Kathmandu University School of Arts

Graduate Programmes
in

Development Studies

&

Human and Natural Resources Studies

2011

KATHMANDU UNIVERSITY

Vision

“To become a world-class university devoted to bringing knowledge and technology to the service of mankind”.

Mission

“To provide quality education for leadership”.

Brief Introduction

• Autonomous, not-for-profit, non - government institution
Kathmandu University is an autonomous, not-for-profit, non - government institution dedicated to maintain high standards of academic excellence. It is committed to develop leaders in professional areas through quality education.

• Academic programmes
At present, the University offers various undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate programmes in science, engineering, medicine, management, education, arts, pharmacy, environment, music, human & natural resources, information technology and biotechnology through School of Science, School of Management, School of Engineering, School of Medical Sciences, School of Education and School of Arts.

Message from the Dean, School of Arts

This brochure describes the course structure and other details regarding two interdisciplinary courses (Human and natural Resources Studies and Development Studies) being offered by Kathmandu University, under the School of Arts.Based on the experience so far, both the programmes have received encouraging responses from students. They have also provided excellent feedback and to the extent feasible, the University has been modifying the courses and will continue to do so in the future. One new focus in both of the programmes is to provide greater practical exposure on concrete human and natural resources management and development related issues.

In the days ahead greater emphasis will be given to internship in the field where faculty and students will work together with local people to understand, analyze and recommend specific solutions to outstanding problems in development. With increased faculty members in the two programs, Kathmandu University, School of Arts is making greater commitment for increased academic rigor and quality in all aspects of learning.

We hope the information contained will be useful to all interested in these programmes. We look forward to your suggestions.

Prof. Dr. Mahesh Banskota
Dean
School of Arts
Kathmandu University

KATHMANDU UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF ARTS

The School of Arts (SOA) of Kathmandu University was established in 1996. It is one of the six Schools at the University established to impart education in liberal arts, music, media and social sciences with the aim of producing able professionals that can contribute to the development of the nation.

Vision
Education for promoting ideals of social and economic justice and well being for all persons and their environments.

Mission
Promote professional knowledge, understanding and skills in the development of arts, culture, and other social and economic potentials of human resources through

• scholarly activities, critical thinking, analysis and communications;
• practical interventions, assessments and evaluations; and
• integration of social, economic, political, cultural and environmental components of development.

Graduate Programme in Development Studies
School of Arts

The Graduate Program in Development Studies (DEVS) at Kathmandu University is a multidisciplinary Master-level course offered to meet the growing complexity of development activities.

On completion of the Graduate Program in DEVS, students will have further developed their
• Knowledge, skills and understanding regarding contemporary high priority national and global development issues, and the underlying debate;
• Basic technical skills to effectively conduct research and analysis in different areas of development;
• Ability to communicate and discuss development issues with peers;
• Foundations for further studies in related fields.

Career Prospects
The Master in Development Studies program trains students in the understanding of current development issues and exposes them to a comprehensive range of tools and methods for the analysis of real-world development issues.

Graduates can follow careers as development specialists and analysts in a wide variety of development agencies, both in the government and elsewhere.

 

Curriculum
The curriculum of the DEVS programme aims at imparting both theoretical knowledge in and practical exposure to various issues. The major methods used will comprise of classroom lectures, case study analyses, field surveys, seminars, results discussions and presentations. The programme will emphasize students’ active participation and involvement in the learning process wherein the instructors (faculty members) would mainly be playing the role of a counsellor and guide.

Semester-wise Course Offering

Note: Out of the courses listed, a total of 13 courses will be offered during Semester I-III.
* Special course. This could change depending on the availability of teaching faculty and other resources.
** This is a course where the students are required to conduct in-depth study/analysis on the subject of their choice approved by the department.

Description of the Courses

DEVS 501: Development Concepts and Practices
This is a comprehensive course that covers major issues confronting the developed as well as the developing countries in today’s changing world. There are many issues where there is consensus but there are also many differences that must be openly discussed. It is hoped that the wealth of materials that is available in this vast subject will provide a broad orientation on most of the important issues.

