The University of Iowa is offering an international course titled “Sustainable Development: The Kerala experience.” The three-week course (December 27, 2017 to January 14, 2018, excluding dates of travel) is set in the state of Kerala in south India. The course will provide an extraordinary opportunity for students to interact with highly acclaimed environment and development professionals, learn about many innovative eco-sensitive and culturally-sensitive development processes and techniques, and visit sites where these innovations have been implemented for several years. All course participants will develop a clear understanding of the conflicting challenges of economic development and environmental protection, and of culture, politics and the uneven geographies of opportunity in a developing country.
The course has a unique format. On most days in the morning students will hear from subject experts on an aspect of sustainability; in the afternoon students will visit a site where what was presented in the morning has been implemented. Topics include: meaningful methods of women's empowerment, people-centric approach to area redevelopment (instead of the commonly-used place-centric approach), sustainable construction techniques (including an opportunity for hands-on adobe construction), a variety of water conservation techniques, and much, much more.
The course is open to graduate and undergraduate students from any institution. Lecture hours and activities are the same for graduate and undergraduate students; however, students seeking graduate credits are required to write a research paper, in addition to all other course requirements.
The timing of the course – between the Fall and Spring semesters – allows students to gain valuable study abroad experience without disrupting or extending their degree program. There is no special language requirement since all lectures and presentations will be in English, and one can get by with English in Kerala.
The instructor for the course, Prof. Jerry Anthony, is offering this course for the seventh time. Each year the course has had participants from four or five U.S. and Canadian universities. Universities represented in past years include Columbia University, Tufts University, Rutgers University, Temple University, UNC Chapel Hill, Florida State, University of Florida, Georgia Tech, University of Hawaii, University of New Orleans, Arizona State, San Jose State, University of Minnesota, University of Texas, University of Waterloo, and the University of Wisconsin.
Flyer is below. The application deadline is September 20, 2017.
2017 India Winter Course Flyer
To apply or for more information, contact:
Dr. Jerry Anthony
Associate Professor
Urban and Regional Planning
University of Iowa