10-day-long hybrid Field School by AMU and 4 global partnering institutions which was hosted online and in local clusters has brought to fore new vistas of digital platform, novel approaches to interact with stakeholders and conduct research; and new modalities were introduced to continue academic activities under these catastrophic circumstances. Click here to see the pictures
AMU has hosted session at Emerald Resort at Arba Minch; simultaneously, KU Leuven, Belgium, National University of Science and Technology, Zimbabwe, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Mozambique and South Africa’s University of Cape Town had their Field Schools online and in local clusters in respective nations complying with pandemic protocols beginning from 12th to 21st April, 2021.
The program is concluding event of 5-year tie-up among aforesaid institutions that was aided by VLIR-OUS - a north-south partnership aimed at enhancing exchange of scholars and capacity building, informed, Sociology and Social Anthropology Department head, Mr Saleh Seid, that this tie-up is going to be renewed as proposal, in this regard, has already been submitted and under this dispensation, 3 of AMU’s 4 staff members have already joined KU Leuven to pursue advanced Master program.
He adds that particularly Field School is the event where master students of partnering institutions gather to host lecture series and topical research depending upon prevailing situation in their respective socio-economic setting. This program was to be held in 2020, but due to Covid-19 pandemic it got staggered. This time, we are focusing on socio-economic aspects under Covid-19 pandemic that has impacted migration and spiritual practices in the society.
The program begun with KU Leuven’s Associate Professor of Anthropology, Ann Cassiman, speaking on ‘Global health inequalities and medical anthropology’ followed by Carla Braga and Sandra Manuel of Eduardo Mondlane University dwelt into ‘AIDS, Covid-19 and public health policy in Mozambique’ and ‘Dengue, water and households: Social analysis of health emergency in Pemba city’.
Subsequently, KU Leuven’s Christopher Veithen lectured on ‘Pandemic migration, solidarity and mobility and immobility’ while Mr Saleh speaking on ‘Returnee migrants as importers of Covid-19 and return migration as a symptom’ stated that since the outbreak of pandemic, Ethiopian government has informed that 30,087 migrants have returned home of which majority were young women coming back from Middle East; most of them were deported by countries of destination despite UN and AU resolutions that announce movement restrictions as crucial for controlling pandemic and recommend helping people wherever they might be and not moving.
AMU’s two groups comprised of staff and master students had been to Dorze and Chencha wherein they interacted with community to know about pandemic’s impact on migration and spiritual lives as well. The field school also had roundtable, seminar and discussion on issues such as inequalities, racism and medicine, ethnographic glimpses and keynote presentation on multimodal ambivalence.
For sociology Master student, Ruth Jembre, this field school has made her aware about digital platform to collect data that she opines need for reliable power and internet connection. Interacting Dorze community she was told pandemic badly restrained their movement that has had domino effect on their life.
AMU instructors, Mr Eyob Defersa and Mr Kansite Gelebo, coordinating field visit on migration and mini-research on spiritual practices, said, they learnt new approaches by abroad professors and shared with students. Appreciating usage of digital platform, they affirmed that it will require dependable power supply and internet link back in AMU.
On penultimate day, staff and students from partnering institutions discussed issues like challenges using digital platform, social interaction between students-teachers; risk, insecurity and how pandemic impacted informal sectors, et al.
College of Social Sciences and Humanities Dean, Dr Mulugeta Debele, in his valedictory address, lauded KU Leuven for grooming AMU’s PhD graduate, VLIR-OUS for funding and sought assistance to develop PhD curriculum in Social Anthropology to be launched soon. He said such field school is of great value.
School of Graduate studies Director, Dr Abera Uncha, AMU staff members, master students and others were in attendance.
(Communication Affairs Directorate)