DEVS 502: Human Development Paradigms
Human development paradigm and its precursors, human capital, ends and means of development; Development as capability expansion; Human development and economic growth, human poverty, gender, good governance, empowerment; Sustainable development concepts, analysis of sustainability and well being of human being and the environment; Other recent propositions in the discussion of development.

DEVS 503: Social Mobilisation and Rural Development: Gender, Inclusion and Ethnicity
Social Theories, Social Agenda for Development, Social challenges, changing nature of social policies; Understanding the construction of gender, evolution of approaches to gender and development, Gender inequalities feminization of poverty and feminist theories; Ethnicity, inclusion, justice, human rights, religious freedom; Empowerment.

DEVS 504: Population and Development
The course aims to enhance the knowledge and understanding of the important relationships between population, development and natural resources. The course emphasizes on both global and national trends on population change and its effects on development and natural resource outcomes. This course also deals with how changes on social, economic and natural resources influence fertility, mortality and migration of human populations and how changes in fertility, mortality and migration influence social, economic and natural resources.

DEVS 511: Introduction to Education for Development
The course will look at the specific challenges and opportunities posed by education in developing countries. It will also help people to understand the tensions between standardised models of ‘modern’ education and the diverse social, economic and cultural contexts in which education takes place. In addition, it aims to examine critically the likely impact of specific policies on target groups of people.

DEVS 512: Statistics
The objective of the course is to acquaint the students with basic knowledge of probability distributions, variables and their measurements, hypothesis testing and level of significance; descriptive and inferential statistical methods including univariate, bivariate and multivariate techniques such as t-test, z-test, chi-square test, analysis of variance, correlation, bivariate and multiple regression, linear regression and logistic regression.

DEVS 513: Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation
The objective of the course is to provide in-depth understanding on the concepts and application of project management, monitoring and evaluation. It will deal with issues such as: relationship between macro, meso and micro level project planning; project formulate techniques; aspects of project appraisal and screening in the context of macro and sectoral plans; project implementation, procurement and contract; operation and maintenance plan; and project monitoring and evaluation process.

DEVS 514: Research Methodology
The objective of this course is to equip students with knowledge and skills on social science research methods with special reference to underdeveloped rural settings. This course covers fundamental concept of research and scientific process, measurement issues and their validity and reliability, sampling techniques, questionnaire designs and interview techniques.

DEVS 515: Macro Economics
This course aims to familiarize students with the overall economic system and basic concepts of macro economics. This will enable students to understand the interaction of different economic agents on macroeconomic prospective and will help them to link economic decisions with overall economic environment of the economy. The course will focus on growth models and will encompass present economic crisis and its social and financial impact in the livelihood of the people.

DEVS 516: Micro Economics
This course is offered for the students without any background in economics. Hence, care has been taken to make the course simple and interesting. The use of mathematics has been limited to simple but essential to the subject matter. The objective of the course is to provide an introductory knowledge on basic economic concepts: to help students appreciate the importance of economics and its role in development issues and to enable them to understand the functioning of economy in micro level.

DEVS 517: Development Finance
This course covers issues related with development banking, money supply, inflations, public finance and foreign aid. From macro financial issues to micro finance, development finance has occupied a central place in the planning, management and evaluation of any development program. The complexities and challenges of development finances have increased significantly over the years. Hence it is essential that the students become familiar with the basic concepts, issues and challenges of development finance.

DEVS 519: Development Communication
This course focuses on the evolution of major theories of development, current problems facing development communicators, and, concrete applications of communication to problems in development. It covers issues such as role of media in development communication, strategies and action plans in development communication, development communication policies, and the role of communication in democratic decentralization.

DEVS 521: Public Policy
Understanding the meaning of Public policy, Rationale for Public Policy, Market failures, Distributional and other goals; Limits to public intervention; Correcting market and government failures; Policy adoption and implementation; Policy analysis, Review of different policy instruments; Review of Public Policies; Case studies from different countries; Ethnography of selected policies.

DEVS 522: Micro Development Dynamics
Micro level interventions in rural and urban areas are increasing very significantly primarily because of their effectiveness in working with the poor. These interventions include areas such as micro finance, micro enterprises, micro area development, micro contracting, better integration of micro-macro linkages, micro insurance for the poor, micro dynamics of rural households, services as the local level, and so on.

