The course content focuses on the four main aspects of transformative research identified in the 71 Visions Report & further explored in the Transformative Dialogues @WUR series.
Learning goals
- Explore different approaches to transformative research in case studies from WUR, SRC and beyond
- Develop skills to evaluate how key aspects of research design, implementation, analysis and communication affect the contribution of research to addressing global social-environmental challenges
- Build knowledge, confidence and ability to apply transformative processes/methods in your own present and future research and navigate emerging challenges to maximize its beneficial impacts
- Connect with a growing network of diverse researchers within and beyond WUR & SRC to further your inspiration and capability to undertake transformative research in collaboration with others
Contents
The introduction to the course is split across two half-days to explore: what is “transformative research", and what roles does it entail? This will be followed by four full-day trainings and one final day of harvesting collective insights. The course involves the following main components:
- Lectures and dynamic exercises that explore transformative concepts and methods, delivered by a broad range of scholars undertaking transformative approaches in their research
- In-depth engagement with novel case studies of transformation that are relevant to your research
- Crafting of your own personal narrative of how your research contributes to social-environmental change
- Participation in peer-to-peer learning sessions and walks
- Home study (readings, videos, writing) in between sessions
- Informal social interactions with peers and teaching team
Programme
This course will run in person in Wageningen, Netherlands.
It spans 2 weeks (20 September to 1 October, including 36 hours of live sessions + 20 hours of self study). If Covid-19 circumstances do not permit in person sessions, we will transition to an online setting, with 12 half-day sessions.
Target group
PhD students (although MSc and post-docs may also enrol) – both WUR based and internationally based; We explicitly also invited PhD candidates with a more technical background to apply.