RHODES UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
23 June - 19 July 2012
Environment, Development and Sustainability in Africa
-
Obtain Academic Credits from Rhodes University in 4 weeks.
-
Attend a multi-faceted study-abroad programme that blends political, social, historical and economic theory with hands-on field experience.
-
Come and be taught by some of the most knowledgeable lecturers and researchers at Rhodes University.
-
Experience the contexts, histories and challenges of contemporary Africa first-hand.
-
Participate in Africa's top festival, the National Arts Festival.
-
See some breath-taking and inaccessible parts of South Africa.
-
Observe wildlife in prestigious National Parks and Game Reserves.
PROGRAMME 2012
| Students will arrive on Friday 22 June. The weekend will be spent at a private Game Reserve near Grahamstown where students will meet their fellow students and their lecturers. |
Week 1: Monday 25 - Friday 29 June
Module 1: African Political Economy
In this course, students explore several themes relating to African political economy including imperialism and African underdevelopment, Africa's relationship with international financial institutions, Africa's position within the World Trade Organisation, and the role of non-governmental organisations in Africa.
Module 2: The Right to the City in South Africa
The city has always been an intensely contested space in South Africa. This course examines some aspects of that continuous contestation that runs from the struggles of the Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union in the 1920s through to the usually misnamed ‘service delivery’ protests of today.
Week 2: Monday 2 - Friday 6 July
Module 3: Africa in Crisis
This course examines some of the key causes, symptoms and events of the African crisis. Students will gain insight into the nature of nation states and governance in Africa; issues such as population increase, famine, food dependency and HIV/AIDS; as well as case studies of particular African countries.
| Module 3 runs concurrently with the National Arts Festival (this year from 28 June to 8 July) and students will have ample opportunity to participate in and enjoy the fun. |
Weeks 3 & 4: Monday 9 - Thursday 19 July
Students choose ONE of the two Elective Modules.
The duration of each elective module is two weeks and includes a five-day field trip and community experiences.
Elective 1: African heritage and sustainable living in a context of extreme climate variability
This two-week programme explores an emerging history of socio-ecological sustainability from the pre-colonial livelihood practices in the Eastern Cape to the climate change challenges of the present day. The course consists of participant-led seminars, encounters with local evidence of social-ecological change in the Eastern Cape, and learning from rural tutors first-hand.
Elective 2: Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICTD)
Africa is a continent of enormous dynamism that is rapidly adopting the use of technology and developing new ways of using this technology. African innovations such as prepaid cellular calls and mobile money for the unbanked have been adopted all around the world. In this module, we look at technology in the context of development, with real life practical and thought-provoking theoretical course components.
|
The School will end with a Farewell Dinner on Thursday 19 July. Students will depart on Friday 20 July. |