DEVS 523: Globalization and WTO
Introduction to WTO, Overview, Core mandate and activities, Basic principles and organization; Trade negotiations, Implementation & Development; the Doha Agenda, Different Trade related agreements; Globalization, regionalization and alternatives.
DEVS 524: Entrepreneurship and Development
This course aims to familiarize the students with the overall concept and meaning of entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship development. Importance of social entrepreneurship in the context of underdeveloped country like Nepal will be discussed from various prospective. It will introduce students to the process of new venture creation and to provide them with critical knowledge needed to manage the business once it is formed and finally help them to create a business plan.

DEVS 525: Project Evaluation
Project Evaluation is a step-by-step process of collecting, recording and organizing information about project results, including short-term outputs (immediate results of activities, or project deliverables), and immediate and longer-term project outcomes (changes in behaviour, practice or policy resulting from the project). This course covers the process of using social science research methods needed for project evaluation.

DEVS 527: Globalisation and Livelihood Options of People living in Poverty (GLOPP)
Globalisation and Livelihood Options of People Living in Poverty (GLOPP) is an e-course, developed under the patronage of Swiss Virtual Campus (SVC), and designed to enhance the teaching quality in geography, sociology, architecture, urbanism and political sciences in the field of development studies and similar degree coursed at university level. The course thematically focuses on poor people’s livelihoods and contributions to the improvement of their situation.

DEVS 531: Nepal’s Development Plans and Policies
The objective of this course is to familiarize students with the development approaches, practices and policies in Nepal. It will review the changes in development approaches, overall macroeconomic performance, sectoral development performance, regional and rural development. It will critically review the role of aid, trade and planning in Nepal.

DEVS 532: Nepal’s Economic Diplomacy with China and India
The objective of this course is to discuss the opportunities for the private sector of Nepal provided by the rapidly growing economies of India and China. The course will include a review of present and future economic and trade treaties and relationships with these two countries and discuss how Nepal can benefit from their growing economies.

DEVS 533: Environment, Health and Development
The course will address the interlocking nature of environment, health and development. Broadly, the course covers pertinent issues in: health, environment and sustainable development; environmental quality and differential impact on different sub-groups of population global issues; technical/political management, actions and interventions; current interdisciplinary research focus and identification of knowledge gaps in national context.

DEVS 541: Internship
Development Internship is a structured supervised educational course that provides students a practical experience working in selected development settings. This course is designed to enable students both to demonstrate and to enhance their development knowledge and skills through placement experience and project work.

Students have to find a suitable community and undertake a specific approved project. Students are also required to attend a number of workshops, and at least one workshop during the course of the internship in which they will discuss their experiences with relevant teaching faculties and fellow students and outline their reports

An internship coordinator will be assigned to the students. Students will be informed about their responsibilities before the start of the internship and given necessary orientation.

Fee Structure for Masters Programme
The total amount of fees per student, excluding the costs of books, stationeries, accommodation, and individual dissertation research, for the entire duration of two years is NRs. 225, 000. The details of the expenses are as follows:

This amount is payable in five instalments. Students from SAARC (excluding Nepal) and outside SAARC countries have to pay 1.5 and 2 times the above amount of charges respectively. The various charges set by the programme are subject to change according to KU rules.

 

Graduate Programme at
Human and Natural Resources Studies Centre (HNRSC)
School of Arts
Graduate Programme in Human and Natural Resources Studies

Admission Open

The Graduate Programme in Human and Natural Resources Studies (HNRS) at Kathmandu University (KU) currently offers Master’s and PhD degrees. These are research-oriented professional degrees and the programme seeks to impart the research and analytical abilities necessary to understand the structure and functioning of rural society and their natural resource base.

This is the first-ever interdisciplinary course offered in Nepal. The Programme is comprised of both academic courses and action research, with the goal to provide the students with substantial interdisciplinary knowledge and understanding in the field of human and natural resources management.

