Date post: | 05-Dec-2014 |
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Education |
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Innovative Approaches to Interdisciplinary Graduate Research and Training
Hannah CovertMary RisnerCenter for Latin American StudiesUniversity of Florida
LASA 2006San Juan, Puerto Rico
Introduction
What makes a research and training program innovative? Practical, real-world focus Recognition that graduates will pursue
careers outside academia Multiple learning activities outside the
classroom
Overview
Case descriptionsLatin American Business Environment
Program (LABE)Tropical Conservation and Development
Program (TCD)
Challenges Program development –
group/individual work
Latin American Business Environment Program (LABE)
Mission Administrative Structure Concentration Requirements Affiliate Faculty/Departments Student Profiles Program Components Alumni
Mission
Established in 1998 by Dr. Terry McCoy, Professor of Political Science/Latin Americanist
Mission: Provide interdisciplinary training that integrates business knowledge, expertise on regional issues, language fluency and cultural sensitivity to prepare students for the unique and often difficult Latin American business climate.
Funding: Core support from federal CIBER grant Other grants from private, state and federal sources
Administrative Structure
Program/Concentration within the Center for Latin American Studies with support from UF CIBER (Center for International Business Education and Research)
Director Assistant Director 8 Affiliate Faculty in 7 departments Graduate Assistants
Concentration Requirements
30 credits Interdisciplinary thesis Proficiency in one Latin American language Required Credits (8): Latin American
Business, Latin American Economics, Data Analysis, Business-related (15)
Elective Credits (7)
Affiliate Departments
Economics Political Science Public Relations Finance Law Advertising Food and Resource Economics
Student Background/Profiles
Economics Latin American Studies Marketing Spanish Anthropology International Studies World Politics International Affairs
Program Components
Study Abroad Summer Business in Rio FIPSE Semester Exchange Study Tour (Brazil, Argentina, Chile)
Internships Prudential in Brazil Motorola Local firms working with Latin America
Language Training Business Spanish Business Portuguese
Corporate Career Conference
Business faculty and corporate speakers
Alumni Placement
Citigroup Johnson & Johnson Deloitte Consulting LLP Accenture Consulting
Tropical Conservation and Development Program (TCD)
Established in 1980s by an interdisciplinary group of UF faculty
Mission To advance biodiversity conservation, sustainable
resources management, and the welfare of rural people in the tropics through interdisciplinary graduate education, research, and collaborative learning and practice.
Funding State, federal, and private foundation support
Endowment that provides funds for fellowships, research grants and other program activities
Administrative Structure
Housed in the UF Center for Latin American Studies
Director Associate Director Program Coordinator (part-time) 6 Core Faculty (Executive Committee) 80 Affiliate Faculty in 21 departments Curriculum Committee Graduate Assistants
Framework
Learning & ActionPlatform
TheoryTheory PraxisPraxis
SkillsSkills
problemcentered
fieldapplication
leadershippersonal
Disciplinaryfoundations
learning &action
network
Studentexperience
BiophysicalSciences
SocialSciences Collaborative
Concentration Requirements
MA level – 12 credits PhD level – 15 credits
Core Courses Tropical Conservation and Development Seminar Interdisciplinary Methods and Research Design Practical Skills
Tropical Ecology course Social Science course
Thesis/Dissertation related to biodiversity conservation and/or sustainable development
Affiliate Departments
Agricultural Education & Communication
Agronomy Anthropology Botany Comparative Law Food & Resource
Economics Geography Geological Sciences Forest Resources &
Conservation Latin American Studies
Natural Resources & Environment
Plant Medicine Political Science Religion Sociology Soil & Water Sciences Tourism, Recreation &
Sports Management Urban & Regional
Planning Wildlife Ecology &
Conservation Women’s Studies Zoology
Student Profile
80 students enrolled 50% from Latin America, 50% from
the U.S. Average age: 32 60% female 45% with 4-10 years of experience
prior to graduate school
Program Components – Alternative Learning Spaces
Field Research Grants Practitioner Experiences Visiting Professionals Tropilunch - Student led Seminar
Series Orientations Workshops
Alumni
Approximately 250 alumni
26% Academia 22% NGO 17% Graduate School 12% Other 12% Government 6% Unknown 5% Consultant
Program Challenges
LABE and TCD Acquiring and maintaining funding University bureaucracy can cause serious headaches
when hosting foreign visitors and conducting international research
LABE Finding colleagues from other departments who are
willing to participate Recruiting business students willing to learn a foreign
language Developing new business programs in Spanish-speaking
countries of Latin America (due to political/economic instability)
Program Challenges con’t.
Internships/Study Abroad Transfer of credits Course equivalencies Visas Housing Mentoring and Supervision Company placement
Program Challenges con’t.
TCD Requires a lot of service from untenured (and
tenured!) faculty – need strong professional support for advising, budget management, and program implementation
How do we engage all of our affiliate faculty?
How do we balance current program management and commitments with strategic planning for the future?
Quite a few affiliate departments with zero or very few students enrolled – Is this a problem?
Program Challenges con’t.
Not all faculty support students to undertake interdisciplinary study/work
Many of our potential students in Latin America have limited access to English-language training
How to Initiate a New Program?
Choose region of interest according to your existing institutional strengths (academic resources and geographical location)
Recruit interested/supportive faculty and administration
Seek potential sources of funding Focus your activities on what others don’t have Find university partners in area/region with which
to work…and communicate often Establish relationships with alumni and businesses
to assist in program development and support Be willing to put forth much effort and have
patience
Program Development: Group/Individual Work
Want to create a new program? What are your institutional strengths that
might indicate a focus? Potential partners, challenges? What are your goals for the next five years? Do you have departmental or
administrative support? Or can you get it?
Program Development: Group/Individual Work
Existing Program? What new activities would you like to
implement? What would you change about existing
activities? Do you need to recruit students and/or affiliate
faculty? What’s your plan? What are your goals for the next five years? Do you know where your alumni are? Is your governance structure representative?
Contact Information
Hannah [email protected] http://www.latam.ufl.edu/tcd
Mary [email protected] http://www.latam.ufl.edu/labep.html