innovative approaches to interdisciplinary graduate research and training

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


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?


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