An Epic African Adventure - May 2012
| Introduction | Objectives | Tanzania | Description | Evaluation | Cost | Schedule | Application |
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A University of North Alabama Summer Program in Tanzania Sponsored by the Department of Geography and the College of Arts and Sciences Directed by: Dr. Francis Koti and Dr. Greg Gaston UNA Box 5228, Florence, AL 35632-0001 TEL: (256)-765-4219; Contact E-mail: ftkoti@una.edu |
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| FAQs | Timeline | Meeting Handout/Trip Info | 2011 Pictures | Funding | ISS |
Downloadable Application form (word); Program Brochure (.rtf) - coming soon.
The Department of Geography at the University of North Alabama invites you to an exciting and unforgettable educational opportunity in Tanzania. This two-week field course will involve travel to Tanzania, in the interterm period in May 2012 to learn about and experience the physical environment and indigenous cultures of Tanzania. This is a 3 and 6-credit hour graduate and undergraduate Geography program – and will be offered as:
The program is open to ALL UNA students, students from other universities, teachers and community members.
Program Introduction
Current trends in world affairs, information flows, technological advancement, economic interdependence between nations and regions, movement and transfer of goods and people, continue to show increasing levels of interaction at the global scale. Specifically, the globalization of production and consumption of goods and services and its associated political, economic, socio-cultural and spatial implications have made the world even smaller. As a result, previously marginalized areas such as Africa, Asia and Latin America, as well as issues of change, difference and diversity have become central to higher education learning and research. As educators, we are faced with the responsibility of availing to our students, opportunities to acquire knowledge and skills that will prepare them adequately as future decision-makers in a rapidly changing world. One way of doing this is to introduce them to less-dominant perspectives and cultures, since their effectiveness as future decision-makers will be influenced by their multiple perspectives gained through higher education.
Purpose and Objectives of the Program
Learning through lived experience and travel, is not only fun, but also a rare opportunity in college education. The general purpose of this seminar is to provide UNA students and an opportunity to diversify their educational experience through “living it and seeing it” in the natural environment. More specifically, the seminar is intended to give our students a chance to broaden their knowledge of Africa by immersing themselves in the Tanzanian society and its cultures and also to experience the interplay of culture, economics, politics and environment in the context of change. It is anticipated that by the end of the workshop, students will gain an understanding of:
It is hoped that this experience will broaden students’ perspectives about the world and make them more aware and sensitive to non-Western cultures. It is also hoped that this experience will form the basis of reflection about who we are as Americans and how and why we fit into the global community. Ultimately, students will earn credit from the Tanzanian field experience towards their respective degree programs.
Tanzania is located in East Africa and well within the tropics. Located slightly below the Equator, the country spans latitudinally between 1° and 12° south and straddles between 29° and 41° east. It borders Uganda to the North, Kenya to the Northeast, the Indian Ocean to the East, Mozambique and Malawi to the South, Zambia to the Southeast, Democratic Republic of the Congo to the West, and Rwanda and Burundi to the Northwest. With a land area of 365,755 sq. miles, Tanzania is approximately twice the size of California. Tanzania’s climate is largely tropical. However, variations of arid, semi-arid and wetter climates develop further inland. While temperatures are relatively high all year round (rarely falling below 68°F), the climate is cool in high mountainous regions. In general, the hottest period extends between November and February 77–87.8 °F while the coldest period occurs between May and August 59–68 °F. Tanzania’s physiography is varied and diverse. From the coast in the Indian Ocean, low lying plains gradually rise to the Southern and Northern highlands which house Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain peak in Africa. The highlands are flanked by the East African Rift Valley, and to the northwest of the Rift Valley is the undulating western plateau which adjoins Lake Victoria, the second largest fresh water lake in the world. With close to 42 million people (2010 estimates), Tanzania’s population is ethnically diverse, but more importantly, very hospitable.
