Integration of intersectional gender and decolonial approaches into agri-food research, 5 ECTS

The spring school in March 2027 offers a structured learning trajectory to the PhD student to enhance their ability to understand, reflect on, critically assess, apply and act upon the integration of intersectional gender and decolonial perspectives in agri-food research, including their own research (fields). Part of the learning is uncovering research bias and recognizing overlooked perspectives and voices in the field, and how reducing those by adjusting research strategies.

As didactics methods, the spring school combines short blocks of lecturing with various interactive, participatory, creative and peer-to-peer methods with individual and group assignments and exercises. Having diverse disciplinary backgrounds and expertise in intersectional gender and decolonial perspectives in the sessions especially enhances interactive and peer-to-peer learning, which facilitates further collaboration and networking.

As main learning objectives, the spring school promotes:

• Acquiring introductory knowledge and understanding of Colonial and Gender Legacies in the Agri-food domain in relation to current global challenges
• Acquiring knowledge and understanding of Intersectional Gender and Decolonial Approaches and Methodologies, e.g., for instance
• Intersectional Gender Transformative Approaches; Feminist political ecology; Care theory, Embodied and affective experiences, Non-human agency
• Indigenous and Local Knowledge Systems (situated knowledge, indigenous agricultural practices; epistemic justice and knowledge plurality)
• In-depth understanding of positionality and reflexivity
• Appropriate use/assessment of tools for Intersectional Analysis and Participatory Research
• Understanding and critically assessing applications within agri-food case studies and practices, e.g., as related to climate change, food & nutrition security, biodiversity, global health
• Connecting what learnt to the participants’ own research (fields)

The spring school includes a week of 6 days in-person sessions at WUR in Wageningen, Netherlands, March 8-13, 2027 and additional online pre- and post-sessions. ELLS scholars such as Margreet van der Burgh (Wageningen); Stephanie Leder-Büttner; Seema Arora-Jonsson; Lyla Mehta (IDS Sussex) together teach the programme.

Work load: ‘Spring’ school in-person, lasting 6 days, plus 1 Month before and 1 Month after twice 2 half days online sessions, 8 days to prepare + 2 half days to pitch & discuss final assignments.

Start: February 2027 (online)

End: March 2027 (March 8-13 in person at WUR, Wageningen, Netherlands) 

Organiser: ELLS (Euroleague of LifeScience Universities) and the Research School: People, Society and Sustainability (PSS)

Location: Wageningen, Netherlands (and online)

Course Leader: Stephanie Leder-Büttner 

More details will follow end of September 2026!