The Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB)
The Department of International
Environment and Development Studies,
Noragric
2111
2005
http://www.umb.no/noragric/
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES
Department of International Environment and Development
Studies, Noragric
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 merged with the Norwegian School
of Veterinary Science from 01.01.2014 = NMBU!
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http://www.umb.no/noragric/
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES
Department of International Environment and Development
Studies, Noragric
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http://www.umb.no/noragric/
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES
Department of International Environment and Development
Studies, Noragric
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 Relations programme
 135 Bachelor students (Spring 2012)
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http://www.umb.no/noragric/
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES
Department of International Environment and Development
Studies, Noragric
Noragric’s Role at UMB
 Academic responsibility for international environment and
development studies at UMB, including research and education
 UMB’s department of interdisciplinarity and social sciences
 Responsible for coordination of institutional collaboration with
countries in the South and in the Western Balkans
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http://www.umb.no/noragric/
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES
Department of International Environment and Development
Studies, Noragric
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.
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http://www.umb.no/noragric/
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES
Department of International Environment and Development
Studies, Noragric
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
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http://www.umb.no/noragric/
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES
Department of International Environment and Development
Studies, Noragric
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)
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http://www.umb.no/noragric/
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES
Department of International Environment and Development
Studies, Noragric
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 also one of four collaborating UMB departments in the
Centre for Land Tenure Studies at the university, established in 2011.
http://www.umb.no/clts
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http://www.umb.no/noragric/
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES
Department of International Environment and Development
Studies, Noragric
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.
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http://www.umb.no/noragric/
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES
Department of International Environment and Development
Studies, Noragric
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
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http://www.umb.no/noragric/
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES
Department of International Environment and Development
Studies, Noragric
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.
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http://www.umb.no/noragric/
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES
Department of International Environment and Development
Studies, Noragric
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
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at Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania or Institute of
Development Studies, Jaipur, India.
http://www.umb.no/noragric/
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES
Department of International Environment and Development
Studies, Noragric
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
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Agriculture (Tanzania) or the Institute of Development Studies,
Jaipur (India).
http://www.umb.no/noragric/
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES
Department of International Environment and Development
Studies, Noragric
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
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semester. UMB has exchange agreements with several universities
and institutions abroad.
http://www.umb.no/noragric/
Studies, Noragric
Department of International Environment and Development
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES
Nationality of students: nearly 40 nations are
represented
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http://www.umb.no/noragric/
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES
Department of International Environment and Development
Studies, Noragric
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:
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www.umb.no/noragric
http://www.umb.no/noragric/
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES
Department of International Environment and Development
Studies, Noragric
Collaborating Institutions in Africa
 Hawassa University, Ethiopia
 Mekelle University, Ethiopia
 Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), Malawi
 Institut d’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
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http://www.umb.no/noragric/
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES
Department of International Environment and Development
Studies, Noragric
Collaborating institutions in Asia
 Institute of Development Studies, Jaipur, India
 Tribhuvan University, Pokhara, Nepal
 Kathmandu University, Nepal
 COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Pakistan
 University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka
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http://www.umb.no/noragric/
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES
Department of International Environment and Development
Studies, Noragric
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
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 Slovenia: University of Maribor
http://www.umb.no/noragric/
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES
Department of International Environment and Development
Studies, Noragric
Collaborating institutions in North- and Latin America
 American University, Washington D.C., USA
 EARTH University, Costa Rica
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http://www.umb.no/noragric/
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES
Department of International Environment and Development
Studies, Noragric
Some important collaboration programmes
 CCIAM – Programme on Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and
Mitigation (2010-2014, main partner: Sokoine University,Tanzania)
 EPINAV Enhancing 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,
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Western Balkans)
 Extended institutional collaboration agreements with Hawassa
University and Mekelle University, Ethiopia (2010-2013)
http://www.umb.no/noragric/
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES
Department of International Environment and Development
Studies, Noragric
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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)
http://www.umb.no/noragric/
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES
Department of International Environment and Development
Studies, Noragric
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!
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http://www.umb.no/noragric/
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES
Department of International Environment and Development
Studies, Noragric
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Come visit us in Aas, Norway!
Department of International Environment and Development
Studies, Noragric
P.O. Box 5003
NO-1432 Aas
Norway
www.umb.no/noragric
http://www.umb.no/noragric/