The major objective of the programme is to produce a cadre of professionals capable of coordinating, guiding, evaluating, improving and propagating efforts aimed at identifying people’s problems of multi-faceted nature, and arousing and assisting the communities in resolving those problems through the application of appropriate integrated approaches to exploring, enriching and utilizing the multifarious human and natural resources. Specifically the programme aims at assisting students to:

• Acquire knowledge and skills concerning natural resources and community linkage, information gathering and analyses, indigenous community-based knowledge systems and institutions;

• Develop capability and confidence to contribute nationally and internationally towards managing the human and natural resources fruitfully;

• Be able to effectively conduct basic and applied research, work in a team and individually, prepare and present (communicate) findings in the field of human and natural resources management;

• Prepare for the pursuance of further studies in related areas.

To achieve the above objectives the programme emphasizes on:

• Social dimension to natural resource management;
• Research of action- and people-oriented nature;
• Attention to the poor, disadvantaged and marginalized groups of people;
• Analyzing and addressing the real life situation in Nepal; and
• Utilization of past studies and research outputs.

Curriculum

The curriculum of the HNRS programme aims at imparting both theoretical knowledge in and practical exposure to various issues relating to the management of human and natural resources, with greater emphasis given to the latter mode. The major methods used will comprise classroom lectures, case study analyses, field surveys, seminars, results discussions and presentations. The programme will emphasize students’ active participation and involvement in the learning process wherein the instructors (faculty members) would mainly be playing the role of a counsellor and guide.

 

Semester-wise Course Offering

Note: Out of the courses listed, a total of 13 courses will be offered during Semester I-III.
* Special course. This could change depending on the availability of teaching faculty and other resources.
** This is a course where the students are required to conduct in-depth study/analysis on the subject of their choice approved by the department.

Description of the Courses

HNRS 511: Human Dimensions of Development, 3

Major objective: To substantially familiarize the students with the changing overall concept and meaning, theories and practices of development.

Broad outline: Concepts, Meaning, and Definitions of Development; Theories of development; Development indicators (with special emphasis on human development indicators); Poverty and Measurement; Empowerment and Social Inclusion; Social Mobilization; Other Human Development Strategies.

HNRS 512: Sociology of Conflict and Resource Management, 3
Major objectives: To provide an introduction to and understanding of human and social aspects of conflict in resource management.

Broad outline: The students would learn major sociological theories related to conflict management and resolution, social and cultural aspects of resource management, and human relationship with the environment.

HNRS 513: Environmental Economics, 3
Major objective: The objective of this course is to raise the students’ knowledge and understanding of the crucial interrelationship between economic activities and natural resource management and help them become effective contributors towards achieving the goals of sustainable natural resource management and human development.

Broad outline: Concept of Resources, Environmental Issues and Resources, Economic Theories, Static and Inter-temporal Efficiency of Resource Use, Sources of Inefficiency, Externalities, Valuation of Non-marketable Goods and Services, Income and its Efficient Distribution, Economic Policies, State and the Natural Resources, Property Right, Development and Conservation of Scarce Resources, Decision Making and Efficient Use of Natural Resources, Political Economy of Natural Resource Use, Impact Assessment Process.

HNRS 514: Project Management, 3
Major objective: The aim of this course is to make the students understand the concept of a project cycle and its management, by taking account of essential issues and framework conditions in both designing and implementing development projects and programmes.

Broad outline: Concept of project and project cycle; situation analysis, application of tools (SWOT, PRA, stakeholder analysis; problems, objectives and alternative analysis); tools of planning (LFA, strategic planning); management task in implementation process (planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation), planning methods and recent developments and trends; PCM application in national planning; monitoring and evolution.

HNRS 519: Development Communication, 3
Major objective: This course addresses the importance of proper communication in development and discusses the current problems facing development communicators in developing countries issues.

Broad outline:
Evolution of major theories of development; role of media in development communication; communication problems in development; strategies and action plans in development communication, development communication policies, and the role of communication in democratic decentralization.

HNRS 521: Natural Resource Systems Management, 3
Major Objective: This course focuses on the importance and types of natural resources and their uses by human beings; consequences of their over-exploitation and management practices.

Broad Outline: Natural resources and their categories, importance, significance and use pattern of resources; renewable and Non-renewable Resources, Allocation of Exhaustive and Biological Resources, natural resource policies, Pollution and its Control, Environmental Issues and management of Resources, threats and consequences of over-exploitation and degradation, approaches and options of conservation.

