Abstract:
This report highlights the field experiences and skills acquired while at my place of internship in four different places namely Bukungu landing site (BLS) in Buyende district, Kiige Citrus farm (KCF), Kasolwe farm (KF), Namasagali Sub County in kasozi primary school all located in Kamuli district for a period of eight weeks starting from 05 th /07/2021 to 26 th / 07 /2021. The purpose of internship is to expose the student to the practical skills and knowledge in the field of Natural Resource economics in the working environment or to obtain hands on training skills.
While undertaking internship, the techniques and methods I used to gather information and to attain skills most especially concerning my specialty were; actively involving myself in the day-to-day work of the places we were taken which included making energy saving stoves, tree stalking, sorting and porting, in the tree nursey bed, offloading fish from fish pond for students to be able to identify in the landing site. Reading already existing information from the internet other related offices generating information related to Natural Resource Management, other method was by interacting with the local community members in farms visited, Namasagali campus, Kamuli district.
When I was doing internship among the responsibilities I had were as follows; I was chairperson of one group consisting 15 community members and I guided them on how to make energy saving stoves, In kiige citrus farms, I was mobiliser to students and interviewer of different field on behalf of others students, Reading through the certificates of approval for different projects that kiige farm has established and those in the pipeline, While in Bukungu landing sited I was a leader in the group who could ask different questions to district fishery officer (DFO) Buyende district. and I could help the DFO to uplift different fish species caught in the lake for easy identifications by the students., Handling different fishing gears like hooks, gillnets basket traps in the landing site, facilitating in some meetings, interviewing people while in monitoring and inspection activities, Practical participation in some activities like pond construction in kasolwe farm, making energy efficient stoves (EES)among others. From those activities I acquired skills like; interviewing skills, facilitating skills, communication/public address skills, community engagement skills, among others.
In conclusion, the field attachment is virtually important for the students especially those pursuing Bsc.NRE therefore it should be strengthened to benefit the students more and the hosting organizations should adequately prepare good information for students. Finally, the University should partner with leading agencies so as to smoothen the task of looking for superior internship places by the students. Students are also advised to diligently engage themselves in the daily work of the organization while at field attachment places so as to benefit more.
