The Regional Center for Social Science and Sustainable Development (RCSD), Faculty of Social Sciences, Chiang Mai University, is inviting applications for scholarships to study a Masters of Arts in
Social Science (Development Studies), to commence study in June 2023. Four Scholarships are available from the Mekong Region Land Governance project (MRLG) for students from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam who demonstrate academic excellence and specify a wish to pursue a study focused on land issues.
Since 2017, a focus on land relations has connected students with academic institutions, researchers
and NGOs from around the Mekong Region. Chiang Mai University has become a center for training
benefitting a new generation of researchers and administrators working in the field of land governance.
A focus on land relations within RCSD’s MA program in development studies aims to equip students
with an applied understanding of concepts such as access, rights, tenure security and land
governance, and an ability to grasp local, national and regional dynamics while linking research to
key policy issues.
The focus reflects a rising concern in topics such as:
- Large-scale land developments and concessions
- Policy issues including property and titling
- Land and food security
- Access and exclusion
- Urban land governance
- Regionalized land relations
Students will be encouraged to translate between micro- and macro-levels of analysis, gaining a strong grounding through case studies in different communities and countries of the region, but also capable of contextualizing in terms of regional dynamics (such as ASEAN). In addition to coursework, successful scholarship applicants will study and produce new empirical knowledge by pursuing their own research ideas for their theses, within the broad topic of land governance in the Mekong region. Students will receive conceptual and practical support from the Mekong Land Research Forum and staff at the Faculty of Social Sciences to complete their studies.
Qualifications
- Bachelor degree
- Certificate of English Proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL, etc.)
- Only candidates from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar or Vietnam are eligible for an MRLG scholarship
- Previous field research experience or work experience in related area will be an asset.
- As part of the MA program application process, candidates need to submit a 2-page research proposal related to land issues, detailing:
- The outline of the research plan
- Previous research experiences or works
- Why you are interested to do this research and why an interest in land issues?
- How you propose to carry out the stud
- Why you should be awarded the scholarship?
To apply
Interested applicants should apply to the MA program by 25 April 2023. For more information about the requirements and how to apply, please contact Ms. Rungthiwa Hacker (Ann) at rungthiwa.hacker@cmu.ac.th