Department of International Environment and Development Studies, Noragric

16/07/2026

”The knowledge I gained gives me more options and structures my thoughts in a fast-paced workday and leads to more informed decisions and articles.” – 🎓 Vemund Sveen Finstad, Journalist at Aftenposten

Vemund is one of our alumni from the master’s programme in International Relations, where you can expect a vibrant mix of academic disciplines and cultural perspectives that enrich every discussion, led by a dedicated team of scholars.🌎

Vemund looks back on his journey: “ It was hard sometimes, but I learned so much and grew as a person.“🌻

International Relations at NMBU is currently ranked as the best Master’s degree programme in Political Science in Norway, according to the annual survey called Studiebarometeret.📈

This degree programme will equip you with the knowledge and practical skills you need to work in a wide range of different sectors, including international organisations, think tanks, non-governmental organisations and the security sector.🏙️

Lastly, Vemund offers the following advice to current and future students: “As a student, be curious, think critically, be humble, but work towards confidence.”💫

💼Read Vemund’s career interview here: https://www.nmbu.no/en/studieliv/breaking-news-reporting-norwegian-daily
👉Find more career interviews from International Relations alumni here:
https://www.nmbu.no/en/studies/master-2-year/international-relations

Vemund shows how an IR master’s can shape a fast‑paced career: it has sharpened his analytical skills, strengthened his writing, and is helping him make smarter decisions under pressure.

09/07/2026

“The most important skills I bring from my studies are critical thinking and the ability to work well with people from different backgrounds.” – 🎓 Helene Rød, Technical Officer in the Department of Gender, Rights, Equity and Sexual Misconduct Prevention at the World Health Organization (WHO)

Helene is an alumna of our bachelor’s program in International Environment and Development Studies, which brings together students from all over the world and opens up a wide range of career opportunities. 🌟

The diverse, interdisciplinary education Helene received during her studies has shaped the way she works today. She also reflected on the study environment at NMBU: “I loved the community in Ås. Because it is a small town, students naturally spend a lot of time together on campus, at Samfunnet, or in student housing. It creates a close, friendly and supportive atmosphere.“ 🌱

As graduates of the International Environmental and Development Studies program, students connect with and can become part of an international community of changemakers, promoting a climate and socially just world for everyone. 🤝💡✨

💼Read Helene’s career interview here:
https://www.nmbu.no/en/studieliv/advancing-gender-equality-and-health-technical-officer-who

👉 Find more career interviews from the bachelor's program here:
https://www.nmbu.no/en/studies/bachelor/international-environment-and-development-studies

Disclaimer: “Institutional affiliation is provided for identification purpose only and does not constitute institutional endorsement. Any views and opinions expressed are personal and belong solely to the individual and do not represent any people, institutions or organizations that the individual may be associated with in a personal or professional capacity unless explicitly stated.”

02/07/2026

💭"My arrival in Norway was marked by an unforgettable first step into the cold. It felt like opening a freezer door and walking straight in." – Veronica Mbena

This semester, we had the wonderful opportunity to host our three exchange students from our NORPART projects: Veronica Mbena (from Tanzania), Felicity Aceng (from Uganda), and Gloria John Nekemwene (from Tanzania). 🎓🇹🇿🇺🇬
The NORPART projects foster collaboration with Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania, Gulu University and Makarere University in Uganda.🌍

💭"Academically, NMBU has been transformative." – Gloria John Nekemwene

They have enriched our classroom discussions in so many ways with their different perspectives. It was brilliant to learn from and with them.💡✨

💭"Moving from Uganda to Norway has reshaped how I understand food security and nutrition." – Felicity Aceng

🇹🇿Read Veronica’s story here: https://www.nmbu.no/en/faculties/faculty-landscape-and-society/first-icy-step-tanzanian-exchange-students-journey
🇺🇬Read Felicity's story here: https://www.nmbu.no/en/faculties/faculty-landscape-and-society/first-time-i-tasted-brown-cheese-i-stared-it-it-owed-me
🇹🇿 Read Gloria’s story here: https://www.nmbu.no/en/faculties/faculty-landscape-and-society/my-exchange-journey

👉Read more about both NORPART projects here: https://www.nmbu.no/en/research/projects/norpart-eat
https://www.nmbu.no/en/research/projects/partnership-education-refugee-host-contexts-joint-learning-towards-food-security

25/06/2026

At Noragric, our students have the opportunity to take part in the student-initiated course: EDS227 Traditional Ecological Knowledge, during the June block. Course participants follow the ‘head, hand and heart’ learning model developed by Sipos, Battisti and Grimm.🐞🌾

The course covers a wide range of exciting and unique activities – excursions to farms, foraging together, reflections, forest art, tasting dishes from different cultures, exploring different epistemologies and ontologies, and challenging oneself to decolonise one’s own thinking. This enables learning on a broader, deeper, more open and more creative level. 🌳💭

By the end of the course, the students had completed wonderful and creative projects, had engaged deeply with traditional ecological knowledge, and had inspired one another!🦋

👉Leran more about EDS227 and join the course next year: https://www.nmbu.no/en/course/eds227

19/06/2026

Congratulations to our incredible master's graduates in International Relations, Global Development Studies and International Environmental Studies!🎓 🎉

We are immensely proud of the determination, passion, curiosity, thoughfulness and critical thinking you have consistently demonstrated throughout your studies. We have learned so much from your expertise and contributions!

