Information

 International School for 2013:

Environment, Development and Sustainability in Africa 

 

Dates:

Applications due by Friday 8 February 2013

Arrival: Monday 24 June

Departure: Thursday 18 July

Successful students will be notified by Friday 3 May 2013.

 

Application form

You can download an application form here: RUIS 2013 Application Form.

Main Venue:

The Environmental Learning and Research Centre (ELRC) at Rhodes University (Grahamstown) and several small towns in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.

 

Contact Hours:

Over 36 contact hours in seminars PLUS five days on fieldtrip with Prof. Rob O’Donoghue.

 

Eligibility:

• Any undergraduates from any university around the world with a minimum GPA of 3.0 or the equivalent. This course is especially for those with an interest in Africa, the history of Africa, Development and Sustainability, African literature, and Environmental Education.

• Lecturers working in the fields of Environmental Education, Development and Sustainability, African Literature, and Sociology in Africa are also invited to accompany their students on this opportunity to promote international academic exchange with academic professional at Rhodes.

 

Costs

The International School 2013 will cost R28,000.00 per participant excluding flights.

This price includes:

• Full accommodation at Rhodes University and at Guest Houses on the Fieldtrip.
• Three meals a day.
• Over 50 hours of quality contact hours with lecturers.
• A South African Student Mentor who will help participants with their coursework and be on call for the duration of the School.
• Transport to and from PE airport.
• Transport for the Fieldtrip.
• A ticket to attend a show a day at the National Arts Festival 2013.
• Stationary and printing costs for assignments.

(Please check here for the equivalent School fee in US dollars.)

 

Students from our partner institutions could also consider staying on after the International School 2013 to complete a semester on an exchange programme or as a Study Abroad student at Rhodes University.

 

Other Information

Rhodes University

You will study at Rhodes University, one of the oldest South African universities. It celebrated its centenary in 2004. It is also the smallest university in South Africa with just over 7000 students. Rhodes scores highly on three important indicators of quality: student/staff ratio, research output per capita, and percentage of international students (20%). The University is set in a beautiful and safe campus, and offers comfortable accommodation and modern facilities. Recent honorary doctorates include Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Ex-President Nelson Mandela and Professor Amartya Sen.  Please see the Rhodes website.

Accommodation

All accommodation in Grahamstown is full-board and provided in single rooms in student residences on Rhodes University campus. On field trips, accommodation is in B & Bs or Lodges. Please see: Rhodes accommodation

Grahamstown

Grahamstown is a pretty, historic town. It started as a garrison in 1812 on the old Eastern Frontier where the British Empire met the Xhosa people. The old town has a beautiful Cathedral, a High Street, and the look is Georgian. Today, it is a major educational and legal centre. It hosts the two premier South African Festivals: the National Arts Festival (this year from 27 June to 7 July) and the Sasol Science Festival in March. The town offers the visitor a snapshot of South Africa – its history of splendour and misery, human achievement and suffering. You can find out more about Grahamstown here.

Grahamstown lies in the Eastern Cape, one of the poorest of South Africa’s nine provinces. The closest city and airport is Port Elizabeth, 125 km to the west. The Eastern Cape has a rich cultural tradition (Xhosa, Afrikaans and British) and a fascinating history of war and struggle. It also boasts incomparable natural beauty: the austere dry Karoo, thickly forested mountain ranges, and pristine beaches. Grahamstown is close to Addo Elephant National Park (an unrivalled opportunity to see the Big Seven: elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo, leopard, whales and great white sharks) and is surrounded by a range of prestigious private Game Reserves. The Eastern Cape is malaria free, and its winter is mild – the temperature seldom drops below freezing.

Opportunities over weekends

Two weekends will be free for you to explore the local beaches, mountains or further afield. Consider visiting any of the following:

• Addo Elephant Park: addoelephantpark.com
• Kariega Game Reserve: www.kariega.co.za  
• Kwantu Game Reserve: www.kwantu.co.za
• Shamwari Game Reserve: www.shamwari.com
• Kikuyu Lodge: www.kikuyulodge.com

The coastal towns in this region also offer stunning sights:

• Port Alfred: www.sunshinecoasttourism.co.za
• Kenton-on-Sea: www.kentontourism.co.za

The International School programme this year includes a fieldtrip to Cata, a rural village in the Amatole Mountains and  the rural coastal village of Hamburg lying at the mouth of the Keiskamma River.

Academic Credits

The International School entails over 50 contact hours, apart from time devoted to reading, writing and assessment. Please check with your own School regarding possible credits for your studies.

Enrolment

The International School aims to enrol a maximum of 30 participants this year.

Interaction with staff and students on the School website:

Please email your messages and pictures for the website to a.prinsloo@ru.ac.za.