Recipient Organization
CORNELL UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
ITHACA,NY 14853
Performing Department
Charles H. Dyson School
Non Technical Summary
The SMART Program brings together students from a wide range of disciplines to address complex problems in diverse contexts. Students are recruited from fields situated across the university--e.g. applied economics and management, food science, global development, agricultural sciences, animal sciences, information science, engineering, and fine arts, among others. The projects they tackle, though all within the agribusiness sector, involve questions of marketing and market development, value chains, nutrition and food safety, financial management, export regulations, and a number of other challenges. The multidisciplinary nature of the teams, combined with the multifaceted nature of the assigned projects, provides students with a holistic and in-depth understanding of agricultural systems, supply chains, and markets.Additionally, each team acts under the guidance of an experienced team leader, a Cornell faculty member, and an expert from the field, providing students with diverse and valuable insights to understand issues in the international agricultural sector. SMART is unique and innovative in that it combines elements of service and community-based learning with a global research component and industry expertise. This model provides students with a deep and thorough understanding of the agricultural and agribusiness sector in a context different from what they are accustomed to. It also introduces them to valuable research, analysis, business management, and leadership skills, and instills in them values including global citizenship, cultural humility, and mutual learning.
Animal Health Component
50%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
30%
Applied
50%
Developmental
20%
Goals / Objectives
Overall, the goal of the Student Multidisciplinary Applied Research Teams (SMART) Program is to increase the ability of U.S. higher education institutions to engage with businesses, research institutions, governmental agencies, and/or civil society organizations that support agricultural development in developing countries. To achieve this, SMART seeks to ensure that international education, research and engagement are woven and integrated into the academic system at Cornell University. The SMART Program is designed to facilitate an experience in both research and service learning for 40-50 undergraduate and graduate students guided by faculty and staff mainly in Africa, Latin America and Asia.Students work on well-defined assignments challenging them to apply classroom knowledge and skills in real-world international development settings. The objectives of the program are to:Provide students with an innovative service learning experience working with underserved businesses, NGOs, universities, and rural communities in developing countries.Offer students a greater understanding of private and public sector-led economic development.Improve students' analytical abilities to develop case studies and other academic analyses of emerging markets issues.Facilitate work in a multidisciplinary team to conduct problem-solving research in emerging markets.Encourage and mentor students to develop leadership skills, helping them to provide technical and analytical support to underserved businesses, NGOs, communities and associations.
Project Methods
SMART uses several methods to ensure that the defined audiences experience transformative change. In terms of specific projects, the SMART Program begins its due diligence process early in the year to identify companies/organizations that can comfortably and safely host Cornell students. Then the summer months are spent refining the defined tasks with the company or organization. The program leaders spend the early part of the Fall semester recruiting students by hosting information sessions and speaking about SMART to classes across the university. In late September, interested students will apply into the Program, and the SMART leadership team (in collaboration with team leaders, advisors, and business partners) will select students for each team based on the 'fit'. These students are enrolled and participate in a rigorous pre-departure course to explore topics related to cultural competence, research and analysis methods, social enterprises, leadership, ethical engagement (IRB), and health and safety. All SMART projects are presented to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) to ensure compliance as we work with partners in the field. Mentored by team leaders, faculty advisors, and field advisors, they work with their business partner in the field for two weeks in January. Upon their return, students work on deliverables including case studies, reports, presentations, research posters, and informational videos as part of a post-engagement course. The case study method, especially, is very popular and common within the applied sciences. We focus heavily on its deliverable. We ensure that all deliverables are sent to the clients for their own use. If there are publications, they go through the rigor of peer review before submission and dissemination. The whole program truly does integrate critical reflection and intentional learning to deepen students' understanding of agribusiness development in international contexts.The SMART Program uses several approaches to evaluate success in achieving Program objectives at the academic and field levels. Below are several ways we seek to evaluate the project objectives:We evaluate the provision of service-learning experiences by tracking the number of participating students as well as the number of businesses served. We carefully select and monitor the types of businesses we involve in the service learning focusing on underserved businesses and communities which tend to be socially driven in developing countries. We try and ensure that at least half of the partners each year are female entrepreneurs. Where feasible, EMP or Cornell personnel visit the businesses as part of our due diligence process and also with an aim of building a stronger working relationships. This facilitates open communication to help us assess SMART throughout the process.After each segment of the SMART Program - the pre-departure course, the fieldwork, and the post-engagement course - we ask students to complete an in-depth survey. These tools and methods help us understand students' reflection and learning about numerous topics including conducting international research, ethical engagement, cultural humility and competence, health and safety, leadership and understanding of international economic development. In addition to the surveys, we conduct an oral debrief session upon the teams' return from the field, giving us a sense of each project's success as well as the challenges encountered. We also meet with team leaders, advisors, and business partners, since they accompany the students in the field; they therefore help us to understand student development during the fieldwork period. Lastly, business partners complete a survey, since they are able to observe student learning and development in the field as well.By assessing students' post-fieldwork deliverables to the clients, we get a better understanding of their development of business writing and analytical skills. The SMART leadership team provides extensive guidance to students, both through instruction during the pre-departure course as well as guidance as they actually write and complete their deliverables---case studies, presentations, posters, etc. Our assessment of each deliverable contributes to students' grades and helps us to evaluate how well students have developed analytical skills.Our pre- and post-field survey evaluations include questions about their team's collaboration and their development of teamwork skills. We ensure that each team includes students from a variety of disciplines and meetings with leaders, advisors, and business partners help to facilitate teamwork and problem-solving skills. This allows for the assessment of the students' development of team skills.Upon each team's return from the field, we request all business partners to assess how successful the SMART team was in providing assistance and support. This is extremely helpful information for improving and strengthening the program, reporting to supporters and integrating into publications.