ICRPS Summer Institute: Barcelona, Spain 2017
Rural-urban linkages facing global challenges
The fourteenth International Comparative Rural Policy Studies (ICRPS) Summer Institute will take place in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, from the 25 June to 7 July 2017. The institute will convene for thirteen days and will involve approximately 30 graduate students and numerous faculty members from universities around the world. Sessions will be supplemented with field trips, group work, and student presentations.
Innovative Experiential Learning
The ICRPS Summer Institute provides a unique opportunity for students from a range of Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries to meet and work together on comparative rural policy issues and make invaluable research and networking contacts. Faculty involved in ICRPS represent the disciplines of anthropology, economics, environmental studies, geography, indigenous studies, planning, policy studies, political science, and sociology.
ICRPS Summer Institutes are held in North America and Europe in alternating years. Since 2004, over 330 graduate students from North America and Europe have benefited from the innovative blend of classroom instruction, rural visits, and research meetings.
The first ICRPS Summer Institute was held at the University of Guelph in 2004. Since then, it has been convened in Leuven, Belgium (2005); Brandon, Manitoba (2006); Solsona (Barcelona), Spain (2007); Missouri, USA (2008); Inverness, Scotland (2009); Oregon, USA (2010); Songdal, Norway (2011); Rimouski, Québec (2012); Bertinoro, Italy (2013); Toluca, Mexico (2014); Dublin and Galway, Ireland (2015); and Fairbanks, Alaska (2016). The 2017 Summer Institute will be held in Bellaterra (Barcelona), hosted by the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
Each institute connects faculty and international students in a dedicated learning environment. In addition, each institute is a combination of new and returning students, which enhances the mutual learning experience of both years. The program includes advanced topics and is an opportunity to develop Masters and PhD research programs as well as share research results with faculty and other students interested in rural policy. For more information, please visit the ICRPS website.
Field Trips
Field trips are currently being organized and will provide an exposure to the rural areas around Barcelona.
Barcelona, a major cultural and economic centre in southwestern Europe, is the centre of a metropolitan area with a population of around 5 million, the most populous metropolitan area on the Mediterranean coast, and one of the largest in Europe. Barcelona is the capital city of the region of Catalonia an area of 32,108 km2 with 7.5 million of inhabitants. Despite the high population density (234 inhabitants / km), two-thirds of the territory is considered rural.
Catalonia has a diversified agricultural sector and a powerful food industry. Pig farming and processing of meat, wine, olive oil and fruit are the main agri-food sectors with a notable export orientation.
Catalonia is ecologically diverse with a remarkable wealth of landscapes, habitats and species. Sixty percent of the surface area of Catalonia is made up of forests. The so-called natural areas of special protection receive additional protection with one national park, 12 natural parks, 7 natural sites of national interest and 60 nature reserves. Rural tourism is firmly established in Catalonia. More than 2,000 rural tourism establishments are officially registered.
Catalan rural areas are facing strong urban pressures from population spread, infrastructural constructions and the growth of tourism. Rural and urban linkages are a key element of Catalonia’s territorial condition, where most regions can be characterized by their peri-urban challenges.
For more detailed information about the program, please contact Dr. John Devlin (jdevlin@uoguelph.ca).
Summer Institute Dates
25 June - 7 July 2017
Eligibility
The program is open to graduate students from all disciplines at the University of Guelph. For the Summer Institute Guelph has a maximum enrollment allocation of 6 students.
Costs
Students should budget for the following:
Field costs – US $2000 (subject to minor changes). This includes room and board in shared accommodation, field trips, and in-country transportation.
Round trip airfare : Canada (Toronto) – Barcelona $1,000 (approx.)
Personal expenses (including souvenirs, additional excursions, etc.)
Interested students should apply early for University travel support.
How to Apply to the ICRPS Summer Institute
Applications forms will available in the spring of 2017 but interested students should contact Dr. John Devlin (jdevlin@uoguelph.ca) as soon as possible.
Application deadline
1 March 2017
Optional Linked University of Guelph Graduate Course
If you are interested in obtaining a graduate course credit linked to the summer Institute you may register in a dedicated reading course.
Contact John Devlin for further information.