Progress 01/01/24 to 12/31/24
Outputs
Target Audience:The Central American Research Symposium was held from April 29 - May 3, 2024. The Central American Research Symposium (CARS) paired accepted internationalization plans with research efforts to increase international research capacity at TTU. CARS invited faculty researchers from multiple departments in the TTU Davis College for Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources and the College of Human Sciences to encourage multidisciplinary research collaborations. Texas Tech provided a vehicle for the Central American participants to engage with Texas Tech Higher Administrators, Texas Tech faculty, Texas Tech graduate students, discuss multidisciplinary research projects, and meet various departments throughout campus. CARS Participants Texas Tech invited the University of Costa Rica, Universidad de Oriente Internacionalización UNIVO in El Salvador, and the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE) to send participants from diverse academic fields to contribute to the CARS initiative. A total of five participants from various Central American institutions attended, including three faculty members selected for CARS and two staff members accompanying them. The grant covered a participants from each institution. UNIVO sent the Dean of the Faculty of Agronomic Sciences and the Academic Secretary of the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture. CATIE contributed a Senior Researcher from the Environment for Development Initiative (EfD) and an Innovation Specialist. The University of Costa Rica was represented by a Biochemistry Professor. Texas Tech and Lubbock Community Collaborations Texas Tech hosted CARS participants with various presentations, tours, and networking sessions. The Davis College for Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources organized a luncheon and tour of the Therapeutic Riding Center. The Meat Science & Muscle Biology department offered a tour of Raider Red Meats. Participants also visited the ICFIE lab, where Latin American students work on food industry projects. The College of Human Sciences facilitated a networking session. International Affairs departments, including Study Abroad and the Center for Global Communication, delivered presentations. Other departments provided tours and presentations, including the Experimental Sciences Building II and the Innovation Hub. Breedlove Foods, Inc. also gave a presentation and tour. Evaluation The external evaluator assessed the implementation of the Central American Research Symposium and research networks by examining how effectively they enhanced the capacity of faculty participants. This included evaluating their skills and confidence in engaging in international research and scholarly activities. Faculty will be monitored for two years following the completion of the CARS to determine if there is an increase in the number of international grant proposals submitted for funding, as well as greater participation in international research activities among the participants. Graduate Students The CARS symposium featured a graduate student poster session that encouraged the CARS participants to consider how to involve students in research and engagement activities. In line with USDA Educational Need Areas, graduate students from the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources and the College of Human Sciences participated in this session. This opportunity allowed graduate students and CARS participants to connect with international research faculty, network, discuss potential international research projects, and learn about the international research process. CARS Seed Grants Execution Following the symposium, TTU International Affairs (IA) awarded seed grants to selected TTU faculty to enhance international research partnerships. The CARS Seed Grants supported TTU faculty in visiting one of the three participating Central American institutions to explore potential areas for collaboration. Each travel grant offered up to $3,000, with a maximum of four awards designated solely for travel expenses. These grants were available to all TTU tenure-track and continuing appointment faculty. Applicants were required to identify at least one external Request for Proposal (RFP) that their project would enable them to pursue following the completion of the grant. Awarded Faculty and Their Accomplishments Since the Central American Research Symposium (CARS), four Texas Tech faculty members have been awarded the Travel Seed Grant to visit participating Central American institutions and explore potential areas for collaboration. Dr. Mastergeorge, Professor and Senior Director for Engaged Scholarship Initiatives in Human Development & Family Sciences, visited the University of Costa Rica (UCR) and achieved significant milestones while laying out plans for future collaborations. Dr. Sandip Pal, Associate Professor of Atmospheric Science in the Department of Geosciences, utilized the 2024 CARS Seed Grant Travel Award to visit the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE) in Costa Rica. During his visit, Dr. Pal collaborated with researchers on climate-smart agricultural practices and flood-drought monitoring using satellite measurements and regional climate modeling. The visit facilitated discussions on research ideas targeting USDA and NASA funding, with plans to submit a proposal to NASA by December 2025. Dr. Nadia Y. Flores, Associate Professor of Sociology in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work, visited the Universidad de Oriente (UNIVO) in El Salvador. She collaborated on a project titled "Salvadoran's Health Access for Non-Transmissible Diseases in El Salvador and in the United States." The visit facilitated networking and collaboration opportunities, with plans for future multidisciplinary projects. Dr. Flores also aims to apply for a Fulbright Fellowship to further this research. Dr. W. Shane Walker, Professor and Director of the Water Resource Center in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering, utilized the CARS Seed Travel Grant to visit UNIVO in El Salvador. His visit aimed to develop research collaborations on brackish groundwater desalination for agricultural use, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals