Participants and destinations

Of the 123 participants, 99 were female and 24 were male. In total, 68 were master's degree students and 55 were bachelor's students. The field studies lasted between 8 and 18 weeks but most participants (70 students) stayed in the host country for 8 weeks (minimum requirement). 

The students travelled to every continent:

• Africa - 42%, mainly Tanzania (12 students) and South Africa (10 students).
• Asia - 34%, with Indonesia (11), the Philippines (9), and Thailand (8) as popular destinations.
• Latin America - 20%, particularly Brazil and Colombia (6 students each).
• Eastern Europe - 4%

Interactive map of the countries visited and the projects carried out: 

Research Focus Areas

Each MFS project during the 2024/2025 academic year was linked to one or more of the seven priority themes outlined in the Government's reform agenda for Swedish development cooperation. These include combating poverty through job creation and trade, enhancing humanitarian assistance, promoting freedom and combating oppression, contributing to climate aid, strengthening the rights and empowermente of women and girls, and improving helath and education for the most vulnerable.

This year's thematic distribution:

• 18 studies (15%) primarily addressed poverty reduction through work, trade, and education.
• 34 studies (28%) focused on health, many of which also included a gender equality perspective.
• 24 studies (20%) explored promoting freedom and combating oppression.
• 32 studies (26%) contributed to understanding climate-related issues.
• 15 studies (12%) had a specific focus on the right and empowerment of women and girls.

Many projects covered multiple thematic areas at the same time, illustrating the complexity of today's global challenges.

A Concrete Contribution to Global Knowledge Development

MFS has proven to be, and remains, an important platform for education, research, and international collaboration. The students' experiences not only strenghten their professional and intercultural skills, but also generate new knowledge that can help adress global sustainability challenges.

Conducting fieldwork in a new environment came with challenges, from navigating bureaucratic hurdles to adjusting to unexpected delays. Yet, these obstacles were valuable lessons in flexibility, cultural sensitivity, and ethical research engagement. This experience not only shaped my thesis but also broadened my perspective on development work, governance, and civic participation.

MFS student 2024/2025