21 researchers and PhD students from across the globe currently attend the course Environmental Valuation that is held at School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg in Sweden 7 November – 9 December. A vivid interest in natural resources and environmental issues made them come from China, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Sweden, Tanzania, Uruguay and Vietnam.
“I have been waiting for this course since the 2009 EfD Annual Meeting in Kenya, when I learned about it. So I am very happy that I was admitted! The course stimulates my interest in applying the knowledge to real life environmental and social issues in my home country. I am sure I won't be afraid of designing and conducting a contingent valuation project or choice experiment in the future,” says Wanxin Li (left) Assistant Professor at Department of Public and Social Administration at the City University of Hong Kong and Tsinghua Graduate School at Shenzhen.
She has has worked with the World Bank and OECD in the past. She is the author of the 2009 OECD report, “Eco-Innovation Policies in China”, and her publications appear in Nature, The China Quarterly, Children and Youth Services Review and other top journals.
“Really wish it to be longer and progress slower - the course is too short and that makes it especially demanding. But the teachers are really helpful both in lectures and labs. I am thankful for their hard work and help,” says Wanxin Li.
Esther Mumbi Kimani (in the middle dressed in turquoise) from Kenya is a PhD student at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. She says she has learned a great deal of skills and valuation techniques, and in addition the course has helped her have a better appreciation of the thought processes involved in formulating a good valuation study, given the complexities of valuing environmental goods and services among other non-market goods.
“The course combines perfectly theory with more practical lab sessions. Actually collaborating in a valuation assignment with fellow students gave me a glimpse of the patient and long process required to undertaking rigorous valuations. The course is taught by approachable lecturers and supervisors whose approach to research is commendable."
"I believe this course will prove very helpful in formulating and developing policies, especially in developing countries,” says Esther Mumbi Kimani.
“The content of the valuation course is a mixture of lectures, readings, lab sessions, group assignments and presentations. Thus, the course provides participants with an in-depth hands-on training pertaining to a wide range of environmental valuation issues," says Johane Dikgang (looking up to the right in the picture above) who is from Botswana and a PhD student at University of Cape Town in South Africa.
The Environmental Valuation course aims to provide a detailed introduction to the valuation of environmental goods and projects. The course is based on the idea that valuation is often a part of a more general welfare assessment, e.g. as a part of a cost-benefit analysis. It mainly covers the theory and practical implementation of stated preference methods, impact evaluation and household production functions.
Lecturers this year are Dale Whittington, Vic Adamowicz, Francisco Alpizar, Edwin Muchapondwa, Mitesh Kataria, Elina Lampi, and Gunnar Köhlin.
In addition to an interest in natural resources and environmental issues the participants also have practical experience of agricultural economics, health, forestry or another area relevant to environmental economics.
The required formal training for attending the course is either a PhD in economics without earlier exposure to courses in environmental economics or the equivalent of a good master’s degree with some extra merits such as teaching experience (preferably in environmental or micro economics), additional courses or research experience and finally, very good knowledge of English.
By Karin Backteman