HNRS 522: Population, Development and Natural Resource Linkages, 3
Major objective: To enhance knowledge and understanding about the importance of proper relationships between population, development and natural resources.

Broad outline: The course emphasizes on both global and national trends on population change and its effects on development and natural resource outcomes. This course also deals with how changes on social, economic and natural resources influence fertility, mortality and migration of human populations and how changes in fertility, mortality and migration influence social, economic and natural resources.
HNRS 524: Forestry and Wildlife Management, 3
Major objective: To make the students aware of the importance and values of forestry and wildlife conservation, major groups and their management prospects; impacts of forest on the environment; values and types of forest.

Broad outline: Major wildlife and their distribution, importance and values, conservation and management options; environments of forests, influence of forest on their environments, forest succession and regeneration, non-timber forest products, agro-forestry and community forestry.

HNRS 525: Project Evaluation, 3
Major objective: This course aims to enable the students to conduct an in-depth evaluation of development projects based on social science research methods.

Broad outline:
Project Evaluation is a step-by-step process of collecting, recording and organizing information about project results, including short-term outputs (immediate results of activities, or project deliverables), and immediate and longer-term project outcomes (changes in behaviour, practice or policy resulting from the project). This course covers the process of using social science research methods needed for project evaluation.

HNRS 531: Public Policy Issues in Resource Management, 3
Major objective: To acquaint students with the nature of public policy, making of public policy, the players and the policy game. In this course , the students will be required to present issues derived from their experiences and observation from the Nepalese scene and relate them with theories of public policy.

Broad outline: Contemporary language of public policy, its frames, relevance and usefulness in everyday life of citizens; how public policy is made, issues and agendas and its implementations, evaluation and analysis; the role of institutional and non institutional actions; rules, strategies, culture and resources in the policy game.
HNRS 532: Rural-Urban and Highland-Lowland Relations, 3
Major objective: The purpose of the course is to explore the dimensions of fairness and welfare in rural – urban and highland-lowland relations from ecological, economic and social points of view and to identify actions capable of promoting a better-balanced rural - urban future.

Broad outline: This course focuses on the various conditions, forms and consequences of economic diversification in rural areas of Nepal. Special attention is paid to the role of government policies and increasing rural-urban interactions (including mobility) in shaping the process of rural diversification under various local or regional conditions. The course will analyze the impacts of rural diversification on the local/regional employment, income and living conditions and on the sustainability of local/regional resource use.

HNRS 533: Environment, Health and Development, 3
Major objective: This course aims to cover the multi dimensional issues related to environment and health and their impacts on development.

Broad outline:
The course will address the interlocking nature of environment, health and development. Broadly, the course covers pertinent issues in: health, environment and sustainable development; environmental quality and differential impact on different sub-groups of population global issues; technical/political management, actions and interventions; current interdisciplinary research focus and identification of knowledge gaps in national context.

HNRS 541: Data Analysis, 3
Major objective: This course will provide comprehensive knowledge and skills on univariate to multivariate techniques for analysing the data collected for social science research.

Broad outline: The course will deal with probability distributions, sampling distribution, variables and their measurements, hypothesis testing and level of significance; descriptive and inferential statistical methods including univariate, bivariate and multivariate technique such as, t-test, z-test, chi-square test, analysis of variance, correlation, bivariate and multiple regression, linear regression model using plural independent variables, interaction terms, dummy variables, curvilinear methods and logistic regression.

HNRS 542: Research Methods
Major objective: To provide knowledge and skills on the logic and process of social science research methods.

Broad outline: science and scientific methods, nature of social science as science, problem formulation and research design, experimental and non-experimental designs, measurement issues including validity and reliability, index and scale construction, survey research, sampling issues, method of data collection (questionnaire and interview technique); how to develop and write a research proposal, logic of data analysis and writing research reports.

HNRS 545: Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), 3
Major objective: To develop a sound understanding of the national and international EIA guidelines focusing on the sectoral aspects; to develop an appreciation of the strategic EIA with focus on social aspects incorporating scientific, legal, and administrative context within which EIA occurs; and to develop a high level of critical and creative thinking, and research, problem solving team work.

