2nd year in Copenhagen

Academics

Having the SUTROFOR experience in any of the consortium seems to offer some variations of excitements. What is peculiar to them all, is that the experiences are worthwhile. Experiences that would stick around for a long while....

Depending on individual preferences, academics is blissful in Copenhagen. Haha! You will get to learn stuffs related to the socio-economic part of forestry in the developing countries. A little in forest politics, rural livelihood studies and research planning (there are others of course!) and the teachers are up to the tasks.

We (the students in Copenhagen) are all afforded a substantial level of freedom to engage in your academic activities at your own pace, like class attendance is not a must even though you are obliged to partake in all assessment activities to pass a module. Yeah, you may be morally inclined to inform a teacher that you would be away from a class but at the same time, you don’t have to get bored to death in a class because you must attend (Just saying ;))

Living and moving around

If you are coming to Copenhagen, get a bike!

Finding your way in Copenhagen, as a newcomer is the easiest in the world! (I wished!) I strongly advice, you have a device with a friendly map. This could save you some hours of cycling in circles! This may be a reason why the city is flooded with I-phone human drones. Housing may be an issue. At one time or the other, you will wish you could teleport a whole building from your home country because of the housing situation which is plagued by high renting costs and unavailability. You are coming to Copenhagen? Make housing your first worry, apply for housing early enough and maybe you would have better days than those who would, by circumstances, be forced to move from one house to the other in search of better offers. To summarize housing situations in Copenhagen, ‘time and chances happen to them all!’

The faculty of science where you would have most of your lectures is located in a spot which will LIKELY require you to bike for 10-15 minutes to classes. Except for the very few who live closer to the faculty. This selected lucky few would have done either of these; pay high or start house scouting early.

The city is beautiful. Copenhageners are friendly. You don’t have to struggle with getting lost on few occasions. You will always get help! An average Copenhagener speaks English, so when you are stuck in front of a Danish-inclined ATM machine, the fella adjacent to you will help with a broad smile!

If you have some free time (I earnestly wish you good luck with that!), there are lots of attractions you would love to see, and Sweden may just be 15minutes away by Train.

As I struggle to restrain myself from writing more, I will just tell you this: Coming to Copenhagen promises to be SUTROFOR-ful! If you are going to be a second year student, you sure know what I’m talking about already ;). If you are coming for your first year, well, there is only one way of finding out for sure..COME!

If you have specific questions, feel free to shoot an email

adeyeye(_)yemi[at]yahoo[dot]com

Yemi Adeyeye.

My life in Padua… by Spartak

Hello everybody, hope your studies are going well so far and you are enjoying.

Well, there are many things that I can say about my experience here in Padua, but I will try to be as concise as possible by mentioning some of the key elements that I think are important to be taken into account for those who want to come here for their second year.

The University, in terms of quality of education it is very good and if I am not wrong it is one of the most known in Italy. The campus it is really nice, and all the people are kind and will try to help you for everything you need. Our studies have been going for five months so far, starting on October until the middle of January we have been having classes and after that the exams. Regarding the courses, I would suggest having a look on the SUTROFOR website http://sutrofor.eu/universities/padova/second_year/ , here you will find more detailed information for all you need. So you will have an idea in advance what you are going to do. 

Currently here in Padua we are only two SUTROFOR students and more or less it used to be the same number also in the previous years (small classes). However, this year the Department has find a solution to this issue, and all the five courses have been done together with other students from other programs (MEDFOR, SUFONAMA and FES). 

Another issue that I would like to mention is related to the possible thesis topics, there are plenty of possibilities and during the classes all professors are going to present many thesis topics, and you will have time to think and to discuss with them. There are many opportunities for desk- based topics and also for going for field work in different developing tropical countries, it is up to you to decide in the end, and this related also to you aim and background.

In the end I would like to say that life in Padua it is very nice. The city it is very nice, people are very kind and social, many nice things to see and visit in the city, and also from here you have the chances to go and visit other cities that are near to Padua like Venice. In addition, I am sure that all of you have heard about Italian food, I can say only came and taste it. In general, I like to be here and I would recommend the others too. In case someone needs more detailed information about everything what happen here, please contact me.

One last thing, I would like also to apologize for the inconvenience with my previews post. It has a long story behind and still I am not so clear how that post ended there, my apologies.

Cheers,

Spartak

Dresden... By Maria

The Technical University of Dresden is well-known for its contribution to forest management science. The SUTROFOR specialization in the second year was for me very basic and general. Many lectures were not really focus in the tropics (but I think this is problem in all the universities) and the content and teaching methodology of the class was rather old. However, it should be considered, that I’m a forestry bachelor, maybe someone with other background could find the topics not so basics.  

In relationship to the thesis, the university has many contacts with professionals around the world. But currently, they only have the “Welcome to Africa” project in Ethiopia, Sudan and others. Anyone interested can do their thesis in the framework of this project, but unfortunately there is not funding available. The university also has good connections with universities of Bolivia and Peru.

The city of Dresden and Tharant (where the forestry faculty is located) are both beautiful places. Dresden is good for social life; the transportation system is very efficient; the city is a mixture of old and new architecture. In regards to the language, it’d be very useful to learn basic German, just to get around in the city. 

Coucou - another opinion on AgroParisTech Montpellier

This year we are 6 SUTROFORs studying in Montpellier - which is the most they have ever had so a lot of varying experiences :) It's nice to be so many because we show a lot of solidarity towards one another and can band together if we want something to happen!

Anyway... after much thought, I have come up with the following plus and minuses of AgroParisTech in my own humble opinion...


