Agricola Summer and Winter Schools

Are you eager to expand your understanding of sustainable development? Our annual Summer and Winter Schools bring together global experts, students, and professionals for a dynamic learning experience precisely designed for this purpose. You can immerse yourself in interactive workshops led by top specialists, participate in discussions, join sailing trips in the Wadden region, meet local organizations, solve challenges with your peers and establish lasting networks. Whether you're a student or a professional, join us for an impactful journey to deepen your knowledge and contribute to shaping the future of our planet!

Check out this year's Summer and Winter Schools

Taking place in January :

Discourses of Sustainability Transitions

Over the course of this winter school, participants will study the relationship between discourse, worldview, ontology and ethics, particularly in regard to questions of just sustainability transitions (in particular just water / food / energy nexus transitions). How are arguments for more sustainable ways to live on this planet being mediated to audiences? Who is doing the mediating, and how does the message change, depending on the speaker and audience?

Taking place in May:

Women-Led Change: Community Engagement and Rural Development in Uganda

The summer school at African Rural University (ARU), a women-only institution in Uganda, invites participants to explore community action research, rural development, and sustainable change. Through workshops, visits, and discussions, they will engage with students, lecturers, and rural families to understand ARU’s approach to empowering women as change agents. Themes include rural entrepreneurship, climate change, and action research. Participants will develop ideas and lead workshops with community members on the final day. The program offers a unique blend of theory and practice, fostering collaboration and learning in a dynamic rural setting.

Taking place in June:

Land Acquisition, Resettlement and Social Sustainability

This two-week summer school focuses on developing skills in managing social risks and impacts associated with the development of investment projects and particularly issues related to land acquisition and resettlement. The Summer School is delivered by some of the world’s leading social assessment and resettlement practitioners. It is targeted to an international audience of current and intending social performance and resettlement practitioners, and people involved in the governance of projects from public and private institutions or from international financial institutions. It is also open to advanced students (Advanced MA students and PhD students) interested in the practical management of social issues associated with development.

SuRe - Sustainable and Resilient societies

SuRe aims to bring together scholars and students from different disciplines in the social and behavioral sciences and humanities whose work is related to resilience issues at the micro-level of individuals, the meso-level of collectivities (organizations, communities, families), the macro-level of societies and their institutions, as well as its conceptual or ethical dimensions. Equipped with this knowledge, participants will be trained in an inter- and transdisciplinary learning environment combining theory, methods and practice into group projects. The Summer School will take place in the beautiful city of Rome and it is open to (excellent) REMA students, PhD students, post-docs and policy makers.

Taking place in July:

Islands as Laboratories for Sustainability (ISLAs)

Islands serve as ideal 'laboratories' for examining the intricate interplay of environmental, social, and economic sustainability. During the summer school, participants will delve into key topics, encompassing the challenges and facilitators of cultural, economic, and social wellbeing, environmental and urban planning, tourism, and happiness on islands. The main teaching activities will take place on Bali and the smaller neighboring island Nusa Lembongan, with excursions on both islands. This immersive experience provides a unique blend of academic exploration and real-world insights, offering a nuanced understanding of the intricate challenges surrounding sustainability, quality of life, and happiness on islands. The Summer School is open to master students, PhD students, postdoc, and practitioners.

Polarisation

Around the world, societies are suffering from an increasingly polarised public sphere. This polarisation of the public sphere diminishes the space for constructive and collaborative processes, and thereby undermines democracy, as well as our ability to collectively address the enormous challenges of our time, such as the climate crisis and societal inequality. During this summer school students will learn about and engage with current debates and emerging scientific insights which address and analyse our polarised times, and will work together in mixed groups (both in terms of discipline and country of study) on developing an intervention to mitigate against processes of polarisation in a specific context, brought in as a challenge by external societal partners.

Financial Inclusion and Sustainable Growth

This summer school examines the challenges and opportunities of financial inclusion in low-income and emerging economies, with a focus on Africa. Despite significant financial reforms, many households and businesses remain excluded from formal financial systems. The course explores how financial development can support inclusive and sustainable economic growth, particularly its impact on poverty reduction. Topics include major research developments in financial inclusion, including microfinance. Led by faculty from Stellenbosch Business School, Laval University, and the University of Groningen, the program offers both theoretical insights and practical perspectives tailored to the African context.

Corporate Governance and the Effectiveness of Boards

What do boards do? What factors influence what they do and how they do it? How do they perform and contribute to the overall performance of the company they represent? This summer school aims to answer these questions taking a multi-disciplinary approach, discussing research from economics, finance, management and sociology and psychology. During this Summer School, participants will also discuss datasets and methodologies, and will be invited to present their own research (ideas) in the field of board effectiveness. The Summer School is open to research master students, PhD students, postdoc, academics and practitioner with clear interest in academic research.

Illicit Trade

The Illicit Trade Summer School, held at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) from 7–11 July 2025, is an immersive learning experience exploring the complexities of illicit trade and its impact on geopolitics and global supply chains. Organized by the University of Groningen with the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) and hosted by CSDS at VUB, the course combines academic and practical sessions, including lectures, workshops, and case studies. Led by top experts, participants will gain in-depth insights into the economic, social, and security dimensions of illicit trade.

The Roots of Inequality, Poverty, and Deprivation in Africa

This summer school explores the root causes of inequality, poverty, and deprivation in Africa—focusing on the continent’s deep interregional disparities. While causes vary by context, common structural factors persist. The course covers historical drivers of inequality, financial inclusion, gender inequality, political dynamics, data for empirical research, and normative perspectives on inequality. Sessions will be led by experts from the CoRE IPD network, including the University of Cape Town, University of Ghana, University of Nairobi, and the University of Groningen. Designed to be interactive, the course combines critical discussion with practical insights into Africa’s inequality landscape.

Enhancing the efficacy of development interventions through the use of rigorous impact evaluations

This five-day summer course focuses on building practical skills for conducting rigorous impact evaluations to improve development outcomes, particularly in African contexts. Taught by experienced researchers and practitioners, the course covers experimental methods such as randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental approaches like regression discontinuity, and non-experimental techniques including propensity score matching and difference-in-differences. Participants will also learn about key practical steps, including developing a theory of change, data management, ethical approval, and pre-analysis plans. Designed for professionals and postgraduate students involved in development research or practice, the course includes hands-on sessions using STATA; basic proficiency in the software is expected.

Taking place in August:

Sustainable Landscapes - The Wadden Experience

How to steer towards sustainability at the landscape level? In the Northern part of the Netherlands lies the World Heritage Wadden Sea Region, which has a strong drive towards sustainable development. The goal of this Summer School is to explore the challenges of steering towards sustainability at the landscape level. Join us for a five day sailing trip with lectures by leading experts showing you scientific perspectives from different fields. You will explore the themes of cultural heritage; coastal tourism; landscape stewardship; regional food production; and sustainable entrepreneurship.

Watch the video about the Agricola Wadden Experience