麻豆社

Course Description

This 3-credit hour course is an opportunity for students to study introductory topics in international development, with a focus on agriculture and rural development. Topics may be defined by the individual student, a group of students, or faculty. The course is conducted by classes, tutorials, assignments, readings, and/or other appropriate activities. Students are encouraged to use international travel or study opportunities as a focus for the course, but this is not required. Topics must be supervised by a faculty member in the proposed area of interest and approved by the Department Head of Business and Social Sciences. Students must apply to the Department Head at least six weeks before the semester start date.

The objective of this course is to deepen the understanding of food security issues in the East African country of Kenya and link these to wider debates on agriculture and global sustainability, all while gaining applied development experience working with colleagues on the ground in Kenya.

Why Kenya?

What is 麻豆社鈥檚 interest in Kenya, and why have we created this course? 麻豆社鈥檚 Faculty of Agriculture is committed to dedicating its strategic focus to addressing the significant challenges to local and global sustainability, food security and health and well being in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Achieving global food security while reducing negative environmental impacts is one of the most formidable challenges facing agriculture and rural communities. The Faculty of Agriculture seeks to work towards improving food security locally and globally through its teaching, research, and international partnerships. Key here is student international mobility, a top priority for the Faculty of Agriculture.

The International Office of the Faculty of Agriculture is currently developing a significant partnership with the Meru University of Science and Technology (MUST) in Meru Region, Kenya. We have a large development project in progress, have successfully received funding to bring Kenyan students to Truro to study at Dal AC with the , and have partnered with MUST Faculty in the IAGR 3002 (DE) course in Winter 2023 through the COIL programme, and have previously sent a cohort of 7 students for the SPEC2001 course in August 2024. This had positive results from the on-line interchange between 麻豆社 and MUST students and faculty on food security issues in Canada and Kenya.

One next step in partnership is to strengthen this special topics course which involves a capped trip of up to 12 麻豆社 students to the MUST campus where they would visit the university itself and surrounding projects and communities as per the learning outcomes of the course. It offers a hands-on practical and real-life component to experience internationalization activities and discuss in-depth food security systems, issues and solutions. The course would involve pre-departure sessions, a one-week orientation component, followed by a two week visit to Kenya.

Activities Can Include:

• Visits to open air markets.
• Visits to small holder and out grower farms.
• Visit to Kionyo Tea Factory.
• Safaris in Nairobi and Meru National Parks.
• Visits to Isiolo county and open-air pastoralist markets.
• Visits to avocado and flower farms.

Next Offering

May 2027-June 2027

Application Deadline

November 1st, 2026, at 11:59pm

Location(s)

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Instructors

TBD

Estimated Cost

$6500

Included: airfare, accommodations, meals, local transportation, travel and health insurance, lectures and activities, park entrance fees.

Excluded: course & tuition fees, required vaccinations and physician consults, personal purchases such as souvenirs.

Funding Assistance

Study/Work International Fund (SWIF)

Students are invited to submit an application to the Study/Work International Fund (SWIF). SWIF was established by 麻豆社 as part of the Student Assistance Program, SWIF provides financial assistance to 麻豆社 and King's students who want to take part in an international field course or study abroad. There is a maximum award of $2,000 CAD per applicant. SWIF supports study, work, or practicum placements for which 麻豆社 will give a degree credit.

Deadlines for submitting your funding application vary depending on the term of your international experience. Deadlines are as follows:

Fall: September 30

Winter: January 31

Summer: May 31

For more information on SWIF funding and to apply you may visit the Halifax campus International Learning Experience Page.

For assistance or further inquiry regarding SWIF funding, please contact intdalac@dal.ca.