Broad outline: This course includes precisely introduction to the unit, evolution of EIA, definitions and meaning of EIA, criteria and standards for assessing significant impacts, the nature and type of impacts, EIA study process and consideration of alternatives, EIA at the international level, sectoral application of EIA in water projects, energy projects, and waste management projects, EIA follow-up, strategic environmental assessment- principles and potentials, EIA effectiveness and view to the future.

HNRS 602: Internship
HNRS Internship is a structured supervised educational course that provides students a practical experience working in selected development settings. This course is designed to enable students both to demonstrate and to enhance their development knowledge and skills through placement experience and project work.

Students have to find a suitable community and undertake a specific approved project. Students are also required to attend a number of workshops, and at least one workshop during the course of the internship in which they will discuss their experiences with relevant teaching faculties and fellow students and outline their reports. An internship coordinator will be assigned to the students. Students will be informed about their responsibilities before the start of the internship and given necessary orientation.

Fee Structure for Masters Programme

The total amount of fees per student, excluding the costs of books, stationery, accommodation, and individual thesis research, for the entire duration of two years is NRs. 225, 000. The details of the expenses are as follows:

This amount is payable in five instalments. Students from SAARC (excluding Nepal) and outside SAARC countries have to pay 1.5 and 2 times the above amount of charges respectively. The various charges set by the programme are subject to change according to KU rules.

Duration and Credit Hours (DEVS and HNRS)
The Master in Development Studies (MDEVS) and Master in Human and Natural Resources Studies (MHNRS) is a two-year programme of four semesters. Students will have to complete altogether 13 tutored courses (each carrying 3-credit hours) in the first three semesters. A three credit hour course requires 48 contact hours.

In the fourth semester, the students will have the following two options:

Option A: The first option is to write a dissertation of 9 credit hours under the regular supervision of an assigned supervisor. Each student will be assigned a supervisor only after the successful defence of her/his dissertation proposal. The students will have to submit the final dissertation to the department at the end of the two year programme.

Option B: The students who choose this option will have to take courses of 9 credit hours that include internship (3 credit hours), independent study (3 credit hours) and one special course (3 credit hours each).
If a student is not able to complete the program during the two-year period, he/she will have to pay additional fees as per the KU rules.

All students must complete the entire requirement for graduation within five academic years from the date of enrolment into the programme.

Student Entry Criteria
Completion of minimum of 3-year Bachelor’s degree, or a master's degree, with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.5 out of 4.0, or an equivalent, or 50 per cent marks in general will be the criteria followed to evaluate the applicants. In addition, securing an acceptable level of ranking in the entrance test administered to measure required competencies including language proficiency and analytical ability will be essential. Only the candidates who pass the written exam will be selected for the interview, on the basis of which final selection will be made.

Intake Capacity
A maximum intake capacity for both DEVS and HNRS is 20 students per semester.

Admission Announcement
The announcement for admissions for HNRS will be made in June every year. Announcement for admissions for DEVS will be made in December every year.

How to Apply
Applications should be made on an official application form which is available from the office of School of Arts, Kathmandu University. Applicants should submit all relevant documents along with their application. Any enquiry regarding the course should be made at the concerned departments (HNRS and DEVS) of School of Arts, Kathmandu University.

Grades and Grading Systems
Grades shall be assigned to individual students on the basis of instructor’s judgment of the student's scholastic achievement as set forth in Section ii below.

i. Grading System
Grades for students shall be reported by the following letters: A, A-, B, B+, B-, C+, C, C-, D, or F. The faculty member (instructor) will determine and execute the specific grading method, including the allocation of suitable weights to the methods. The instructor will explain the overall evaluation system to the students at the beginning of the course.

ii. Definition of Grades
The grades of A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D, and F indicate a graduation in quality from Excellent to Failure and are assigned the following grade-point equivalents:

All grading system is based on following rules:

The student must maintain an aggregate CGPA of 3.00 or above after completing the required courses. If the aggregate CGPA is less than 3.00, the student will have to repeat certain courses until he/she maintains the required CGPA.

PhD Programme at HNRSC
HNRSC and South Asia Regional Coordination Office of the Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) North-South are jointly implementing collaborative research since October 2006 with special focus on the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) level programme.

