From the Himalayas to the Alps

By Jiban Mani Poudel

As an assistant professor at the Central Department of Anthropology, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal, my teaching and research interests are in studying on human-nature relationship focusing on the human dimension of climate change, and mountain livelihood. The K2A mobility subsidy provided me an opportunity to collaborate with two universities in Switzerland, namely the Ethnographic Museum at the University of Zurich and Bern University of Applied Sciences. 

During my stay in Switzerland, I met with the Dean, Academic Director, Professors, Associate Professors and Assistant professors and students. At the Ethnographic Museum at the University of Zurich, I met Barbara Welter, managing director of the museum, and Martina Wernsdörfer, the curator of Southeast Asia. We discussed with their academic programs in detail. I also had a shot meeting with several faculty members. At the Ethnographic Museum, I collaborated with Rebekka Sutter, teaching faculty member whom I have known since 2019. Together, we worked on an ongoing paper that we recently submitted to a journal.

At the University of Bern (HAFL), I was hosted by Dr Christine Jurt (Associate Professor, HAFL) with whom I have had a longstanding professional relationship. We (Dr Jurt, Rebekka and I) spent three days in Bernina working intensively on further collaboration for a research project and a joint interdisciplinary paper.

From 29 October to 1 November 2024, I stayed at the Bern University of Applied Sciences. At HAFL (School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences), I shared my knowledge and ideas through a lecture and a presentation. On 29 October 2024, I presented a paper titled “Exploring Opportunities and Challenges of Highland Cattle Herding: An Ethnographic Study of the Nepal Himalaya” to faculty and students, as per my pre-scheduled plan. The following day, I gave a lecture to graduate students on “Perceptions of People on the Seti Flash Flood 2012.”

In addition, I held separate meetings with Roland Stähli, Academic Dean of HAFL, and Zenebe Uraguchi, Academic Director of HAFL. We discussed future research collaboration, particulary on climate change, through an interdisciplinary perspective. During that visit, I had the opportunity to meet Professor Swetha Rao Dhanaka, lead coordinator for Knowledge2Action South Asia and Professor at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland (HES-SO), School of Social Work Fribourg (HETS-FR). Although this meeting was informal, we discussed potential collaboration between universities in Nepal and Switzerland.

On 1 November 2024, I returned to Zurich. The next day, Rebekka and I had a short meeting with Professor Christin Huggle and Dr. Holkar Frey (EClim, University of Zurich) at the Department of Geography. We discussed the ongoing proposal we have been working on. Besides, I also had the opportunity to meet with scholars who have worked or are currently working in Nepal.

Personally, this program benefited me in two significant ways: it enhanced my knowledge and learning practices, and it strengthened my network and collaboration with researchers outside my home university. Last but not least, I observed the value of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary practices both within and between universities. We are now beginning to adopt these best practices in our own university for both teaching and research.