Why Tanzania
Several educational and social factors make Tanzania the logical choice of this summer seminar here at UNA. In terms of educational concerns, the University of North Alabama’s Geography Department has expertise and experience in in East Africa. Dr. Koti, the director of this trip is born and raised in neighboring Kenya and speaks Swahili, the national language of Tanzania. Similarly, Tanzania has a well developed educational infrastructure and well trained local experts in various fields to adequately accommodate the needs of UNA students. Furthermore, the official language of Tanzania is English – this will make it easy for UNA students to communicate as they go about fulfilling the specific objectives of the program.
A host of social and safety factors make Tanzania even more appropriate for this program. First, is the legendary hospitality of Tanzanians. One component of this seminar is interaction with local cultures and people. Fortunately, Tanzanians have a history of being very hospitable and welcoming. UNA students will encounter friendly people in during their stay and travels.
Second, another important element of this course is extensive in-country travel within a relatively short period of time. Fortunately, Tanzania’s transportation and communication network is sufficiently developed to accommodate needs of educational travel. Transportation or communication issues will therefore not mar the smooth running of the program.
These educational and social concerns are buttressed by a relatively stable political system. Tanzania is considered by the US Department of State as relatively safe for travel by (Americans) students. These reasons and others make Tanzania the logical choice for this UNA summer seminar at this time. The success of last year’s UNA Africa Program in Tanzania is perhaps the single most important reason why Tanzania is most preferred for the 2012 edition of the program. Because of last year’s trip, the Department of Geography now has a well-established network of contacts and trip facilitators which are expected to make future planning much easier and program activities more efficient.
These reasons and others make Tanzania the logical choice for this UNA summer
program at this time.
Course Description and Structure
Two courses will be offered in this program: GE350 – Geography of Africa with a focus on Tanzania, offered by Dr. Francis Koti and GE497 – East African Landforms and Landscapes offered by Dr. Greg Gaston. The courses will mainly focus on (but will not be limited to) three broad themes: the human and physical environment of Tanzania’s; the socio-spatial dynamics of a modern African city, and; the historical geography of the East African coast. The program will involve a two-week stay in Tanzania during which participants will travel extensively in Tanzania, attend lectures on selected topics on Tanzania delivered by Tanzanian experts, participate in field excursions in and around the City of Dar es Salaam, travel along the East African Rift Valley, and the East African Coast. During these field trips, learning will take place in the context of personal experiences, reading assigned material, field observations, listening and note taking, and taking photos and making sketches. More detailed information regarding each course will be provided to program participants
Students will be required to: 1) take detailed notes during the informal lectures and guided tours to different places of interest; 2) keep a written diary of their experiences, activities and observations on a daily basis; and 3) make sketches and keep a photo diary of important features and aspects of the workshop. Upon return, the field materials: notes, photos, activities, will be compiled and presented to the instructors. Depending on the level of course (undergraduate or graduate), the program materials will be presented in any of or all 6 parts listed below:
From the above-mentioned criteria, a letter grade (A, B, C, D or F) will be awarded based on UNA’s standard grading scheme. A detailed syllabus, course structure, requirements and the specific grading scheme for the undergraduate and graduate credit will be provided prior to the program. Program participants may also be called upon (optional) to make presentations of their experiences during UNAs Global Culture Week and or the Phi Beta Delta (International Honor Society on campus) events.
Course Credit
This field course offered both as a 3 and 6 credit hour course as: GE350: Geography of Africa with a focus on Tanzania and GE 497 – East African landforms and Landscapes. A total of 6 hours of undergraduate and or graduate credit may be earned from this program.
Enrollment
This course is limited to 15 registered participants. However, a minimum of 10 registrations per course is required or the course may be cancelled.
The cost of the program is
$3680.00 for all students. This
includes:
Payment Schedule:
The above expenses will be paid in 4 installments.
PLEASE NOTE: UNA tuition of
$612.00 ($741.00 - graduate) must be paid directly to the University.
