Author Archives: Wiebke Wellbrock

IP- Greetings from Poland

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IP Lublin 2009Greetings from Poland!  At the moment we are attending the IP on rural development in Lublin. The program is very intensive indeed! Within one week, we have not only become acquainted with efforts of authorities to promote rural development but, in small groups, we have also spent three interesting days in several rural districts across the Lublinski region. During this time we visited farmers, entrepreneurs and social groups to get a better insight into their everyday lives, problems and wishes for their future.ip-lublin-2009-11

Last night, every group presented the region they visited to the whole group. From tomorrow, we will develop project suggestions to tackle the region’s development problems. So, including the many social events that are taking part alongside the programme, another very intensive week lies ahead of us!

Intensive Course Programme – agriculture, territorial identity and competitiveness in rural Poland

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Since 2002, Rural Sociology Group is partner in a European Intensive Course Programme. MSc-students from universities across Europe can attend an intensive course programme of two weeks to study in depth rural issues in one of the particiapating countries. Earlier IP’s were organized in Ghent, Pisa, Cordoba, Faro, Malibor and, last year, in Kaunas, Lithuania.IP Kaunas 2008, lecture

As MSc-student I participated in the IP course in Lithuania last year and I have very good memories of the course which fully lived up to its name ‘intensive program’. The days were filled with lectures, excursions and activities aimed at providing us with a thorough inside into diverse problems (regarding society, environment and economy) encountered in rural Lithuania as well as teaching us methodological means to investigate these. On top of that, the course did not fail to allow for time to engage in social activities, providing the opportunity to get to know fellow course participants from various European countries. To support this unique opportunity to get acquainted with rural development in the EU, I will join this years’ IP as a tutor! Perhaps we will meet. 

Agriculture, territorial identity and rural competitiveness
This year the IP is organized by the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland, from April 19 till May 2. The IP is open for 52 students from the 13 partner universities. This year topic is the place of agriculture in territorial identity and competitiveness of rural areas and its contribution to rural development. Students that plan to do a minor or major in Rural Sociology and with an interest in the topic can apply and contact Jan Schakel: Jan.Schakel@wur.nl . A course programme and newsletter are available.