Plus:
- Montpellier is really a very nice little student town - pleasant and full of life. The climate is quite nice - I mean it gets cold but rarely goes below 5C.
- The AgroParisTech campus is surrounded by olive groves and is around all sorts of research centers...
- GEEFT students and Sutrofor students all take the same classes in the same classroom - so you really get to know your fellow classmates.
- French and African students are easy to get along with and friendly... get ready for a lot of parties :)
- The classes are taught by professors here as well as a variety of researchers from different research centers such as CIRAD, IRSTEA, IRD and various NGOs (WWF, Greenpeace, Rainforest Alliance, etc)... so that allows you to build a nice network, especially when you are later looking for an internship!
- There's a lot of focus on social sciences - sociologie de l'action, negociation, politique de la nature, economie et politique forestiere, economie de l'agroforesterie but it's also nice for students that are relatively new to forestry as there are nice introductory classes on GIS (very hands-on), R software, dendometry, inventory, sylviculture, forest management...
- Staff are friendly and willing to help but they are quite busy...
- Your class schedule is quite flexible and so is the staff.... Some of the exams/papers can be written in English/Spanish... and the professors are often happy to translate things during class if foreign students do not understand.
- Internships are paid in France - about 400 euros per month :)

Con:
- Sutrofor students were quite confused at the beginning of the year as to what classes to take... It depends on which school the students attended in the first year - you thus get a personalized schedule... but you need to ask for it...
- For students from Dresden - they had almost a month off in December because they had already taken classes in Dresden on the various subject matters... so a lot of overlap overall with 1st year institutions...
- AgroParisTech in Montpellier is quite small - it's a couple of buildings located quite far from the town center - about 35-45 minutes with tram and bus from the center which includes a 10 minute walk to the school...
- Because it is so small, their "library" is quite small with limited opening hours. However the librarian is likely to buy a book for students if it's not available.
- Just like in high school, you will spend all day from 9am to 5pm in a classroom being taught at with the same 30 students all year long. Most students are 20-22 year old with a few more mature African students. You are also basically treated as if you are still in high school and not as an adult, which can be a bit disconcerting for more mature students. For instance, the rules state that you must ask for permission if you would like to miss a day and present a proper doctor's note if you are ill...!
- We are told about exams a couple of days before they take place and do not get any time off to study for them...And just like high school, the exams consist of spewing back definitions and course material that you have to learn BY HEART... There are some exceptions of course...like the Sociologie de l'action class (with fieldwork which includes interviews all around the area) and the ecology course which is more team-oriented.
- Classes only last from 1 week to 2 weeks can be a bit superficial.

- Schedules for classes are often not available until the week before so it does not make planning easy. Two students missed classes because the schedule got changed at the last minute and they had already book their plane tickets for christmas...

Jose

Felipe

Our classroom

In front of the APT sign

Mali and Jose enjoying class

Field trip for agroforestry

Sunset at the campus...

View around the area of Pic Saint Loup where we got to drive around and interview farmers, hunters, etc. as part of Sociologie de l'action

WCA 2014

Trees for Life: Accelerating the Impacts of Agroforestry

The 3rd World Congress on Agroforestry will be held in Delhi, India, 10 – 14 February 2014, co-hosted by the World Agroforestry Centre and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. It will shape the next steps in the field of integrative science, transformative change in landscapes, tree improvement, innovative tree-based value chains, debates on global and local sustainability, reform of land and tree tenure and holistic education.

(Taken from the website)

Mussie in Bangor

Life in Bangor by Mussie Kebreab:

I am in Bangor and preparing for research field work in Uganda.

Life in BANGOR is generally good. The city is relatively small city but students can find the basic necessities as much as possible. And it is near to Liverpool and Manchester cities for further shopping and recreation to students.

The University is good university in terms of quality of education. It has building for students residence at different price level. In addition, students can have their own accommodation in the city. Our college has friendly and well skilled professors, laboratories and field farms. The coursework is a bit intensive but interesting. Evalaution system is also ok but it is more of Assignment and Essay types.

So, Generally, it is ok and recommended place for others too !!!

I can add more information if u ask any further points as well.

Just a quick comment: Related to these recents posts, be sure to also check November and December 2012 posts and other parts of the blog for student impressions of partner institutions and their experiences.
Cheers,
Alan H. Sutrofor 2011-13

"Salut"...my life in Montpellier...

"My life in Montpellier.... by Isabelle Bankhauser

Where to start?

Let's first talk about the people I met! Before going in Montpellier, you can have the chance to go in French Guyana in September with AgroParisTech. It might be expensive for you but it is worth to make the experience! First, the lectures (in classes and in the field) are excellent. But moreover, you will meet all your classmates, live with them in the forest, work with them, and it gives a very special connection!! It takes a little bit time to know the 40 classmates but quickly, you all have got surname (mine is Duchesse :) ) and an amazing group atmosphere. The days of separation between F.Guyana and Montpellier were hard as the friendship was already so strong.

Till our life in Montpellier, we are all enjoying together this beautiful town, with its many parks, coffee shops, restaurants, markets, …. and particularly the beautiful sunshine!!! In December, you will still have the chance to enjoy your meal outside in the middle of the olive trees around the school! Montpellier gives also the opportunity to make a lot of sport, especially if you decided to take the bike everyday to go to school as it is quite hilly! =)

As for the courses, it might be redundant of some of your previous lectures (if you come from Dresden anyway) but AgroPariTech gives the chances to deal with many people from different fields who shares their professional experiences, so you will always learn new things. You will be also able, and that's very important, to build a net of contact for advises and to find internship, PhD and jobs.
As a foreigner, do not hesitate to speak and try as much as possible to integrate yourself. The French people will welcome you but before, you should not fear not to speak well enough French!

I hope I convinced you to come in France and I wish you all the best whatever is your choice!

Cheers,
Isabelle