Developing and transition countries are affected by a multitude of envi¬ronmental, political, economic, socio-cultural, and technical development problems and disparities. These occur in many different contexts, and their frequency and acuteness have greatly increased in the 20th century. The challenge for research that aims to produce knowledge relevant to prevention and mitigation of such problems and disparities is that these do not occur independently of each other, but are closely interrelated, appearing in clusters. In this programme, such clusters of prob¬lems are referred to as “syndromes of global change.” The mitigation of these syndromes is a global challenge; it is also a precondition for achieving sustainable development. The PhD programme offered by HNRSC, KU addresses this challenge.

The major objective of the programme is to produce qualified researchers and professionals who are able to coordinate, guide, analyze, evaluate, improve and propagate efforts aimed identifying causes and problems regarding issues related to environmental, economic, socio-cultural problems and disparities in transient countries. By doing so the programme aims to produce highly qualified and competent researchers and professionals who can not only proactively and constructively take part in national and international researches and debates in the field, but also can provide effective recommendations based on their studies to the policy making bodies at various levels.

On-going Research Themes

The ongoing research themes of the PhD program are:
1. Social and Territorial Impacts of Armed Conflict-induced Displacement and the Livelihoods of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nepal
The main objective of this PhD research is to analyze the socio-economic situation of the IDPs and examine their interaction patterns, coping strategies, available means of livelihoods, vulnerability and risks in the new urban environment and the existing networks with the home villages. The research aims to analyze the policy response of the state towards IDPs and to examine the process of formation of marginal habitats.

2. Access of Dalits and Socially Excluded People to Land Resource: Livelihood Insecurity and Social Conflict
The main objective of this PhD research is to examine the policies, legislations or regulations and practices related to access of and control over land resources by Dalits and other socially excluded groups as well as to identify the problems and opportunities inherent in the current policy and legislative sphere and to explore the impact of the provisions in these policies and regulations on the livelihoods of socially excluded groups.

3. Tourism, Conflict and Peace in Nepal
The main objective of this PhD research is to assess both the role of tourism in conflict and the impact of conflict on the development of the tourism sector in Nepal. Second, it aims to analyse if and how the tourism industry contributed towards resolving armed conflict and restoring peace in the country as well as to evaluate its potential for sustainable tourism development in the post-conflict period. This PhD program is part of a research module of the NCCR N-S on ‘conflict and economy’ which focuses on conflict analysis, roles, and opportunities for both national and international business and economic actors. It analyses the role of such actors towards reducing the conflict proneness of violent economic and political environments and towards achieving sustainable development.

4. Landscape of Democracy: The Cultural Politics of Governance in Nepal
Contemporary Nepal Provides an ideal setting to study two issues of great significance concerning the formation of democratic polices. They are political transition in post conflict societies, and the constraints of developing democracies imposed by external institutions and ideologies. The PhD research will address these issues at the scale of local communities where democratic politics are built from the ground up, through the everyday practices of ordinary people in civil society. This project is jointly conducted by HNRSC, University of Toronto, University of Edinburg, Forest Action and NCCR North-South.

5. Livelihood Futures in Resource-scarce Areas and the Quest for Inclusion of Marginal Groups
In places where natural resources are scarce, various groups may vie for the control as well as for access to any alternative means of securing a living. Making comparative studies of resource-scarce areas in South Asia and East Africa, this research project seeks to identify new livelihood strategies for groups vulnerable to exclusion, particularly strategies that diminish reliance on natural resources. In Nepal, this research will be conducted in the far western region of Nepal, with food insecurity as its central theme. This is a collaborative research project of HNRSC, University of Zurich and NCCR North-South.

6. Role of Private Sector in Peace Promotion: An Assessment of the Benefits, Limitations, and Determinants of Corporate Engagement in Peace
Through comparison of case studies in South Asia, Central America and the Horn of Africa, this project seeks to improve understanding of the advantages, disadvantages and determinants of corporate engagement in peace promotion, and to generate evidence-based recommendations for peace practitioners considering partnerships with the private sector. The overall aim of the research will be to address the challenges of corporate engagement in peace promotion in Nepal. This is a collaborative research project of RCO NCCR North-South, Swiss Peace Foundation, and HNRSC.

