
30 de Mayo, 2025
05 de Agosto, 2025
11:59 PM
Action Research for Sustainability Management in Tolima, Colombia.
Program Overview
This hybrid, international short course offers a unique opportunity for graduate students to explore sustainability management in a real-world regional context. Bringing together participants from Colombia, Norway, and Guatemala, the program includes virtual training and a hands-on field immersion in the Tolima region of Colombia.
Inspired by the Semestre Paz y Región (SPR) program at Universidad de Ibagué, the course emphasizes:
- Understanding local environments and social dynamics ("comprensión del entorno")
- Working directly with communities
- Generating real-world solutions to sustainability challenges
The municipalities of Icononzo and Murillo serve as field sites due to their environmental richness and complex socio-political contexts, including reintegration zones for ex-combatants and ecotourism challenges.
Program Highlights
- Field Immersion in Ibagué: November 26th – December 4th, 2025
- Virtual Pre-Course (Online): September–November 2025
- Topics:
- Sustainable tourism and ecotourism
- Community development
- Environmental conservation
- Peacebuilding and post-conflict transition
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the program, participants will be able to:
- Analyze the sustainability landscape of the Tolima region using SPR methodologies
- Apply action research to a real community-based challenge
- Engage ethically and collaboratively with local stakeholders
- Design and implement a relevant community-based project
- Produce a final report linking theory and practice
- Develop skills in critical thinking, interdisciplinary teamwork, and science communication
- Reflect on their role as professionals contributing to regional development
- Application deadline: August 5th, 2025
- Virtual training: September-October 2025
- Field immersion in Ibagué, Tolima: November 26th – December 4th, 2025
- Full tuition for the program
- Travel and accommodation expenses in Ibagué
- Learning materials and course resources
Master’s and PhD students from disciplines related to:
- Sustainability
- Environmental science
- Development studies
- Peace and conflict studies
- Or related fields
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Active enrollment in a graduate program (Master’s or PhD)
- Minimum GPA: 4.0/5.0
- No disciplinary sanctions
- Minimum English level: B2 (certified)
- Availability to travel to Ibagué on the established dates
Send a ZIP folder with the following PDF documents to cooperacion@urosario.edu.co by August 5th, 2025, at 11:59 PM. Use the subject line:
Action Research for Sustainability Management in Tolima, Colombia
- LinkedIn profile or resume in Spanish (maximum 1 page).
- Motivation letter in Spanish (maximum 1 page) including:
- Personal details (name, program, semester)
- Reasons for applying
- Potential impact of the experience on your academic/professional career.
- Video in English of no more than 1 minute, in which the applicant explains why he/she is the ideal candidate for this scholarship. Subtitles in Spanish.
- Academic transcript (downloaded from SIAR).
- English language certificate with a minimum level of B2 (any certificate or evidence of language proficiency is acceptable).
- Universidad del Rosario
- University of South-Eastern Norway
- Universidad del Valle de Guatemala
- Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala
- Universidad de Ibagué, Colombia
General description
Program Overview
This hybrid, international short course offers a unique opportunity for graduate students to explore sustainability management in a real-world regional context. Bringing together participants from Colombia, Norway, and Guatemala, the program includes virtual training and a hands-on field immersion in the Tolima region of Colombia.
Inspired by the Semestre Paz y Región (SPR) program at Universidad de Ibagué, the course emphasizes:
- Understanding local environments and social dynamics ("comprensión del entorno")
- Working directly with communities
- Generating real-world solutions to sustainability challenges
The municipalities of Icononzo and Murillo serve as field sites due to their environmental richness and complex socio-political contexts, including reintegration zones for ex-combatants and ecotourism challenges.
Program Highlights
- Field Immersion in Ibagué: November 26th – December 4th, 2025
- Virtual Pre-Course (Online): September–November 2025
- Topics:
- Sustainable tourism and ecotourism
- Community development
- Environmental conservation
- Peacebuilding and post-conflict transition
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the program, participants will be able to:
- Analyze the sustainability landscape of the Tolima region using SPR methodologies
- Apply action research to a real community-based challenge
- Engage ethically and collaboratively with local stakeholders
- Design and implement a relevant community-based project
- Produce a final report linking theory and practice
- Develop skills in critical thinking, interdisciplinary teamwork, and science communication
- Reflect on their role as professionals contributing to regional development
Key Program Dates
- Application deadline: August 5th, 2025
- Virtual training: September-October 2025
- Field immersion in Ibagué, Tolima: November 26th – December 4th, 2025
What does the scholarship cover?
- Full tuition for the program
- Travel and accommodation expenses in Ibagué
- Learning materials and course resources
Who can apply
Master’s and PhD students from disciplines related to:
- Sustainability
- Environmental science
- Development studies
- Peace and conflict studies
- Or related fields
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Active enrollment in a graduate program (Master’s or PhD)
- Minimum GPA: 4.0/5.0
- No disciplinary sanctions
- Minimum English level: B2 (certified)
- Availability to travel to Ibagué on the established dates
How to apply
Send a ZIP folder with the following PDF documents to cooperacion@urosario.edu.co by August 5th, 2025, at 11:59 PM. Use the subject line:
Action Research for Sustainability Management in Tolima, Colombia
- LinkedIn profile or resume in Spanish (maximum 1 page).
- Motivation letter in Spanish (maximum 1 page) including:
- Personal details (name, program, semester)
- Reasons for applying
- Potential impact of the experience on your academic/professional career.
- Video in English of no more than 1 minute, in which the applicant explains why he/she is the ideal candidate for this scholarship. Subtitles in Spanish.
- Academic transcript (downloaded from SIAR).
- English language certificate with a minimum level of B2 (any certificate or evidence of language proficiency is acceptable).
Coordinating Institutions
- Universidad del Rosario
- University of South-Eastern Norway
- Universidad del Valle de Guatemala
- Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala
- Universidad de Ibagué, Colombia