Hi Alcade,

Interesting questions. Each university usually provides an opportunity for PhD students to get used to with the academic environment. Indeed, there is no pressure doing such introductory program. You still have ample time to do your own research (and travelling around). The course instructors will also provide good guidance for you on how to conduct effective research, writing a research proposal,... and they also provide feedback on your work. So I think you should take advantage of it, and it is also a good networking opportunity with other students too.

Enjoy your PhD study!

Best,

Tuan

Agree with Tuan, it is a opportunity and you can learn many more through this type learning. Most of the time we have different knowledge on theories and practices but realities in the field is always different or complex of different things. Different theories and explanation need to understand such field realities. During experimental learning you can learn several such complexes and this type exposure will be very useful later for your study. 

Do it you will be benefited from such introductory course 

Hi Alcade,

This sounds like a wonderful experience and possibility. But, I would ask a few more questions. Will you get to experience different research paradigms? Science? Social Science? Action research? Research with different levels of participation? Will you get to discuss the differences of the philosophies behind? Is there a way to really experience the differences? Like in conducting lab experiments and doing focus groups interviews? Or through trying to write in the styles of the different research approaches? 

If that is the case you will have a tremendous start of your PhD work.

Karin

Hi Alcade,

You are fortunate to get admission to pursue PhD degree program. Congratulations. Experiential learning will make you perfect in terms of designing, planning, and conducting research activities from a complex to a simpler one. There may be several hurdles which you will tackle easily by self-learning. I don't agree that it is purely an internship course but more often, you get chance of learning by doing yourself.

Gyan Shrestha 

Hi Alcade

Its a good learning procesa. The area of study does not really matter. During my time, my Prof made me understudy so many research procedures through analysis that were strange to me. Some I did well, some I went off schedule. But he painstakingly corrected them and put me inline for numerous electronic analysis. Today I'm better of with them. In Africa where research institutes are quite few, such methods are very us discuss more on it as I'm interested to see how you are coping. [email protected].

OlisemekaIsiekwe.keffective for today's methodology. You will enjoy it. Le

Dear friends,

Thank you all for your comments and advice. They were all very useful and I'm very very happy.

With kind regards,

Alcade

Cher Prof Hani,

Merci beaucoup pour vos conseils et voeux. C'est tres reconfortant.

Tres cordialement,

Alcade

Dear Karin,

I'm afraid that I can't answer your questions. I have no idea of how it will be.  But I will give all my best to successfully pass this learning process.

Best regards,

Alcade

Hello,

I believe, experiential learning will expose you to a lot of environmental issues that will inform your study in the field. Just brave it up for the Phd studies.

cheers

I have not heard of such experience, but I think it will serve as a kind of induction to research area in which you will work, and I think in the future you will know appreciate that process. I think that time is not lost, in all experiences is learned and you can take advantage of that process.

My best wishes

Dear Alcade,

so far nobody is against this start of gaining research experience, and correctly so.

In Environmental Science it is also important to learn the differences of approach between problem solving oriented field studies and more theoretically oriented basic science dealing with the development of methodologies to do such research.

You might propose to your supervisor(s) that both types of research will be covered in your learning period. This will also assist in making choices later in your research endeavors.

Cheers, Kees

This experiential learning is a kind of introducing you to what is obtainable on the field ie. learning on the job because I guess you do not have any cognate experience after your  PhD. It ts an opportunity you cannot afford to miss because It will save you a lot of possible embarrassment in the near future. Shallom 

Dear ,Indian Universities conducting  6 months pre- course in this learning,research,statitist,computer knowledge given.Only successful candidates allowed to work further.This learning is very helpful.