Our Education
The educational activities of the Fair and Smart Data Spearhead include:
- Student thesis projects on FSD related topics with the supervision and guidance of FSD teams which guarantees access to reliable data, current knowledge, and experts on the ground;
- Student group projects such as the integrated sustainability projects ISP where students get to work on real-life challenges proposed by FSD teams and partners;
- [Guest] lectures and workshops about FSD themes as part of study programmes at Maastricht University and elsewhere.
The aim of these activities is to create knowledge about the role and impact of fair and smart data in the global value chains with a focus on smallholder farmers. Furthermore, through this effort, FSD Spearhead seeks to foster and invigorate the interest of students and researchers in the issues and challenges surrounding sustainability, data technology, and fairness in the global supply chain. Consequently, they will be able to carry this work beyond their university studies to the real world through their individual actions and professional careers.
Examples of theses conducted under the umbrella of FSD
| Niklas Mensing (2023), Sustainable Supply Chains – Potential Impacts of Chocolate Companies' CO2 Emission Reduction Strategies on Smallholder Farmers in the Global South. Master thesis Sustainability Science, Policy and Society, Maastricht University. Download |
| Selma Soydemir (2023), Agroforestry in Tanzania – Assessing the potential contribution of agroforestry in Tanzania to national food production. Master thesis Sustainability Science, Policy and Society, Maastricht University. Download |
| Merle Zoë Lasso (2023), “Missing SDG 5 Gender Equality for the Trees? On the Empowerment of Female Smallholder Farmers in the Acorn Programme” Master thesis Sustainability Science, Policy and Society, Maastricht University. Download |
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Nico Beranek (2022), “When is data governance in data-driven smallholder agriculture fair? Developing a framework for sustainable data governance in smallholder farming.” Master thesis Sustainability Science, Policy and Society, Maastricht University. Download |
| Nina Zwart (2022), “Closing the living income gap: a case-study analysis of initiatives in the Ghanaian cocoa sector.” Master thesis Sustainability Science, Policy and Society, Maastricht University. Download |
| Marie-Luise Zaiss (2022), "Sustainable Value Addition in the Global South - A Comparative Case Study of Sustainable Value Addition Companies in the Cocoa Value Chain in Ghana." Master thesis Sustainability Science, Policy and Society, Maastricht University. Download |
| Lars Hissel (2022), Sustainability Standards to Climate Change Adaptation in Coffee Production. The case of smallholder coffee production in Guatamala, Master thesis Sustainability Science, Policy and Society, Maastricht University. |
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Ana María Duursma Cortés (2022), Circular Economy Indicators for Agricultural Supply Chains: a Systemic Literature Review, Master thesis Global Supply Chain Management and Change, Maastricht University. Download |
| Giulia Bulone (2022), Young Consumers and Cocoa: The Relationship Between the European Gen Z and Ethical Chocolate, Master thesis Master thesis International Business – Specialisation Supply Chain Management, Maastricht University |
| Etienne Hoekstra (2021), “A Case Study on the Rabo Carbon Bank using the Quintuple Helix innovation model.” Master thesis Sustainability Science, Policy and Society, Maastricht University. Download |
| Thomas Lowbridge (2021), “An analysis of certification schemes, direct trade, and hard-law in Colombia’s and Peru’s coffee industries: Fair and Smart Data Spearhead Exploratory Research.” Master thesis Sustainability Science, Policy and Society, Maastricht University. Download |