The format of the course was a combination of lectures and group discussion in an interactive way. The participants were required to attend both the entire course and the European Congress. The course started with a one-day introduction before the congress in the vibrant city centre of Ghent. After the congress, the consecutive days of the course were organised in Dourbes, a village in the rural landscapes of Wallonia (in the region of Voroinval, located the geographical region of Fagne-Famenne).
During the first part (10-11 September, in Ghent), the students were introduced in the objectives, theme and format of the course. Moreover, they were introduced to how to participate in an international congress, which includes making contact and discuss their PhD research with the participants of the course.
The second part took place in a remote rural landscape where the students and lecturers stayed from 15-19 September. The program was built around theoretical lectures as well as sessions about specific research skills. Besides these lectures, students were expected to present their own research and engage in debates and discussions. The discussions during the course had the aim to contribute to the students’ critical reflection on their own research, their paper writing, their attitude as landscape researchers as well as how they can position themselves within the landscape ecological thinking.
The students were expected to bring in (see deadlines at the end of this document):
(1) a poster presenting the overview of their PhD research;
(2) a paper focussing on a part of the PhD to be discussed and improved during the course. In case the student is still in the starting phase of the PhD, this can also be the research proposal. The aim is to discuss and improve the paper during the course for future submission for publication.
Furthermore, the students were encouraged to:
(3) submit a poster or a paper in the congress related to their PhD topic (depending on the stage of their PhD research).
Students can expect:
- Contribution to a solid and innovative conceptual framework as a base to research ‘from pattern and process to people and action’;
- Insights into novel methodological approaches on the integration of natural and cultural dimensions;
- A critical view and comments on their research work;
- Contributions to a more coherent design of the presentation and publication of their research;
- Lively and participated discussions;
- An enduring network of international researchers.
Lecturing team
- Isabel Loupa Ramos - Department of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Geo-resources, University of Lisbon
- Lone Søderkvist Kristensen - Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen
- Veerle Van Eetvelde - Department of Geography, Ghent University
- Marc Antrop - Department of Geography, Ghent University
- Andreas Aagaard Christensen - Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen
- Geert De Blust - Research Institute of Nature and Forest (INBO), Brussels