Discover Africa?

Are you interested in Africa? The Faculty of Economics and Business offers several possibilities to learn more about this fascinating continent. You can learn more about Africa in the Learning Community, but it is also possible to attend a Summer School or do an internship.

On Monday 19 November you can hear more about these options at the Discover Africa event. The event is held at the Careers Services Café in the Plaza from 4.00-5.00 PM. If you are a 2^nd or 3^rd year Bachelor student or a Master student, one of these possibilities might be for you.

1. Global Research Internship Programme

During the summer period we offer you an outstanding opportunity to go to Africa. In collaboration with Newcastle University Business School, FEB Careers Services offers inspiring research internships abroad. Over summer recess, students are able to gain valuable professional experience during one month to six week projects in Tanzania and Rwanda, Nicaragua. The work for the research internship is mostly focused on local empowerment and development.

The Global Research Internship Programme is open to all FEB students ( Bachelor, Master and Pre-Master ), except first year students. These internships are best suited for students who have international ambitions, are a bit adventurous and eager to gain some practical experience.

You can find more information here.

2. Summer school: The Curse of Natural Gas Resources

(Energy in transition and the local perspective)

During this summer school, which will take place in Tanzania, the focus will be on the study of what this transition means if we take the local perspective into consideration. In Tanzania enormous gas resources have been found, which opens the question if this gas will be extracted from the (deep) sea, and under which conditions this will occur. Furthermore, where will the revenues be directed?

By focusing on the local perspective we will raise key questions, such as:

How can local communities and local governmental agencies profit from these resources?
How can Tanzania overcome the “curse” of an abundance of natural resources?
How can local communities (in Tanzania, for example Lindi) contribute to overcoming this 'curse'?

You can find more information here.

3. Learning community: New Business Developments in Africa

Africa is the continent where business is developing rapidly. In several fields we see new and fast going developments (ICT applications, Agricultural field (seed breeding, irrigations, drone techniques for cultivating crops), Energy and the curse of natural resources). It is worth studying these developments in more detail and find out how this will work out. What will be specific for the African situation and what will be more universal. FEB Career Services facilitates this Learning Community that will run during each block and in each block we will choose a new focus.

Focus in block 1.1 : Energy, from charcoal to……

In this block, we will look into the Energy Sector of Africa. We want to focus on the transition from using charcoal to other resources as a source for heating. Renewable options are available but gas (LNG) might also be an alternative. In this LC, we want to work on several scenarios in which the transition from charcoal to other sources is key. The topic is especially interesting for East Africa countries; Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda.

Output for this semester:

We will divide the learning community in several groups. Each group will create a portfolio by collecting information on a specific scenario. A short report, an interesting power point presentation and a short movie will make up the portfolio. As a team, we will build a website to display all information gathered.

You can find more information here.

4. Research on Local Economic and Social Development in Africa

In cooperation with many master students we are working on the development of a model that will cover most of the factors that do influence the economic and social development In mostly remote areas that are situated in emergent markets. The model and all the work done is described on a special website and includes also suggestions for further research.

http://bjwpennink.wixsite.com/ledmodel

5. Research on African Management: Ubuntu

Ubuntu is an ethical and humanistic philosophy from Sub-Saharan Africa that is about the dedication and relationships between people. The word occurs in the Bantu languages of Southern Africa and is seen as a traditional African concept.

Although coming from the southern part of Africa it is now spread out over the continent and research on this concept is developing: Is this typically a concept for Africa? In which way gives this concept a new perspective on western concepts of management. In cooperation with master students we are working on the development of this concept and how this concept fits in management theories.

You can find all the information a special website.