Student testimonial
Student Sandesh – MSc International Development
Sandesh did a BA in International Studies in Leiden prior to coming to Wageningen. At the time of writing this testimonial, he is beginning his thesis fieldwork while simultaneously completing his internship. He shares his insights into his research interests and student life.
Many of the environmental issues I was interested in were driven by ill-informed notions of what constituted “development” and “progress”. I knew that meeting these challenges required rethinking development as a practice while balancing it with themes such as environmental and food security.
Research interests
“Long before joining the International Development Studies programme, my research interests were stubbornly anchored on the myriad relationships between wildlife and humans (especially between marginalised groups and charismatic fauna). Through my internship, I have had the opportunity of basing myself in Tsumkwe, Namibia while working with an indigenous Ju/’hoansi tourism entrepreneur’s development aspirations. My thesis explores how the relationship between leopards in Sri Lanka’s tea country and the disenfranchised Malaiyaga Tamils tea planters unfolds, using the conceptual framework of environmentality as described by Arun Agrawal.”
“My thesis and internship placements are equally interesting and offer intriguing opportunities. As a Sri Lankan national with a passport that has all the mobility of a beached whale, I never could have imagined the opportunity of going to Namibia. Having been equipped with sufficient knowledge and skills to also reflect on human-wildlife relations in Sri Lanka has enabled me to look at development themes in Sri Lanka through a new lens.”
Student life
“While WUR excels at a great many things, this is the one domain students could receive a gentle warning about: the town is small, and while students do inject energy into everyday life, it can get slow. While you won’t be having daily raves in a bustling city like Amsterdam, the slow pace does create the opportunities to really sink into the surrounding nature and chill out with your friends. Life is slow, but that isn’t a bad thing if slow is more your speed.”
“Academia is great, but I firmly believe in rounded character. All the grades in the world won’t make you an interesting person. In addition to my studies, I devote myself to writing religiously. My debut publication was nominated for Sri Lanka’s national literature prize in 2020. Good writing also demands that you read as well. I enjoy a wide array of literature particularly pertaining to the history of the classical world; I recently met Dame Mary Beard in Sri Lanka and she autographed my copy of her book on Rome. I nearly fainted!
I also enjoy documentary and wildlife photography and hope to blend these with my career in development at some point in the near future.”