This week we enjoyed a festive graduation ceremony with speeches, music and celebrations surrounded by family and friends and are honoured to welcome you into our alumni network! ☺️

We wish you all the best for the future and are keen to see what your next steps will be. Perhaps some of you might even return to NMBU.🍀🌾

👉Sign up to our Alumni network here: https://alumni.nmbu.no/Alumni/en/RegistrationForm/2

👉Find out more about our master’s programmes here:
🎓https://www.nmbu.no/en/studies/master-2-year/international-relations
🎓https://www.nmbu.no/en/studies/master-2-year/global-development-studies
🎓https://www.nmbu.no/en/studies/master-2-year/international-environmental-studies

14/06/2026

Over the past two weeks, we have had the pleasure of welcoming ten students and two staff members, Judith Shapiro and Jesse Ribot, from American University in WashingtonD.C. They worked alongside 15 students from NMBU and NMBU staff members Guri Bang, Kirsti Stuvøy and Katharina Glaab. They are taking part in the joint course offered by American University and NMBU, which forms part of the long-standing collaboration between our institutions. 🇳🇴🇺🇸

The students come from a range of disciplines, including International Relations, International Environmental Studies, Global Development Studies, Global Economy and Politics, Economics and Environmental Governance. As part of the course, students are tasked with producing a feasibility study assessing the potential need for establishing a Centre for Geopolitical Ecology that would bring these perspectives together.🗺️🏗️🚀🌱

During their stay, they have visited a range of organisations to give students an insight into different perspectives on these issues. Of course, students and staff also take part in many social activities, including a visit to the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History and the Nobel Peace Centre, enjoying the music festival in Oslo, and getting together for many shared lunches and dinners, including Norwegian Taco Night.🌮🌯

👉Read more about the course here: https://www.nmbu.no/en/course/eds333

05/06/2026

Congratulations to our wonderful graduates of the bachelor’s program in International Environment and Development Studies!🎉🎓

We enjoyed a festive graduation ceremony with music, speeches, and celebrations surrounded by family and friends. We are incredibly proud of the dedication, commitment, enthusiasm, and critical thinking you have engaged with throughout your studies. We, too, have learned so much from you! 😊

We wish you all the best for the future, a restful summer, and look forward to seeing many of you again in the autumn for your master’s studies! 🍀

👉Learn more about the bachelor's programme here: https://www.nmbu.no/en/studies/bachelor/international-environment-and-development-studies

03/06/2026

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐱 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐢’𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬

Rich in protein and dietary fibre, and known for improving soil fertility and climate resilience, legumes are widely considered part of the solution to food insecurity in Malawi.

However, new research from Noragric shows that their potential remains largely unrealised due to structural barriers in the food system.

Read more about Mayamiko Kakwera’s research and how to attend his PhD defence on 11 June:
https://www.nmbu.no/en/research/why-legumes-wont-fix-malawis-food-challenges

Department of International Environment and Development Studies, Noragric

22/05/2026

🌍Between the 02.05.26-15.05-26 Darley Kjosavik, Lars Kåre Grimsby and Shai Divon travelled to Uganda for NORPART-Uganda project activities.

✍️ A writing workshop at Makerere's Kibale Field Station brought together 15 staff and students from Gulu, Makerere and CAR, where 16 Master's thesis manuscripts were presented and refined.
📢 In Adjumani, around 40 stakeholders, including district officials, UN agencies, NGOs and refugee & host community representatives, gathered to discuss our findings on refugee-host contexts. Great engagement and reception!
🎓 The concluding workshop at Gulu University was a highlight, where the Vice Chancellor and Top Management were pleased with the three-way collaboration between NMBU, Gulu and Makerere, and we brainstormed ways to sustain the work beyond the project period.
💻 They also visited the new Digital Lab established under the NORPART project at Gulu University, a great resource for the whole university for online teaching, meetings and lecture recordings.

👉Read more about NORPART here: https://www.nmbu.no/en/research/projects/partnership-education-refugee-host-contexts-joint-learning-towards-food-security

20/05/2026