The Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB)

1. The Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB)The Department of International Environment and Development Studies, Noragric

2. The Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB) • Established in 1859 • Norwegian university status in 2005 • 8 departments and 6 centres • Bachelor, Master and PhD degree programmes • 4420 students (2012) of which 21% are international • 447 PhD students (2012), 54 nationalities • 1160 staff - of which 650 scientific staff (2012) • To be mergedwiththe Norwegian School ofVeterinaryScience from 01.01.2014 = NMBU!

4. Department of International Environment and Development Studies, Noragric • Established in 1986 as a centre at the Agricultural University of Norway (NLH); became academic department in 2005 • 44 staff members: 32 scientific and 12 administrative staff • 39 PhD candidates + 4 Postdocs (Autumn 2013) • 203 Master students (Spring 2013): • 69 in Development Studies programme • 65 in International Environmental Studies programme • 69 in International Relationsprogramme • 135 Bachelor students (Spring 2012)

5. Noragric’s Role at UMB • Academic responsibility for international environment and development studies at UMB, including research and education • UMB’sdepartmentofinterdisciplinarity and socialsciences • Responsible for coordinationofinstitutionalcollaborationwithcountries in the South and in the Western Balkans

6. Noragric’s Academic Focus: International Environment and Development Studies International environment and development studies is an interdisciplinary field of study, examining processes of change in relation to human well-being and the environment.

7. Research Programme • Interdisciplinary approach; links social and natural sciences • Multidisciplinary working environment • Carried out with partners globally • Joint capacity building with partner institutions • Noragric’s PhD programme: an integral and important component of the research programme • MSc research linked to research themes • Publications: Refereed journals; scientific monographs & anthologies • Popularisation of research results; participation in public debates

8. Research activities grouped in clusters (incl. scientific staff and PhD students) • Environmental Governance (ENGOV) • Conflict, Human Security & Development (CHSD) • Agricultural Development, Livelihoods and Environmental Change (ADLEC) • Rights, Accountabilities and Power in Development (RAPID)

9. Other activities grouped in networks • Critical Mass – Building Research and Capacity to Address Climate Change, Poverty and Development Challenges • Resources, Rights and Governance (RRG-Net) Noragric is alsooneoffourcollaborating UMB departments in the Centre for Land Tenure Studies at theuniversity, established in 2011. http://www.umb.no/clts

10. PhD Programme in Development Studies (3-4 years) • Interdisciplinary • Focus on processes, constraints and opportunities for social, political, cultural, economic, ecological, institutional and technical change; progress and development in different societies and settings. Particular focus on rural development and the environment. • Mandatory and elective courses in environment and development studies; research methodology in development studies; research ethics and philosophy of science; problem-oriented courses relevant to topic of dissertation.

11. Education Noragric offers five interdisciplinary academic degree programmes (all taught in English): • Bachelor of Science in Development Studies • Master of Science in International Environmental Studies • Master of Science in International Development Studies • Master of Science in International Relations • PhD programme in Development Studies

12. Bachelor Programme in International Environment and Development Studies (3 years) • Interdisciplinary approach to social and natural sciences • The programme consists of mandatory and elective courses. The compulsive courses constitute 125 ECTS, including a bachelor thesis worth 15 ECTS. The elective courses constitute 55 ECTS, which may be taken at UMB or on exchange. The elective courses may be within areas such as economics, international relations, ecology, organisational theory and resource management • Noragric/UMB has institutional cooperation with universities in Europe, Africa, Latin America, Asia and North America. Students are offered an exchange opportunity for a semester at a partner university.

13. Master Programme in International Environmental Studies (2 years) • Focus on policy and institutional perspectives of environmental studies. • The programme consists of required and elective coursework, one semester of field study (for most students at a partner university in a developing country) and writing a 30- or 60-credit research thesis. Mandatory courses are EDS235 Political Economy-Institutions and the Environment (10 cr.), EDS212 Research Methods I, EDS312 Research Methods II and a choice between EDS386 Environmental Governance at the Local Level (Uganda) and EDS388 State and Civil Society in Environmental Governance in India. • Possibilities for study abroad: 15-credit field course in 3rd semester at Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania or Institute of Development Studies, Jaipur, India.

14. Master Programme in International Development Studies (2 years) • Focus on social science perspectives of development including rural livelihood, poverty, gender, health, peace and conflict, natural resources and the environment. • The programme consists of core courses: Introduction to Development Studies, Development Theory and Policy, two methods courses and one field course in Tanzania/India. In addition, the students will combine elective courses according to interests. It is also possible to take courses at other departments and universities case. A 30- or 60-credit master thesis based on individual data collection is mandatory. • Two-month field course in 3rd semester at Sokoine University of Agriculture (Tanzania) or the Institute of Development Studies, Jaipur (India).