and USDA priorities. Despite not identifying specific grants yet, Dr. Walker plans to continue exploring collaboration opportunities with UNIVO. Dissemination of Results The results of the seed grants will be disseminated to communities of interest through both printed and virtual formats. The accomplishments and findings of the seed grant winners will be compiled into comprehensive reports, which will be printed and distributed to relevant stakeholders, including faculty, students, and institutional partners. Additionally, these reports will be shared virtually through online platforms, ensuring broader accessibility and engagement. Conclusion The execution of the CARS Seed Grants has been highly productive, fostering significant progress in planning research proposals and establishing potential future collaborations.By addressing critical issues such as climate-smart agricultural practices, health access, and sustainable water management, these projects contribute to global stability and security. The research collaborations fostered through these grants enhance the capacity of American institutions to address global challenges, thereby strengthening international partnerships and promoting shared values of innovation, sustainability, and mutual benefit. Changes/Problems:The fourth partnering institution, Universidad Autonoma de Santa Ana from El Salvador had to withdraw due to a leadership change within their university. The leadership change did not support their participation in CARS, which is why the partnering university could not attend. Also, the fifth partnering institution from the Regional University of San Pedro Sula, affiliated with the Francisco Morozan National Pedagogical University in Honduras, withdrew from the CARS symposium just five days before it was scheduled to start. The withdrawal was due to additional work commitments at the participant's current institution. This did affect the project in having two less participants and TTU was able to distribute the seed grant to the participating Central American institution, based on seed grant application reviews. On departure day, the participants from Universidad de Oriente Internacionalizacion Univo, El Salvador had to extend their stay by one day due to inclement weather canceling their flight. Texas Tech University extended their stay at the hotel and covered the lodging for the extra day for both participants. International Affairs staff maintained contact with the UNNIVO participants and even hosted them for dinner on the extra evening. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?International Affairs enhanced its professional experience by developing skills in planning and coordinating all logistics for the Central American Research Symposium. The pre-arrival phase involved co-investigators networking with TTU deans, department heads, and community organizations to host and collaborate with CARS participants. This phase also included managing logistics such as scheduling flights, booking accommodations, creating agendas, coordinating schedules with the administrative team, overseeing the budget, and administering and promoting the CARS Travel Seed Grants. Throughout the first two phases, the administrative team maintained constant communication with CARS participants, providing them with detailed information about the symposium. This pre-arrival phase was crucial for generating faculty interest and engagement in international research with Central American partners. The arrival and implementation of the symposium (phase three) fostered participation among CARS participants, TTU faculty, and representatives from other higher education institutions. The Travel Seed Grants, managed by the International Affairs team, supported internationalization efforts. Additionally, the graduate student poster session offered global professional development opportunities for students working alongside faculty on their research projects. The International Affairs administrative team also strengthened its leadership, organizational, and networking skills. The symposium and the Travel Seed Grants facilitated connections with faculty across campus, enhancing their understanding of current research initiatives. These relationships have proven beneficial in maintaining ongoing connections between faculty and CARS participants after the symposium. The final report will include information on phase four, detailing the seed grant outcomes of TTU faculty visiting Central American partners. Post-symposium, the International Affairs (IA) staff gained professional development skills by administering seed grants, which were marketed to Texas Tech faculty and introduced to CARS participants. This encouraged faculty to apply for the grants. Administering the grants provided the IA staff with experience in collecting applications, setting up a review system, and managing budgets. Faculty members used the grants to travel to partner institutions for research collaborations, develop more robust international research proposals with the IA office, and continue their research efforts while pursuing additional funding opportunities. Additionally, the IA staff has maintained open communication with CARS participants, fostering ongoing collaboration. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The panel and presentation featuring Central American partners, along with information about seed grants, were promoted on the International Affairs webpage. Initially, the CARS website included a summary of the symposium, its dates, the names and photos of the co-investigators and administrative team, as well as the names of the Central American institutions. As the symposium date approached, the website was updated with additional information. For instance, a few weeks prior to the event, details about the Panel and Presentation from Central American Partners and the Faculty Luncheon were added. This event was open to all Texas Tech faculty and did not require prior registration. Following the panel, TTU faculty expressed interest in accessing the presentations, leading to the addition of the Central American partners' presentations on the website. Furthermore, a link to the CARS Seed Grant website was established, which provided guidelines and