Australian students survey rural development in Yunnan

An opening ceremony for a Rural Development Policy Field School program, which is jointly run by Yunnan University and the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra, was held at Yunnan University (YNU) Nov 18, according to university reports.

A total of 31 teachers and students from YNU’s school of ethnology and sociology and ANU participated in the program. They will conduct a 10-day field survey in Tacheng township, Weixi county, in Dechen Tibet autonomous prefecture, to survey ethnic culture and rural development there.

Guan Kai, dean of the school of ethnology and sociology at YNU, welcomed the visitors from ANU. Guan said that Yunnan boasts colorful ethnic cultures, and is an ideal place for field research into the development of such cultures.

A professor from ANU agreed with Guan's comments and said Chinese teachers and students would be welcomed to Australia to do similar survey and research there.

YNU professors gave lectures to the teachers and students on topics such as the opportunities and challenges facing China's ethnic groups, and forest resources development, environmental governance and environmental policy formulation in Tacheng township, laying a foundation for future field research.

Members of the Rural Development Policy Field School program pose for a group photo at Yunnan University on Nov 18. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]