Checks should be made payable to: “UNA
Africa” and can be paid in person or mailed to:
Dr. Francis Koti
or Pam Bishop
Department of Geography
UNA
Tel: 256-765-4219 (Koti); 256-765-4626 (Pam)
Email:
ftkoti@una.edu
Important:
May 13, 2012 – Depart from Huntsville, AL
May 14, 2012 – Arrive in Arusha,
Check in at the Kundayo Serviced Apartments
May 15-21, 2012- In Mt.
Kilimanjaro Area
May 15-16, 2012 – Change money; Urban walk – city of Arusha; Visit
Ng’iresi Village and Waterfall;
May 17, 2012 – Visit Olduvai Gorge and Ngorongoro Crater. Stay overnight
at Nsya Lodge in Mto wa Mbu.
May 18-20; 2012 – Visit Engaruka Ruins, Lake Natron; Engare Sare River
Gorge and Waterfall; Climb Mt. Ol Donyo Legai. Return to Arusha.
May 21, 2012 – Rest day at Kundayo Serviced Apartments.
Tuesday May 22-28, 2012 – In the
Tanzanian Coast
-May 22, 2012 – Morning: Leave
Arusha by bus to Dar es Salaam. Evening: Check in at Rainbow Hotel, Dar es
Salaam.
-May 23-24, 2012
– In Dar es Salaam –University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), urban walk, urban
agriculture, fish market, Kariakor Market, Tanzania’s national museum, Askari
monument, Makumbusho Village Museum( replica of African traditional villages),
historical geography – Shirazi ruins;
-May 25, 2012-
in Bagamoyo – Historical and cultural Geography – Kaole ruins, river systems
(River Wami); back to Dar es Salaam.
-May 26-28, 2012
– in Zanzibar Island. Mangrove forests, historical and cultural geography, Old
Fort, Small town ruins, Forodhani Gardens. Back to Dar es Salaam on May 28,
2012.
-May 29, 2012
– Travel back to Arusha.
-May 30, 2012 – In Arusha. Rest day; shopping.
-May 31, 2012
– Organizing trip materials; Packing; final shopping, etc. Leave Tanzania for
the United States
-June 1, 2012 - Arrive in the US - Huntsville, AL.
Travel Preparations
Rules and Regulations
Every participant in the project will be a University of North Alabama’s ambassador to Tanzania. As such, the university’s code of conduct will apply in the entire period you will be in Tanzania. For questions regarding code of conduct for UNA students, please refer to University of North Alabama’s Student Handbook.
Community Members
This program is open to the UNA Community and others from outside. The cost of the program for the community participants may be slightly higher than that of students. Community members interested in this should contact and or see Dr. Koti for cost details. The payment schedule will be the same for all.
Registration:
Due to the limited number of spaces in this seminar, admission is on a first-come-first-served-basis. To rest assured of space in the program, please fill out the application form below and bring it in person or send it to:
Dr. Francis Koti – Program Director or Pam Bishop – Geography Department Secretary
Department of Geography
University of North Alabama
Wesleyan Hall Room 111(Pam); 112 (Koti)
UNA Box 5228 Florence, AL, 35632-0001
Program Website: http://www2.una.edu/ftkoti/unakenya.htm
Financial Aid information:
Please contact UNA's financial aid office for assistance.
Application Form Downloadable Application Form Downloadable Brochure - coming soon.
An Epic African Adventure
(Official names) Last First Middle
_________________________ _____________________ ____________________
E-mail: _____________________ UNA Student Id #: ________________M (__); F (__)
Status (Check one): FR (___); SO (___); JR (___); SR (___); GR (___); Other (_______)
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Local address: Street Apt. # City State Zip Code
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Telephone (______) _________________ (Home) (______)_________________ (Cell)
College: _________________________ Department (Major): _____________________
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Full Name: ________________________________ (Relationship to applicant) _____________
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Please Note: This application must be accompanied by a $100.00 application fee. Please make checks payable to UNA AFRICA.
Signature of Applicant: ___________________________ Today’s Date: ____________