From idea to adventure in Kathmandu

Scholarship for thesis writing

Writing a thesis abroad can feel like a big step. But for agronomy student Tilde Lindbäck, it turned out to be one of the best decisions she made during her studies.

‘I saw an ad for a scholarship for students who wanted to draft their thesis abroad and thought, “Let’s do this”. Through a researcher at SLU, I was able to get in touch with an institute in Kathmandu – and that was the start of a whole new journey.’

During ten weeks in Nepal, Tilde interviewed small-scale farmers about how they are adapting to climate change. She also got to experience everyday life in a new country – with language challenges, new friends and lessons that cannot be learned from books.

‘Being there gave me an understanding that I could never have gained from books. Not only did I learn about the situation of the local farmers, but also about what it's like to work with an interpreter, build networks and navigate a completely different culture.’

Lessons along the way

The thesis showed that climate change affects farmers in hugely different ways – but the experience also gave her something more personal: encounters with people. ‘My interpreter became a friend, a moped driver became my guide, and my supervisor in Nepal was invaluable. I was made to feel so welcome, and it was a safe, fun and educational experience.’ However, it wasn’t all plain sailing.

‘I interviewed more people than planned and ended up with a huge amount of material. It was tough at times, but at the same time I learned an incredible amount from dealing with it.’

Dare to be brave

For Tilde, writing her thesis in Nepal was a milestone. And her advice to other students is clear: ‘Don’t be afraid to contact researchers. Dare to apply for scholarships. Dare to go away, even if it feels like a big step. There is always a way if you really want it.’

The future

Today, Tilde is a qualified agronomist. She also received the Norrbotten-Västerbotten Agricultural Society's Green Future youth scholarship – a recognition of her commitment and drive.

‘In five years, I hope to be working with sustainability and environmental issues. Where that will be, only time will tell, but my direction is clear,’ she says.