Research and Digitalization: applications for rural development

Description: We begin with a general overview that explains the course's purpose and provides a brief outline of its structure and content

Duration: 1h

Teacher: Marijke D'Haese

Delivery method: E-Learning Asynchronous

Teaching method: Lectures, Project Work, Others

Required tools: Computer and internet access

Description: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI), explaining key terminology, highlighting common applications in current research, and discussing both the benefits and potential challenges of using AI in research.

Duration: 2h

Teacher: Marijke D'Haese

Delivery method: E-Learning Asynchronous

Teaching method: Lectures, Project Work, Others

Required tools: Computer and internet access

Description: This unit focuses on large language models and their role in literature searches. It offers practical tips on using AI-based tools to find and summarise academic literature effectively, and emphasises the importance of crafting precise prompts to achieve the best results.

Duration: 2h

Teacher: Michaël de Clercq

Delivery method: E-Learning Asynchronous

Teaching method: Lectures, Project Work, Others

Required tools: Computer and internet access

Description: "Phones and tablets are undeniably part of data collection. Online surveys are also being used more and more. We are also using digital tools in the classroom to engage students and gather their questions and opinions. The biggest advantage is the time saved and the reduction in human error. The biggest disadvantage is the loss of contact with the respondents. In this class, we look at these advantages and disadvantages in more detail. We will also show you how some commonly used digital tools work."

Duration: 2h

Teacher: Marijke D'Haese

Delivery method: E-Learning Asynchronous

Teaching method: Lectures, Project Work, Others

Required tools: Computer and internet access

Description: From cleaning messy data sets to creating insightful visualisations and predictive models, LLMs provide powerful tools that enhance every stage of the data pipeline. The possibilities are endless and include:Data cleansing: e.g. automated detection of anomalies, dealing with missing values and standardisation of data; Exploratory data analysis: e.g. summarising data sets, uncovering patterns and querying data using natural language; Feature engineering: e.g. extracting meaningful features from text and other unstructured data; Predictive modelling: e.g. creating models for classification, regression and prediction; Data visualisation: e.g. automatic creation of diagrams and their explanation in simple language; and, Decision support: e.g. generating insights, automating reports and simulating scenarios. This class will introduce some of these uses that will hopefully help you with your future data projects.

Duration: 2h

Teacher: Michaël de Clercq

Delivery method: E-Learning Asynchronous

Teaching method: Lectures, Project Work, Others

Required tools: Computer and internet access

Description: Drones are useful tools for research in agriculture and rural development. They can quickly capture detailed images of fields, crops and landscapes. This helps researchers recognise changes in crop health, soil conditions and land use over time. In remote areas, drones can provide data when access to the ground is difficult. They support better decisions by showing what is happening on the ground. In this course, you will learn how drones work and how you can use them in research. The focus is on practical use in agricultural science and development studies.

Duration: 2h

Teacher: Carlos Quezada

Delivery method: E-Learning Asynchronous

Teaching method: Lectures, Project Work, Others

Required tools: Computer and internet access

Description: GIS is a tool that helps us collect, analyze, and visualize spatial data—data that has a location. In rural development, this means we can: Map resources like water, roads, and farmland; Track environmental changes; Plan interventions more effectively; and Monitor progress and impact over time. In this class we would like to give you an understandable introduction to the world of GIS. You don’t need any previous technical knowledge, just curiosity and a willingness to explore the world. We also link up with the elearning Academy of FAO - the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations: https://elearning.fao.org. The eLearning academy provides a large range of courses that are freely available. You need to register to the eLearning academy to get access to the course material. Once enrolled, you can follow the course on your own pace.

Duration: 2h

Teacher: Luis Phillips

Delivery method: E-Learning Asynchronous

Teaching method: Lectures, Project Work, Others

Required tools: computer and internet access

Description: In this class, we turn our attention to the human side of digitalisation including the choices, hesitations and everyday realities that determine whether and how people adopt digital technologies. We focus primarily on rural areas, where adoption cannot be assumed and where infrastructure and institutions may not be sufficiently conducive. 

Duration: 2h

Teacher: Marijke D'Haese,Fatemeh Taheri

Delivery method: E-Learning Asynchronous

Teaching method: Lectures, Project Work, Others

Required tools: computer and internet access

Description: "Living labs are user-centred, open innovation ecosystems that work in real environments. In rural areas, they bring together local stakeholders — residents, farmers, businesses, researchers and policy makers — to jointly develop, test and implement digital solutions tailored to local needs. Key functions of living labs in the digitalisation of rural areas include: co-creation and experimentation; living labs enable rural communities to co-create and test digital tools in real-world environments. This ensures that the technologies are relevant, usable and sustainable; bridging gaps in digital access and skills; living labs often include training and capacity building to help rural populations adopt and benefit from digital tools; and fostering innovation ecosystems. By involving different actors (the ""fivefold helix"": Science, Industry, Government, Civil Society and Environment), Living Labs stimulate innovation and build local networks that support long-term digital transformation. Rural living labs emphasise adaptation to context and recognise that solutions that are successful in one region may not work in another due to differences in infrastructure, culture or economics. Advantages of using living labs for the digitalisation of rural areas include: empowerment as residents become active participants in shaping their digital future, sustainability because solutions are more likely to be adopted and maintained; and scalability because successful models can be transferred to other rural areas with similar characteristics."

Duration: 2h

Teacher: Branwen Peddi

Delivery method: E-Learning Asynchronous

Teaching method: Lectures, Project Work, Others

Required tools: computer and internet access

Description: In this class we want to introduce you to research we did on the impact of broadband on rural economic growth in Europe. The European Union has a widespread broadband infrastructure. Yet, at the same the rural-urban divide persists as do geographical differences. Some areas are much better served with broadband infrastructure than others. In this study, we examined how broadband access, in particularly high-speed internet, relates to economic growth. We differentiate urban and peri-urban from rural regions in the European Union. We use data on broadband infrastructure and economic growth from 2011 to 2018. Our study confirms the persistent digital inequalities between urban and rural areas and provides quantitative evidence of the importance of broadband infrastructure for rural development.

Duration: 2h

Teacher: Michaël de Clercq

Delivery method: E-Learning Asynchronous

Teaching method: Lectures, Project Work, Others

Required tools: computer and internet access

Description: "The use of generative AI in daily life, research and education is becoming increasingly important. As mentioned earlier in this course, some are favourable and as wizards see new opportunities emerge. Others are more sceptical and as prophets do predict the world to be taken over by bots and computer generated decision-making. This signals a need for rules and regulations. Rules and regulations are based on (hopefully human-made) principles embedded in our values and norms. In turn, these values and norms are based on what as a society we find ethical. In terms of the use of AI in research and education, the designing rules and regulations requires to test if, where and how AI violates the standards of research and education integrity. Some cases are clear; other issues may appear in a grey zone of undecided boundaries. It thus warrants an ethical decision."

Duration: 2h

Teacher: Marybeth Defrance

Delivery method: E-Learning Asynchronous

Teaching method: Lectures, Project Work, Others

Required tools: computer and internet access

Duration: 1h

Teacher: Marijke D'Haese

Delivery method: E-Learning Asynchronous

Teaching method: Seminar