Sustainable International Development

For developing students into global citizens, addressing and discussing the world’s most complex problems is a must. The proposed honors seminar on sustainable international development does exactly that by, for instance, exposing students to poverty / poverty alleviation and the more and more emerging consequences of human-induced climate change.  Resilience and sustainability concepts, often discussed topics when referring to global environmental threats caused by unbalanced economic development, will be addressed in the proposed seminar as well. While the seminar focuses mainly on Sub-Saharan Africa, the problems addressed are global in nature.

In this honors seminar, students will take a panoramic view of sustainable international development (SID) in developing countries with a very specific focus on sub-Saharan Africa. Students will explore social, cultural, and economic challenges of sustainable and resilient international development. For better understanding of the multifaceted areas of sustainable international development, students will read and discuss topics like education, health care, food security, as well as coping with today’s challenges of urban resilience and the many manifestations of climate change. The seminar provides students with the theoretical and experimental platform for an interdisciplinary approach towards exploring sustainable international development in a challenging yet stimulating environment. As part of the seminar, we will take a 12 day study trip to Botswana, where we will connect with students and faculty from the University of Botswana. Lively discussions on sustainable international development issues will be followed by field excursions to better understand the challenges of urban/rural life in Botswana and the countries dependencies on natural resources, such as game reserves for tourism and diamond mines, both main contributors to the economy of Botswana.

Tentative Itinerary: 

Thursday, April 30th: Depart Cincinnati
Friday, May 1st: Arrive Johannesburg, Group Dinner
Saturday, May 2nd: Flight to Gaborone, Gaborone City Excursion incl. National Museum, Three Dikgosi Monument, Main Mall, Welcome Dinner
Sunday, May 3rd: Manyana VIllage Excursion, Mokolodi Nature Reserve Game Drive & Dinner Bush Braai 
Monday, May 4th: University of Botswana, Local NGO
Tuesday, May 5th: Dow Academy, Botswana Craft Courtyard, University of Botswana
Wednesday, May 6th: University of Botswana, Free Time
Thursday, May 7th: Travel to Kasane, Chobe Sunset Cruise, Optional Activities (Quadripoint tour, fishing, game drive)
Friday, May 8th: Chobe Game Drive
Saturday, May 9th: Victoria Falls and Craft Market
Sunday, May 10th: Depart to Cincinnati