application templates for faculty interested in visiting Central American institutions. Both websites were prominently displayed on the International Affairs homepage, making them easily accessible to faculty and visitors. They offered valuable information to those who could not attend the panel presentation but wished to learn more about CARS and the seed grants. Information about the panel and presentations, as well as the seed grants, was shared with Texas Tech faculty through the university's email system, word of mouth, through the Provost's Office, and the internal announcement platform, TechAnnounce. This daily email reaches all faculty members, and the panel presentation and seed grants were featured in TechAnnounce thirteen times over three months. Both the website and TechAnnounce effectively marketed and disseminated information to Texas Tech faculty. During the CARS participants' visit to Texas Tech University, a program agenda booklet was created, which included the CARS schedule and brief biographies of the participants. This booklet was distributed to the departments hosting the fellows and providing tours for them. The results of the seed grants will be disseminated to communities of interest through both printed and virtual formats. The accomplishments and findings of the seed grant winners will be compiled into comprehensive reports, which will be printed and distributed to relevant stakeholders, including faculty, students, and institutional partners. Additionally, these reports will be shared virtually through online platforms, ensuring broader accessibility and engagement. This dual approach ensures that the valuable insights and outcomes of the seed grant projects reach a wide audience, fostering further collaboration and knowledge exchange. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
International education is a focus at Texas Tech University (TTU); however, current internationalization models do not focus on international research. The Central America Research Symposium (CARS) was able to fix this problem by offering travel seed grants to TTU faculty to visit the CARS institution partners. CARS enabled International Affairs to better support TTU faculty engaging in international research resulting through the offered seed grants. The CARS partnering institutions also benefited from the travel seed grants collaborations. The major activities proposed were fulfilled through the CARS schedule by visiting institutional departments, organizations, and community partners. The CARS participants shared that learning about various institutional infrastructures, supporting research, and engagement opportunities was pivotal as these conversations provided tangible ideas that they could then share with their institutions. Specifically, the CARS participants noted that TTU students participated in all levels of research and engagement had a strong positive impact on them and inspired them to include their students back home in more research activities. Additionally, seeing TTU's resources impressed the CARS participants and helped generate new ideas on how equipment could be used and how research labs could be organized. The evaluator conducted pre- and post-focus group interviews. The interview data were subsequently read, reviewed, and coded related to the CARS participant's experiences during the symposium. The evaluator's focus group interviews with the CARS participants revealed that faculty and administrators are deeply involved in community-based research but seek specific actions to enhance growth, particularly in networking and expanding efforts. They highlighted the importance of connecting industries, supporting graduate students, and expanding research into sustainable agriculture. Symposium activities, such as networking and Q&A sessions with diverse experts, learning about institutional infrastructures, and incorporating student participation, were seen as highly beneficial. Texas Tech University served as an inspirational model for student involvement. For future symposia, CARS Participants suggested personalizing tours and speakers, scheduling more networking time, visiting professors' classes, and including participants' information on the agenda to foster personalized conversations and future connections. The focus group aimed to enhance research and engagement ideas, identify needs for supporting research experiences and network growth, and recognize the symposium's affordances and constraints. The Central American Research Symposium has significantly enhanced the ability of International Affairs (IA) at Texas Tech University to support faculty in their international research endeavors. This initiative has not only provided faculty with advancement opportunities but has also expanded TTU's international footprint and offered global professional development opportunities for students involved in faculty research projects. To foster international research partnerships, TTU IA provided seed grants to selected TTU/international collaborative teams. These CARS Seed Grants supported TTU faculty in visiting one of the three participating Central American institutions to explore potential areas for collaboration. Each travel grant offered up to $3,000, with a maximum of four awards designated solely for travel expenses. These grants were available to all TTU tenure-track and continuing appointment faculty. Applicants were required to identify at least one external Request for Proposal (RFP) that their project would enable them to pursue following the completion of the grant. Four Texas Tech faculty members were awarded the Travel Seed Grant to visit a participating CARS institution. Dr. Mastergeorge, Professor and Senior Director for Engaged Scholarship Initiatives in Human Development & Family Sciences, visited the University of Costa Rica (UCR). While in Costa Rica, Dr. Mastergeorge accomplished significant milestones and laid out plans for future collaborations, as detailed in her report. Dr. Sandip Pal, Associate Professor of Atmospheric Science in the Department of Geosciences, utilized the 2024 CARS Seed Grant Travel Award to visit the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE) in Costa Rica. During his visit, Dr. Pal collaborated with researchers from CATIE and the