15. Master Programme in International Relations (2 years) • Carried out in cooperation with the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI), Oslo • Focus on international interaction in the fields of development, poverty alleviation and the environment. • The programme consists of required and elective coursesk, one semester of field study (for most students at a partner university), and writing of a 30- or 60-credit research thesis. Mandatory courses are EDS325 Global Political Economy, EDS374 International Relations Theory, EDS360 Conflict and Development, EDS212 Research Methods I, and EDS312 Research Methods II. • Student exchange arrangement/internship encouraged in 3rd semester. UMB has exchange agreements with several universities and institutions abroad.

16. Nationality of students: nearly 40 nations are represented

17. Institutional Cooperation • Central to Noragric’s activities, closely linked to research and education. • Joint research and education activities, staff and student exchange, capacity building. • Agreements with > 30 partners in Africa, Asia, Latin America, South East Europe, incl. universities, civil society organisations, research foundations and public institutions. • Long-term academic cooperation in Africa includes Ethiopia, Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania; in Asia: Nepal, Pakistan; in Europe: Western Balkans. • Full list of institutional cooperation partners on Noragric website: www.umb.no/noragric

18. Collaborating Institutions in Africa • Hawassa University, Ethiopia • Mekelle University, Ethiopia • Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), Malawi • Institutd’Economie Rurale (IER), Mali • Juba University, South Sudan    • Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania • University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania • Makerere University, Uganda • Conservation Farming Unit of Zambia National Farmers Union, Zambia 

19. Collaborating institutions in Asia • Instituteof Development Studies, Jaipur, India • Tribhuvan University, Pokhara, Nepal • Kathmandu University, Nepal • COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Pakistan • University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka

20. Collaborating institutions in the Western Balkans The secretariat for the Agricultural sector in the programme “Higher education, research and development in Western Balkans” (HERD) is coordinated at Noragric. HERD focuses on capacity building, research and education and is funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2010-2014). Partner universities include: • Bosnia and Herzegovina: University of Banja Luka; University of Tuzla; University of Mostar; University of Sarajevo • Croatia: University of Osijek; University of Zagreb • Kosovo: University of Prishtina • Macedonia: University of S.C. & M. of Skopje • Montenegro: University of Montenegro • Serbia: University of Belgrade and University of Novi Sad • Slovenia: University of Maribor

21. Collaboratinginstitutions in North- and Latin America • American University, Washington D.C., USA • EARTH University, Costa Rica

22. Some important collaboration programmes • CCIAM – Programme on Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation (2010-2014, main partner: Sokoine University,Tanzania) • EPINAVEnhancing Pro-poor Innovations in Natural Resources and Agricultural Value-chains (2010-2014, collaboration with Sokoine University, Tanzania) • Adapting agriculture and livestock production in Mali to climate change (2011 – 2015, collaboration with the Institut d'Economie Rurale, Mali) • Capacity building for managing climate change in Malawi (2013 – 2017, institutional cooperation with Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, LUANAR) • HERD – Higher Education Research and Development (2010-2014, Western Balkans) • Extended institutional collaboration agreements with Hawassa University and Mekelle University, Ethiopia (2010-2013)

23. Networks and Agreements • Frame agreement with NORAD: Noragric administers the agreement for UMB and offers scientific advisory services, usually in the form of consultancy assignments and evaluations, in the field of agricultural development, environment and food security. • Centre for Land Tenure Studies, UMB • “Critical Mass Forum” focusing on climate, poverty and development • UMB’s Climate and Environment research group includes several Noragric staff • Drylands Coordination Group (DCG): framework agreement with the NGO-driven forum that exchanges practical experience and knowledge on food security and natural resource management in the drylands of Africa. www.drylands-group.org • Peace Corps (NORAD-funded ESD – Exchange for Sustainable Development programme)

24. Publications and Dissemination • Scientific staff publish international peer reviewed articles, chapters in scientific anthologies, popular scientific and newspaper articles. • In 2012, the number of (peer reviewed) publications was 78, including one book, 56 journal articles, and 21 book chapters. • Noragric’s library is part of UMB's library; closely integrated with Noragric’s professional activities; is involved in institutional cooperation; cooperates with Eldis. • Noragric publishes: Noragric Reports, Noragric Working Papers, Annual Report, Master theses and PhD dissertations, etc. • Our website has further information: www.umb.no/noragric • Follow us on Facebook!

25. Come visit us in Aas, Norway!Department of International Environment and Development Studies, NoragricP.O. Box 5003NO-1432 AasNorwaywww.umb.no/noragric