The First CBNRM Course in Beijing: An Itinerary of Remarkable Experiences

'During module one, which covered CBNRM concepts, I felt a little lost, but now, after the field visit, I have a better understanding of rural life. In the field, it was easy to make connections among the various elements of CBNRM. I was able to link concepts with reality.' Master's student, COHD, 2005 'The field visit brought me closer to the reality of the poor farmers in China. I was moved by the hospitality and friendship of farmers and local extension staff. I learned a lot in a short time. This will be very valuable for my future career.' Masters studenty COHD, 2005 'The students understand us quite well. Our question to them is, what you are going to do now? Will you help us get access to credit?' Woman farmer during the mini-workshop at the end of the 2005 field visit to Guangxi After many months of preparation, the CBNRM course was ready in Beijing. As the opening quotes illustrate, the course was a remarkable experience for all involved - students, staff, and farmers. Valuable experience was gained working together in the classroom and in the field with local partners, developing a curriculum and making course content relevant, and learning about the learning process itself. In the following sections, the course is described in more detail making use of first-hand descriptions, post-event reflections, photos and other images, parts of the course evaluation questionnaire, and e-mail exchanges.