University of Costa Rica on climate-smart agricultural practices and flood-drought monitoring using satellite measurements and regional climate modeling. The funds covered travel, lodging, and related expenses. The visit facilitated discussions on research ideas targeting USDA and NASA funding, with plans to submit a proposal to NASA by December 2025. The collaboration aims to promote sustainable water cycles in Central America and Southwest Texas. Dr. Nadia Y. Flores, Associate Professor of Sociology in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work, visited the Universidad de Oriente (UNIVO) in El Salvador. During her week-long visit, Dr. Flores collaborated on a project titled "Salvadoran's Health Access for Non-Transmissible Diseases in El Salvador and in the United States." She met with faculty from various departments, presented her research on migration and mental health at the IX Congreso Salud/2024, and discussed an NIH grant proposal focusing on health access for Salvadorans. The proposal, to be submitted by June 5, 2025, involves interviews with patients, medical providers, and community members, including migrants. The visit facilitated networking and collaboration opportunities, with plans for future multidisciplinary projects. Dr. Flores also aims to apply for a Fulbright Fellowship to further this research. Overall, the visit was highly productive, fostering significant progress in planning the research proposal and establishing potential future collaborations. Dr. W. Shane Walker, Professor and Director of the Water Resource Center in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering, utilized the CARS Seed Travel Grant to visit UNIVO in El Salvador. The visit aimed to develop research collaborations on brackish groundwater desalination for agricultural use, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals and USDA priorities. During his visit from September 17-20, 2024, Dr. Walker met with UNIVO leaders, toured their facilities, and discussed research opportunities, including water supply sources and wastewater treatment. Despite not identifying specific grants yet, Dr. Walker plans to continue exploring collaboration opportunities with UNIVO. In summary, the CARS Seed Grants have been instrumental in advancing international research collaborations, providing professional development opportunities for faculty and students, and expanding TTU's global presence. The visits facilitated by these grants have laid the groundwork for future research projects and funding opportunities, ensuring continued growth and success in international research endeavors.
Publications
- Type:
Websites
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Central American Research Symposium Website https://www.depts.ttu.edu/international/events/2024/CARS/index.php
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Progress 01/01/24 to 12/31/24
Outputs
Target Audience:The Central American Research Symposium was held from April 29 - May 3, 2024. The proposed International Research Conference, Central American Research Symposium (CARS), paired accepted internationalization plans with research efforts to increase international research capacity at TTU. CARS invited faculty researchers from multiple departments in the TTU Davis College for Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources and the College of Human Sciences to encourage multidisciplinary research collaborations.Texas Tech provided a vehicle for the Central American participants to engage with Texas Tech Higher Administrators, Texas Tech faculty, Texas Tech graduate students, discuss multidisciplinary research projects and meet various departments throughout campus.CARS hosted international researchers from different Central American countries to facilitate and encourage international collaboration with TTU faculty members. International Affair (IA) coordinated with TTU system components to promote international scholarship throughout the Texas Tech System and promoted collaboration across different offices by inviting them to the CARS. CARS supported faculty success through international research opportunities to enhance their international presence and impact. CARS supported the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) goals of International Education, Research, and Outreach by growing TTU's ability to further develop current and new international engaged scholarship opportunities for TTU faculty and international partners and community stakeholders, through the CARS Travel Seed Grants. CARS increased TTU faculty global engagement, further supporting USDA agriculture goals while providing leadership skill development, research capacity building, professional development for faculty, and collaborative research opportunities.To facilitate international research collaborations, CARS enabled IA to better support faculty international research resulting in faculty advancement opportunities that also expanded TTU international footprint and provided global professional development opportunities for students working with faculty in their research projects. CARS leveraged existing faculty members who regularly engage in international research to mentor new faculty less experienced in the practice. The symposium had multiple networking events such as the hosted luncheons, dinners, and sessions, and the experienced faculty facilitated discussion/collaboration for newer faculty through these networking events. The Graduate student poster session provided global professional development opportunities for students working with faculty in their research projects. CARS also advanced the development of minority faculty and women by supporting professional development and internationalization opportunities for national and international faculty through transnational collaborations. International Affairs supported the USDA goal of promoting agricultural and human sciences through multi-disciplinary projects in the form of joint research projects. CARS Participants Texas Tech invited the University of Costa Rica, Universidad de Oriente Internacionalización UNIVO in El Salvador, and the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE) to send participants from diverse academic fields to contribute to the CARS initiative. A