7. Contested Development
Though some sections of Nepal's society were able to improve their livelihoods in recent years, contemporary life in rural Nepal is still characterized by the widespread persistence of inequality and poverty. Dissatisfied with the developmental performance of the State, social/political movements started to claim to better represent poor people's aspirations. The PhD research will address this issue by first mapping the existing regional movements, and by then selecting one (or two) such movements for in-depth analysis. This PhD project aims to contribute to the growing and very contested global debate on "social movements" as alternatives to state-led poverty-oriented rural development. This is a collaborative research project of HNRSC, University of Zurich, and NCCR North-South.

Eligibility and Selection Process for PhD Programme
Completion of a Masters Degree MA, MSc or MPhil on a related discipline with a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.00 out of 4.0 or an equivalent of 65 percent marks. The candidates must have completed a minimum of 7 years of university education after SLC. Research and work experience in relevant fields, and experience of field research, data analysis, and scientific writing will be an advantage. Candidates should have strong oral and written English language skills.

The eligible candidates will first have to sit for a written examination, which basically tests their written skills on related subjects/issues.

Only those who pass the written exam will be invited for an interview.

Shortlisted candidates from the interview will be given about three weeks to prepare and present their PhD research proposal on the required theme. A selection committee will make the final decision and recommend the best candidate to present her/his final proposal to the PhD Research Committee Board of School of Arts.

The PhD Research Committee will make the final decision regarding the selection of the PhD candidate.

SOME MILESTONES of HNRSC and DEVS
January 2004
Launched two-year Master’s programme in Human and Natural Resources Studies (HNRS) under the School of Arts.
October 2006
HNRSC and the Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) North-South signed a Memorandum of Understanding for jointly conducting high-level collaborative research on various fields of social science in Nepal. Started PhD level research.

May 2008
Dr. Mahesh Banskota appointed as the Dean of School of Arts.

August 2008
Launched two-year Master’s programme in Development Studies (DEVS).

July 2010
Ms. Anita Ghimire successfully graduated from the PhD programme becoming the first PhD grantee under the School of Arts, Kathmandu University.

Some Awards Received by Students
Bidya Bhusan Award
Ms. Shreshna Basnet (HNRSC) wins Bidya Bhusan Award in 2007
Mr. Kiran Maharjan (HNRSC) wins Bidya Bhusan Award in 2010

VOW Award
Ms. Shruti Karki (DEVS) wins Voice of Women Award in 2009
Ms. Sony K.C (HNRSC) wins Voice of Women Award in 2010

Events
Research Methodology Workshop
HNRSC- KU organized three days Research Methodology Workshop on 24-26 March, 2008 for its master and PhD students. Training on data gathering tools and techniques, scientific writing and data interpretation was given to the students during this workshop.

 

Conflict Management Workshop

HNRSC together with Global Majority (INGO) organized a two-day workshop on “Conflict Management” in March 2008. Trainings on development of negotiation skills, conflict resolution and effective communication were given to HNRSC students by international experts.

 

GLOPP Workshop

HNRSC and University of Zurich jointly organized a three-day e-learning course on Globalisation and Livelihood Option for People living in Poverty (GLOPP) from in January 2009. Faculties and students from HNRSC and DEVS participated in this workshop.

National and International Seminars

SPSS Training for DEVS and HNRS Students HNRSC Evaluation

HNRS EIA Tour 2010 DEVS Field Tour 2010

Full-time Teaching Staff

Name	Courses responsible for*
Dr. Mahesh Banskota	Public Policy, Nepal’s Plans and Policies, Development Concepts and Practices
Dr. Sagar Raj Sharma	Human Development Paradigms, Economics, Entrepreneurship and Development
Mr. Dhiraj Giri	Statistics, Survey Data Analysis by using Computer Software
Dr. Chhatra Mani Sharm	Natural Resource Management
Dr. Megh Raj Dangal	Research Methodology

* Other courses are taught by our visiting faculties, all of whom are established scholars and professionals working in their respective fields.

Full-time Non-Teaching Staff

Name	Position
Ms. Lalina Shakya	Administrative Staff
Mr. Krishna Hari Neupane	Support Staff

Collaborating Institutions

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