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 Centre for Property Studies / Terradigm expand Internship program to Mzuzu Univresity in Malawi
December 8th, 2008
Under the direction of the Centre for Property Studies / Terradigm, students from the UNB Faculties of Engineering (Geodesy & Geomatics), Forestry, Nursing and Kinesiology were awarded internships under the Students for Development Program administered by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada and funded by the Canadian International Development Agency.
A fifth student, Tyler Coleman, sponsored by UNB Law, spent ten weeks working with staff in the Mzuzu Department of Land Management
Governance is about the way that decisions are made in towns, cities, provinces, and countries. In order to make sound decisions everyone must be involved, not just the government, and to do this productively everyone must have the relevant facts and information. Universities need to be a major source of this information and knowledge through teaching, building and enhancing the knowledge of not only the local communities including children, youth and women, but also entrepreneurs and government officials (both local and national). Programs that promote cooperation between civil society, private sector organization and public sector institutions build good governance and successful development.
The UNB / Malawi Internship program focuses on governance and capacity building. Working with Mzuzu University, UNB faculty, staff and interns share in the development of skills and knowledge both within the university in terms of curriculum design and through community outreach to address the governance needs of northern Malawi. In 2007, UNB and Mzuzu University signed a Memorandum of Understanding to build a partnership based on academic and cultural cooperation. This is the second year UNB students were given an opportunity to experience life and development in Africa under this agreement.
Tristan Goulden, a Master’s of Engineering student in Geodesy & Geomatics Engineering, researched and taught in the Department of Land Management. Under the Direction of Mavuto Tembo, Head of the Department, Tristan taught courses relating to GIS and GPS and assisted in the Department’s survey school. Students under the Land Management program at Mzuzu will become active, knowledgeable participants in Malawi Land Reform program.
Amanda Colford, a Master’s student in the Faculty of Forestry, examined the effects of Land Degradation and Natural Resource Management in Northern Malawi. Amanda interacted with Faculty, staff and students at Mzuzu as well as local and national governments currently dealing with Sustainable Land Management and the effects of Climate Change.
Katie Scott, entering her 4th year in the Nursing program, worked as a school nurse at Masasa Primary School, a publicly funded school in the Mzuzu community. Her primary task was to develop a school health program focusing on health promotion and HIV/AIDS prevention. Katie addressed issues ranging from the importance of suitable nutrition to the value of proper personal hygiene. Building a health population is essential for a country’s success.
Amy Welsh, entering her 4th year Kinesiology also worked in a local school and taught about the importance of physical activity in daily life to primary school children. The foundation of this internship was to build self esteem in women and youth though sport. Amy’s work will enable women and youth to understand their value not only to their families and communities but to their country.
Tyler Coleman, enter his 3rd year Law focused on identifying legal implications arising from a new Land Bill reforming land law in the country, and the lessons learned from a World Bank sponsored pilot project on a land reform implementation strategy. His work will assist students of the Department understand the new challenges of land law they will face upon graduation as survey engineers.
Together, these students made a significant impact in Malawi, learned a great deal from their Malawian counterparts, and strengthened the UNB/Malawi initiative. By working together in the developing world we can advance our own understanding of other cultures, help in their economic, social and environmental development, and strengthen good governance.
For more information on the UNB/Malawi initiative and possible internship opportunities in Africa, contact Veronica McGinn, Project Coordinator at the Centre for Property Studies by email: veronica@unb.ca or telephone 447-3344.
Funding: AUCC Students for Development Program
Partners: Department of Land Management, Mzuzu University |
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