total of five participants from various Central American institutions attended. This group included three faculty members selected for CARS and two staff members accompanying them. UNIVO sent the Dean of the Faculty of Agronomic Sciences and the Academic Secretary of the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture. CATIE contributed a Senior Researcher from the Environment for Development Initiative (EfD), along with an Innovation Specialist. The University of Costa Rica was represented by a Biochemistry Professor. Texas Tech and Lubbock Community Collaborations Several colleges, departments, and community members from Texas Tech collaborated to host the CARS participants through various presentations, tours, and networking sessions. The Davis College for Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources organized a networking luncheon and a tour of the Therapeutic Riding Center. The Meat Science & Muscle Biology department offered a tour of the Raider Red Meats facility. Additionally, CARS participants visited the International Center for Food Industry Excellence (ICFIE) lab within the Davis College, where graduate students and student interns from Latin America are involved in food industry projects with producers, consumers, communities, and international partners. The College of Human Sciences facilitated a networking session that allowed department heads and staff to connect with the CARS participants. Furthermore, the following International Affairs departments delivered presentations to the CARS participants: Study Abroad, Texas Tech University K-12, the International Research Network, and the Center for Global Communication. Other Texas Tech departments provided tours and presentations led by their directors or higher education administrators, including the Experimental Sciences Building II, Library, Student Union Building, Innovation Hub, Outreach and Engagement, Obesity Research Institute, and Texas Tech Fulbright. Breedlove Foods, Inc, who is a commercial-sized non-profit food processor that has helped more than 70 countries since 1994, and theygave a presentation and tour to the CARS participants. CARS Seed Grants TTU IA provided seed grants to selected TTU/international collaborative teams to enhance international research partnerships with the institutions of CARS participants. The CARS Seed grants supported TTU faculty in visiting one of the three participating Central American institutions to explore potential areas for collaboration. TTU faculty interested in establishing international research collaborations with CARS institutes submited an application to one of the three Central American institutions via IA. Each application had to align with one of the five USDA Science Research Strategies priorities. Three of the four awarded TTU faculty members have completed their travels to the Central American institutions and must submit their reports by November 2024. The fourth awardee will complete their travel closer to the project end date, and report details will be included in the final progress report. Evaluation The external evaluator assessed the implementation of the Central American Research Symposium and research networks by examining how effectively they enhanced the capacity of faculty participants. This included evaluating their skills and confidence in engaging in international research and scholarly activities. Faculty will be monitored for two years following the completion of the CARS to determine if there is an increase in the number of international grant proposals submitted for funding, as well as greater participation in international research activities among the participants. Graduate Students The CARS symposium featured a graduate student poster session that encouraged the CARS participants to consider how to involve students in research and engagement activities. In line with USDA Educational Need Areas, graduate students from the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources and the College of Human Sciences participated in this session. This opportunity allowed graduate students and CARS participants to connect with international research faculty, network, discuss potential international research projects, and learn about the international research process. Ultimately, the graduate student poster session offered valuable global professional development opportunities for students collaborating with faculty on their research projects. Other Higher Education Institutes in the region were invited to the symposium, but unfortunately were unable to attend. Changes/Problems:The fourth partnering institution, Universidad Autonoma de Santa Ana from El Salvador had to withdraw due to a leadership change within their university. The leadership change did not support their participation in CARS, which is why the partnering university could not attend. Also, the fifth partnering institution from the Regional University of San Pedro Sula, affiliated with the Francisco Morozan National Pedagogical University in Honduras, withdrew from the CARS symposium just five days before it was scheduled to start. The withdrawal was due to additional work commitments at the participant's current institution. This did affect the project in having two less participants and TTU was able to distribute the seed grant to the participating Central American institution, based on seed grant application reviews. On departure day, the participants from Universidad de Oriente Internacionalizacion Univo, El Salvador had to extend their stay by one day due to inclement weather canceling their flight. Texas Tech University extended their stay at the hotel and covered the lodging for the extra day for both participants. International Affairs staff maintained contact with the UNNIVO participants and even hosted them for dinner on the extra evening. Other Higher Education Institutes within the Lubbock area were invited to attend but unfortunately were unable to attend the symposium. