Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/14
Outputs
Target Audience: Students interested in study abroad programs. Changes/Problems: We encountered two challenges during the program. First, we moved the venue from Universidad Austral de Chile to Universidad de Concepcion because UAC did not provide a comprehensive Language and Culture of Chile course and because the host family arrangements were poorly facilitated. We have an excellent cooperation with the UdC. We had also hoped to include some Chilean graduate students in the program, but we were unable to attract any. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Two research projects were completed including a honors thesis on impacts of tourism on Chin-strap Penguins and an International Degree thesis on pathogen control in caneberries. Most students completed 2-week internships. The topics and specific experiences varied substantially from student to student depending on our ability to make connections with the country and the students' language skills. Students completed internships in the following areas: Animal Systems (Dairy, beef, sheep, Vet clinic), Crop Systems (Quinoa, wheat, cane-berries, fruit trees, organic vegetables, vineyard), Food Systems (Wine), Forestry (Soils), Tourism (Environmental education), Fish and Wildlife (Marine, aquaculture, endangered species, native fish, lizards, penguins, otters) and Other (Art, International Marketing). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? We have given talks to the Orientation class of several departments each year, staff a booth at OSU's Global Opportunities Fair each year, and have given 1 presentation at a national professional meeting as well as a presentation before the USFA, NIFA, ISE PI meeting. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Over the 4-year period of the grant, 36 students completed the program which was composed of 4 courses, a 2-week internship or research project and a host-family experience. Student evaluations of the program were outstanding. All instructors scored between 5 and 5.5 on 6-point scale (mean 5.3), and all courses were rated between 5 and 6 on 6-point scale (mean 5.4). Cultural exposure of all students were exceptional--all gained a much better understanding of Latin American cultures and their fluency in Spanish was substantially enhanced. Many of the participants continue to expand their interest in study abroad. Eight added OSU’s International Degree as a second major, 12 students have participated in 1 or more additional international educational experiences,and 6 participants stayed in Chile for extended internships or research projects. Faculty have expanded their international teaching or research opportunities. Our Chilean Spanish instructor now teaches summer courses at OSU, 1 of our Applied Economics faculty members has collaborated with the Dean at UdC on a rural economics paper focusing on the impacts of the 2012 tsunami, and OSU is developing a student/scholars exchange agreement with the Universidad de Los Lagos, Osorno, Chile.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/12 to 08/31/13
Outputs
Target Audience: The target audience for this program is Freshmen, sophomore and junior agricultural or natural resources majors from any US university. Changes/Problems: There were no modifications during the 2013 program except for the addition of two more field trips. This coming year we will change the course offerings in an effort to increase enrollment. We will offer FW 350, Endangered Species, Society and Sustainability, a general education course, and we will drop AREc 454 and again offer AREc 250, Introduction to Environmental Economics & Policy, another general education course. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? All students participated in a 2-week internship after the formal instruction was completed. Internships included 2 students monitoring endangered deer in a local nature reserve, 1 student working on a lizard behavior project, 2 students working with a farm to table organic farm/restaurant operation, 1 student working in a veterinary clinic, and 3 students working in field and laboratory settings in the local agricultural research institute. The faculty member who taught FOR 365 was new to the program this year and the program provided him the opportunity to develop contacts in his area of expertise (soils in forest ecosystems). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? We presented information regarding the program during an OSU Global Opportunities Fair, and during freshman orientation class for 8 academic programs in the colleges of Agricultural Sciences, Forestry, and Science. We also prepared a short article for the College of Agricultural Sciences news magazine, The Source http://agsci.oregonstate.edu/students/study-abroad/chile-chillan What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? We will offer the course again to at least 12 students and expand our contacts in Chile further. We will engage another teacher in participating in the program.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Nine students participated in our Study Aboard Program in Chillan, Chile between 7 January and 22 March 2011. A team of 4 faculty members taught FW 251, Principles of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, FOR 365, Issues in Natural Resources Conservation, AREc 454, Rural Development Economics and Policy, and SPAN 299, Language and Culture of Chile. The AREc 454 course took a 1-day field trip in the central valley looking at small (population < 5,000) agricultural communities. FW 251 took a 2-day field trip to Pucon to understand nature-related recreational enterprises, and a 2-day field trip to Parque Nacional Nahuelbuta to discuss park design and landscape ecology. Finally, the SPAN 299 class took students on two field trips in Chillan (market and theater).
