Press Release
5 May 2008
Gloucestershire students help development in Sardinia
Students from the Countryside and Community Research Institute have conducted research in Sardinia that will help people in deprived areas market their products more effectively.
The students, who are studying for a Master's degree in European Rural Development, presented the results of their research at an international symposium in Sardinia last week, at which they were interviewed by journalists and a regional television station.
The research highlighted the importance of Sardinian identity, and branding of high quality local food products as well as taking opportunities to combine local knowledge and expertise from Sardinia with other parts of Europe.
Course Leader, Dr. John Powell, said "This is an important piece of research for the rural people of Sardinia. The research showed that there is potential in developing economic and social connections across borders, even for a deprived rural area such as Monte Linas, which is a former mining area with poor agricultural conditions in the south-west of the island, and on which the research was focussed."
The students, from the UK, Italy, and Croatia spent a week in the area exploring the potential for establishing trans-national cooperation projects in the Monte Linas area of Sardinia. They interviewed 30 local stakeholders including local government officials, craftsmen, food processors, farmers and tourism organisations, to build up a picture of potential opportunities and barriers for cross-border cooperation within Europe.
The work was carried out in conjunction with a Local Action Group set up under the EU LEADER programme, the GAL Monte Linas, and the results presented at an international symposium entitled 'The Role of Rural Areas in European Cooperation'.
The President of the Province of Medio Campidano, Fulvio Tocco, supported the findings, and emphasised the importance of obtaining perceptions from external rural development experts. The President of the GAL Monte Linas, Antonio Marrocu, indicated the value of the research, which would be utilised in the coming months to assist in identifying potential cooperation opportunities.
ENDS
Note for Editors:
Monte Linas
The Monte Linas area of South-west Sardinia is a former metal mining area currently suffering from high unemployment, derelict mine sites, environmental contamination, and poor agricultural conditions. The area at one time had the largest mine in Europe but production of the minerals (mainly, zinc, lead and silver) peaked in the 1970s and finally ended in the early 1990s, resulting in loss of jobs in the mines and supporting industries, and depopulation. The isolation of the area and limited tourism potential relative to other parts of Sardinia, have made regeneration difficult. New communications technologies and cheap air travel make both niche tourism and quality food production viable options on which to base future rural development. The research work identified the importance of cross-border cooperation in providing access to a wider range of skills and expertise, than could be found locally, and in attaining a critical mass in terms of production and marketing of goods and services in a highly competitive European commercial environment.
MSc in European Rural Development
The MSc in European Rural Development is a new distance-learning programme of the University of Gloucestershire, delivered by staff in the Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI). Students may register for the programme in full time or part-time study mode. Teaching and teaching resources are provided electronically through WebCT software. This allows students to undertake an MSc programme while remaining in their jobs in their own countries. Two residential sessions are held each year in different parts of Europe to bring students and staff together and allow a focus on a specific rural development issue.
More information on the MSc programme can be found on the University website at: www.glos.ac.uk/subjectsandcourses/postgraduatetaught
The Course Leader, Dr. John Powell, can be contacted at jpowell@glos.ac.uk or tel. +44-1242-714129
______________________________________________________________Contacts:
Office Manager, Chris Rayfield, crayfield@glos.ac.uk or telephone 01242 714121
Other Information:
The Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI) is a new body created by the University of Gloucestershire, the University of the West of England and Hartpury College. It is one of the leading specialist rural research centres in the country with programmes of research in rural community development, rural poverty, agri-environment policies, agri-tourism, local sustainability, local economic development, EU and UK rural development, and the planning system in the countryside.
Issued by:
COUNTRYSIDE AND COMMUNITY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
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