Nepal Field School - Culture and Sustainable Development

Bordered by the Himalayas to the north and India to the south, Nepal is a diverse nation with multiple ethnicities, religions, cultures and over 120 spoken languages. As one of the few countries in South Asia that did not experience European colonisation, it has a long history of cultural resilience and social innovation. While currently ranked 146th out of 193 countries on the UNDP’s Human Development Index, Nepal has made progress in poverty reduction, gender equality, sustainable agriculture, democratic governance, conservation, climate change adaptation, and disaster risk reduction. At the same time, however, the country has experienced political instability through a decade-long civil war (1996-2006) and the 2008 transition from monarchy to republic. In 2015, a major earthquake resulted in thousands of deaths and the destruction of many heritage sites, which - in addition to the COVID-19 pandemic - was a major blow to the tourism sector, which is a pillar of the Nepali economy. Additionally, the country has simultaneously experienced challenges associated with rapid urbanisation and large-scale outward migration. Geopolitically, Nepal has to navigate complex regional dynamics that are largely dictated by its closest superpower neighbours, India and China. Despite these challenges, Nepal continues to make progress on many social indicators, and is projected to graduate out of the Least Developing Country (LDC) category by 2026.

In this field school, students will learn about current development dynamics, opportunities and challenges in the context of Nepal. Students will learn about the history and culture of Nepal through visits to historic sites, meet with local development and human rights organisations, and learn about the country’s culture, politics and economy from local experts. By visiting three different geographic regions of Nepal, students will understand variations in development dynamics around the country. They will also experience daily life in Nepal through homestay accommodation with local families.

After landing in Kathmandu and having a day of introduction to the city and local partners, students will fly to Ilam in the far east of the country, a region that is far off the beaten tourist track and known for its tea production and endangered red pandas. There, students will have the opportunity to learn about agriculture, environmental conservation, and education policy in the context of rural development. From Ilam, students will drive to Chitwan in the southern Terai, where the country established its first national park in 1973. The park is home to many endangered species, including one of the last populations of the single-horned rhinoceros and the Bengal tiger. Conservation efforts, however, have come at the price of local indigenous communities, who were evicted and displaced to make room for the park. Here, students will have the chance to learn about the tensions between conservation, livelihoods and culture. Finally, the last part of the field school will take place in the Kathmandu Valley, which is the both the political center of the country and home to seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In Kathmandu, rapid urbanisation poses environmental and economic challenges, even while traditional livelihoods and cultural practices persist amidst the bustle of city life. It is also the home to many NGOs and social organisations, and students will have the chance to meet with transgender activists, disability rights advocates, youth from political organisations, heritage conservationists, and disaster planning experts. While primarily focused on issues related to culture and development, this field school addresses a broad range of issues and topics. It will thus be of interest to students with a range of disciplinary backgrounds, including international development studies, political science, sociology, anthropology, history, art and architecture, geography, environmental studies, rural development, and agriculture.

Information Session

Thursday, October 24
5:30 - 7 pm
UC 390 (take the south elevators)

or

Join the meeting (virtual on Teams)

Field School Details

• Instructor: Dr. Andrea Paras, Director of the Guelph Institute for Development Studies
• Offered: Summer 2025
• Prerequisite: 7.5 credits or permission of the instructor, 68% cumulative average
• A (tentative) course outline can be found a the bottom of this page
• If you have any questions about the program, please contact Dr. Andrea Paras or Allison Broadbent, Study Abroad Manager.

Program Dates (tentative)

• Five predeparture classes - 1 in person the week of March 31, 4 during the last week of April (2 in person and on 2 on Teams)

• May 5-26, 2025 in Nepal (tentative)

Course 

Students will be registered in 1.0 credits at the third year level.  This international field school is open to students from all disciplines at the University of Guelph.

Costs

Students should budget for the following:

• Round-trip airfare to Nepal (estimated $2500)
• Tuition at the University of Guelph for 1.0 credits
• The Nepal Field School fee: approximately $3200 (includes accommodations, meals, field trips in Nepal, and in-country travel). Amount is subject to change based on fluctuating exchange rate.
• Mandatory travel health and emergency insurance through the company Guard Me ($1.65 / day)
• Personal expenses (souvenirs, additional personal excursions, etc) 

Travel Grants

See the University of Guelph travel grants available.  

Eligibility

Students applying for the program must have completed a total of 7.5 undergraduate credits by the time the program begins in May 2024 (or permission from the instructor), and must have a 68% cumulative average. 

The program is open to students from all disciplines at the University of Guelph, with a maximum of 15 students being accepted to the program. 

Application deadline: January 31, 2025

Apply to the Nepal Field School

Application Instructions