Publications
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Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Eight students participated in our Study Aboard Program in Chillan, Chile between 9 January and 23 March 2011. A team of 4 faculty members taught FW 251, Principles of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, AREc 250, Introduction to Environmental Politics and Policy, AREc 454, Rural Development Economics and Policy, and SPAN 199, Culture and History of Chile. The AREc 454 course took a 2-day field trip to the coast and looked at rural community recovery following the 2011 tsunami. FW 251 took a 2-day field trip to Parque Nacional Nahuelbuta to discuss park interpretation related to wildlife and fire as a factor in structuring habitats. Finally, the SPAN 199 class took students on two field trips in Chillan (market and theater). PARTICIPANTS: Faculty at Universidad de Concepcion assisted in the program by scheduling rooms and teaching the Spanish class. Other instructors were Oregon State University faculty members. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience for this program are Freshmen, sophomore and junior agricultural or natural resources majors from any US university. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: During the 2012 program we transferred our base of operations to the Universidad de Concepcion in Chillan, Chile. The reasons we transferred were threefold. First, the Spanish course at our collaborating university in Valdivia had been problematic because our term of instruction occurred during the Chile national holidays and the administrators were not able to accommodate our teaching schedule. Second, the venue in Chillan is an agricultural campus with the National Agricultural Research Institute right across the street. This academic and research expertise in the middle of a primary agricultural setting increased the likelihood that students obtaining career-relevant internships and provided opportunities for local field trips.. Finally, OSU has a Spanish emersion program at the same university each fall and we have excellent contacts for host families, Spanish instruction and internships.
Impacts
Seven of eight students also completed a 2-week internship designed to provide students with professional level skills, enhance technical vocabulary and broaden cultural experiences. One student worked in a marine laboratory in Concepcion sampling algae. Two students worked with Corporacion Nacional Forestal setting out camera sets to document occurrence and distribution of huemules, an endangered species of deer native to central Chile. One student worked at an agricultural import/export firm and helped facilitate conversations with North America producers. Two students worked in a vineyard and assisted with production practices. One student worked with an NGO and helped develop and present interpretative programs. One student had an unsuccessful internship because of a communication problem. The mentor was not in the office during the dates for the internship.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Seven students participated in our Study Aboard Program in Valdivia, Chile between 3 January and 30 March 2011. A team of 4 faculty members taught FW 251, Principle of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, AREc 250, Introduction to Environmental Politics and Policy, AREC 253, Environmental Law, Policy and Economics, and SPAN 199, Culture and History of Chile. All students also completed a 2-week internship designed to provide students with professional level skills and further enhance language skills. Two students worked with fisheries researchers looking at the impacts of invasive species. One student worked in several labs at a marine laboratory. Two students worked on a dairy operation. One student worked at an aquaculture facility and the last student developed an enterprise budget for a blueberry operation. PARTICIPANTS: Faculty at Universidad Austral de Chile assisted in the program by scheduling rooms and teaching the Spanish class. Other instructors were Oregon State University faculty members. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience for this program are Freshmen, sophomore and junior agricultural or natural resources majors from any US university. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
All students reported substantial changes in knowledge associated with study abroad experience. Furthermore, participates reported that because of their experiences, they are likely to change their behaviors with respect to agricultural and environmental issues.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/10
Outputs
The project is proceeding along on the timeline set forth in the proposal. Extensive time was spent in fall 2009 and winter 2010 to recruit students to participate in the Chile program. We received a couple dozen inquiries, 9 students ended up applying to participate in the program. We screened all 9 and found all acceptable. Eight paid deposits in July equivalent to airfare, so we scheduled flights for them and participating faculty. A contract with UACh has been signed and they are ready to receive our students. We also have arranged for all 8 students to participate in two week internships in Chile in March 2011. PRODUCTS: Instructors have been lined up for all four courses to be offered. Contacts for internships have been made, several are already approved and others are pending. OUTCOMES: We recruited and accepted first group of student participants. We signed contract with UACh to form a partnership in offering the program. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: We created a website for the program to facilitate communicating information and applying to the program. We printed brochures to hand out to advisors and their students. We made presentations to about 10 different classes and student groups to raise awareness about the program. We also sent emails to interested students explaining the program. FUTURE INITIATIVES: Work is underway to recruit the second group of students to participate in the program during winter quarter 2012. This includes a number of visits to students at campuses other than OSU.
Impacts
None to date
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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