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?International Affairs enhanced its professional experience by developing skills in planning and coordinating all logistics for the Central American Research Symposium. The pre-arrival phase involved co-investigators networking with TTU deans, department heads, and community organizations to host and collaborate with CARS participants. This phase also included managing logistics such as scheduling flights, booking accommodations, creating agendas, coordinating schedules with the administrative team, overseeing the budget, and administering and promoting the CARS Travel Seed Grants. Throughout the first two phases, the administrative team maintained constant communication with CARS participants, providing them with detailed information about the symposium. This pre-arrival phase was crucial for generating faculty interest and engagement in international research with Central American partners. The arrival and implementation of the symposium (phase three) fostered participation among CARS participants, TTU faculty, and representatives from other higher education institutions. The Travel Seed Grants, managed by the International Affairs team, supported internationalization efforts. Additionally, the graduate student poster session offered global professional development opportunities for students working alongside faculty on their research projects. The International Affairs administrative team also strengthened its leadership, organizational, and networking skills. The symposium and the Travel Seed Grants facilitated connections with faculty across campus, enhancing their understanding of current research initiatives. These relationships have proven beneficial in maintaining ongoing connections between faculty and CARS participants after the symposium. The final report will include information on phase four, detailing the seed grant outcomes of TTU faculty visiting Central American partners. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The panel and presentation featuring Central American partners, along with information about seed grants, were promoted on the International Affairs webpage. Initially, the CARS website included a summary of the symposium, its dates, the names and photos of the co-investigators and administrative team, as well as the names of the Central American institutions. As the symposium date approached, the website was updated with additional information. For instance, a few weeks prior to the event, details about the Panel and Presentation from Central American Partners and the Faculty Luncheon were added. This event was open to all Texas Tech faculty and did not require prior registration. Following the panel, TTU faculty expressed interest in accessing the presentations, leading to the addition of the Central American partners' presentations on the website. Furthermore, a link to the CARS Seed Grant website was established, which provided guidelines and application templates for faculty interested in visiting Central American institutions. Both websites were prominently displayed on the International Affairs homepage, making them easily accessible to faculty and visitors. They offered valuable information to those who could not attend the panel presentation but wished to learn more about CARS and the seed grants. Information about the panel and presentations, as well as the seed grants, was shared with Texas Tech faculty through the university's email system, word of mouth, through the Provost's Office, and the internal announcement platform, TechAnnounce. This daily email reaches all faculty members, and the panel presentation and seed grants were featured in TechAnnounce thirteen times over three months. Both the website and TechAnnounce effectively marketed and disseminated information to Texas Tech faculty. During the CARS participants' visit to Texas Tech University, a program agenda booklet was created, which included the CARS schedule and brief biographies of the participants. This booklet was distributed to the departments hosting the fellows and providing tours for them What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period: Texas Tech will publish the results of cohort research at the end of year in print and digital format. In addition, Texas Tech will host a follow-up meeting with the CARS participants in the month of November or December. All the Travel Seed Grants travel should be completed by the next reporting period and TTU will gather the faculties report. Also, the photos from the symposium will be uploaded to the CARS website. Finally, the final progress report will include details on the next steps for CARS, as well as the ongoing efforts to launch CARS in Costa Rica next year.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
International education is a focus at TTU; however, current internationalization models do not focus on international research. The Central America Research Symposium (CARS) was able to fix this problem by offering travel seed grants to TTU faculty to visit the CARS institution partners. CARS enabled International Affairs to better support TTU faculty engaging in international research resulting through the offered seed grants. The CARS partnering institutions also benefited from the travel seed grants collaborations. The major activities proposed were fulfilled through the CARS schedule by visiting institutional departments, organizations, and community partners. The CARS participants shared that learning about various institutional infrastructures, supporting research, and engagement opportunities was pivotal as these conversations provided tangible ideas that they could then share with their institutions. Specifically, the CARS participants noted that TTU students participated in all levels of research and engagement had a strong positive impact on them and inspired them to include their students back home in more research activities. Additionally, seeing TTU's resources impressed the CARS participants and helped generate new ideas on how equipment could be used and how research labs could be organized. The evaluator conducted pre and post focus group interview. These interview data were subsequently read, reviewed, and coded related to the guests' experiences during the symposium. The evaluators thematic results from the focus group interviews are clustered within three areas and are shared below with selected summarized stories: 1) The faculty and administrator guests are heavily involved in community-based research efforts, but they are searching for specific actions to support