Course objectives

Implement in the field and in an international context, an evaluation of a project or an environmental management system with feedback to stakeholders. To acquire the practice of data production in social sciences and management sciences for intervention in environmental and ecosystem management processes. To prepare students for the work of social science data production and analysis in the specific field context in which the rest of the module takes place.

Course contents

The aim is to put the students in a study and field situation, and to allow them to experiment in real life with the tools of investigation, analysis and action that they have been taught in the previous modules, in particular on governance and international ecosystem management strategies. The framework(s) of analysis will be chosen according to the field and the concrete problems that arise in terms of ecosystem protection.

In particular, the auditors must confront themselves with the production of knowledge in social sciences and management based on field interviews and observations of the environment, evaluate their ability to collectively produce a quality study, and report the results of their work to stakeholders, with a discussion in a foreign language.

The first week of the course consists of

• interventions aimed at acquiring the basics of social science fieldwork and the use of theoretical frameworks in action to analyse an environmental management situation
• interventions aimed at presenting the study area as well as the specific themes of the field study
• a role-playing exercise based on a fictitious case close to the field study that will be carried out
• support for the auditors in the preparation and formulation of the study framework, as well as the constitution of an initial bibliographical database.

The field part allows the practical application of academic knowledge: field interviews and transcriptions, analysis of environmental issues, multi-scalar approach, feedback to stakeholders in a multicultural environment, production of a report in English.

Teaching and learning methods

• Courses and tutorials
• Specific field preparation
• Immersion
• Accompaniment in the preparation and conduct of the fieldwork
• TD sessions to advance the analysis (debriefings)
• Feedback to stakeholders in the field
• Preparation of the field study report and writing of the report

Examination

Active participation of the auditors is required in the preparation of the study, its implementation in the field, its discussion with stakeholders and its final elaboration in the form of a study report. Each of these phases is evaluated by the supervisors.

The evaluation will also be based on the requested problematisation and preparation documents, which will be useful for further understanding of environmental management in the field and in the report writing.

Competences acquired

• Introduction to the basics of fieldwork in the social sciences
• Development of a survey and analysis problem
• Conducting a field survey
• Carry out a critical analysis of an environmental management situation
• Be able to report to stakeholders and in a mission report