By Musambya Mutambala
Musambya Mutambala, a PhD student at the Institute of Development Studies, University of Dar es Salaam. I was awarded a five-months visiting fellowship at Aalborg University. The AfricaLics Visiting PhD Fellowship program – funded by Sida – aims at deepening my knowledge on the concept of innovation and development economics and in so doing improving the quality of my PhD thesis. Denmark is a new world to me–a learning experience in my life in which I met new people with a unique and exciting culture. While I met a few Danish people before during workshops organised by my institution, STIPRO, the experience of being physically present in Denmark is quite different. My stay at AAU has been an enjoyable experience.
First, I didn’t feel lonely in the programme even though most of the PhD work is highly individual. Second, I was impressed with the smooth communication and cooperation among individuals within the Globelics and AfricaLics Secretariats. Logistics were well organized: I found all the necessaries, such as picking up from the airport, accommodation, office facilities, registration for CPR number and NEMid, meeting with mentors. In this regard, Margrethe Holm Andersen, Emil Axel Storner, Gro Stengaard Villumsen, Dorte Baymler and Shagufta Haneef will remain in my memory. At the University, I got the chance to attend different PhD courses, such as mixed research methods, theory building, and innovation and technology management. I also had access to a modern library, which includes electronic documents from international journals. I made presentations in which tutors from the department of business and management and IKE group provided useful comments. I participated in the 2016 AfricaLics PhD academy in Tunisia that also added value to my work. All this support made my stay comfortable while significantly improving my thesis development. Another point for consideration is the hospitality of Danes. I arrived in Denmark at the time when immigrant issues were hot in politics. The situation did not influence or change the attitude of Danes towards me. I frequently met people at the university, bus stops, hospital, in buses, train, airplane, supermarkets and church. Danes are ready to help; you need to ask for it, of course. A challenge I continue to face however is the Danish language. I remember kids in some families I visited in Aalborg, Dronninglund, Frederikshavn, Bjerringbro, Aarhus and Randers were eager to take a conversation. Unfortunately, I failed to engage as much as I would like to. I have only mastered four words until now: hej, tak, mange tak, and hejhej!
Lastly, the programme provided space to observe and appreciate cultural diversities. Allan V. Vokstrup, who is friend of AfricaLics, provided a cosy dinner to all visiting PhD fellows. Margrethe arranged a good dinner at her home in Copenhagen where African foods, such as nyama choma, were part of the menu; and we could even talk a little in Swahili language. I really felt at home! We also had dinner together with our AAU mentors and home supervisors who came to Aalborg for a supervision and research meeting. Martin Kyvsgaard accompanied us to Dronninglund where we toured into an ecological farm. Gro also provided a dinner invitation.
My experience so far indicated to me that the program bears on both academic and social issues. It is indeed what Prof. Beng Ake Lundvall calls “work hard and have fun!” My thesis proposal is being improved day by day; and its completion in time is almost certain. Thanks to everyone for the kindness and support. Thanks to AfricaLics and Globelics for the opportunity. These initiatives need to last forever!