- Students will be selected for giving short presentations of Norwegian agriculture, society, and NMBU.
- All students will participate in group discussions with Chinese students and young researchers at Kingenta.
- All students contribute to entertainment during a garden party at Kingenta.
Task after travelling:
- Write a full essay (≤15 pages) on a selected topic (preferentially the topic chosen for your short draft written prior to travelling). Deadline: September 15th.
The course will be given as a 5 credits’ «special syllabus» (fritt emne).
Costs
Kingenta’s promise is to pay all costs, but we will charge you 1000 NOK to cover administrative costs. Visa (ca. 600 NOK) and travel insurance are required, which you must cover yourself.
Who can participate?
NMBU students in their 3rd, 4th or 5th year, some priority for students with an agro/forestry/ecology profile, but we welcome students from other parts of NMBU (Fornybar, Plant science, Noragric, Landscape architecture, Biotechnology etc).
We can only take 20 students onboard, and we foresee some competition. To strengthen your chances, you should read about China and tell about your knowledge and interest in your application (there is plenty of room for this in the application form).
Apply now!
You can apply for participation here: https://form.nmbu.no/view.php?id=427782
This will secure that you are informed about the development of the course, whether you are selected for participation, and a call to a first meeting for participants.
Deadline: March 31st, 2019
For further information, please contact:
Lars Bakken, KBM (lars.bakken@nmbu.no),
phone: 67231830, mobile: 97021822
Elisabeth G. Hiis, KBM (elisabeth.hiis@nmbu.no),
phone: 67232574, mobile: 47909858
Fakta
«Meet China provided me with a great opportunity to gain both academic knowledge and cultural understanding of a state whose influence and presence in the world will only continue to grow.
One of the strengths of the course was the combination of having both lectures and visits to factories, as well as cultural and historic field trips/sightseeing. This allowed for gaining broad-ranging knowledge about China, and not just Kingenta.
Lectures prior to- and during the trip, engaging with Chinese students, and traveling around the country taught me a lot about Chinese policies, history, and social- and political culture.
I liked that the trip allowed for learning about China from a Chinese perspective (and not just a Western one), and I take with me a greater interest in- and understanding of Chinese affairs. Therefore, I would highly recommend the course to anyone, regardless of his of her academic background.
Lastly, I must also mention that the diversity amongst NMBU participants' fields of study added to the output of the course.»
- Mari (participant of Meet China 2018)