growth within this space, especially in networking and expanding research efforts. Selected summarized stories are shared below from the focus group interviews: a. We have outreach and development projects, such as connecting the coffee industry with other businesses, but we need to know how to better transfer/connect what we are learning with others (e.g., businesses, community, universities). b. We have community outreach opportunities within the field of biochemistry (e.g., teaching doctors how to communicate with individuals in the community), and we are focused on supporting graduate students in learning about research and publications to help them apply to graduate schools in United States. c. We want to expand current research in agriculture and engineering into climate change and soil research as these topics are important to our community. d. Our focus is within the field of sustainable agriculture, and we have served as consultants with our government and the United Nations. We want to know more about how to best involve students within research and development projects because we want our students and community to know about the effects of climate change on our health and agriculture. 2) The faculty and administrator guests identified specific symposium activities that supported their actionable plans based on their experiences at the symposium to improve their research and engagement activities within their communities. Selected summarized stories are shared below from the focus group interviews: a. Guests shared the opportunities for networking and question/answer sessions with diverse background of speakers/experts (e.g., faculty, students, tour guides, university President, and the Vice Provost of Outreach and Engagement) was extremely helpful. Specifically, they were able to extend conversations as related to their fields, but also learning about other fields and how these fields might relate to their own contexts which provided ideas on how to reach out to similar fields within their own communities. Additionally, being able to ask targeted questions and being challenged about their current thinking fostered inspiration among the group. They identified that these conversations were the starting point in building their networks within research and engagement. b. Guests shared that learning about various institutional infrastructures supporting research and engagement opportunities was pivotal as these conversations provided tangible ideas that they could then share with their institutions. Specifically, the guests noted that students participated in all levels of research and engagement, seeing the resources (e.g., laboratory spaces and tools, student resources for projects and wellbeing, the university offers to support research and engagement activities, and use/availability of online resources). c. Guests continued to highlight throughout the interviews the importance of student participation within research and engagement activities were perceived as extremely beneficial. Texas Tech University showcasing how they incorporate student participation within the spaces to support these students future career goals was aspirational to the guests. This aspect was an important factor as related to their actionable plans when returning to their universities: students should be incorporated within these spaces. 3) Faculty and administrator guests indicated specific areas for change or improvement for future symposia to continuously support the objectives of the CARS program. Selected summarized stories are shared below from the focus group interviews: a. Guests shared that tailoring or personalizing campus and community tours and speakers to their specific interests or needs will be helpful to maximize their participation. b. Guests shared that scheduling more networking time for discussions will be important in creating and fostering research and engagement connections. They were appreciative of the time they had, but they believed that having more time within this space would have been helpful to discuss ideas and activities. c. Guests shared that visiting professors' classes would be helpful for the student support context. d. Guests shared that on the agenda, include the participants' information (guests and visiting guests) on it so everyone invited can have personalized conversations as well as contact information (if applicable) for the ability to schedule future conversations. The program evaluator conducted a pre and post focus group interview aimed in documenting information related to three objectives: 1) the extent to which the experiences of the faculty and administrator guests during CARS symposium enhanced their research and engagement ideas within their own communities; 2) specific needs that are required to support research experiences and network growth within their communities; and 3) identification of affordances and constraints of the symposium as perceived by the faculty and administrator guests. Thematic results from the focus group interviews indicated the following ideas: a) the faculty and administrator guests are heavily involved in community-based research efforts, but they are searching for specific actions to support growth within this space; b) symposium activities that support networking and question/answer sessions with diverse background of speakers/experts; learning about various institutional infrastructures supporting research and engagement opportunities; and exploring how to incorporate student participation within research and engagement activities were perceived as extremely beneficial; and c) faculty and administrator guests indicated that for future symposia, personalizing tours and speakers to their specific interests or needs and scheduling more networking time for discussions will be important in creating and fostering research and engagement connections.
Publications
- Type:
Websites
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Central American Research Symposium Website
https://www.depts.ttu.edu/international/events/2024/CARS/index.php
Central American Research Symposium Seed Grant Website
https://www.depts.ttu.edu/international/events/2024/CARS/CARS_seed_travel_grants_guidelines_and_template.php
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