FY 2001 PROJECT ABSTRACTS

The partners in this consortium propose to bring together students from Canada, the United States, and Mexico to produce jointly pieces of television and/or print journalism on subjects with a North American dimension. Students will take courses in second languages and cross-cultural studies. The result will be to combine increased technical understanding of journalism content and systems with lessons in development, politics, cultural change, resiliency, and human communications. The long-term result will be to strengthen journalism education within a North American context.

Total US funding for 4 years: $188,460

The short-term goal of this consortium is to create international cultural exchanges for students studying in process integration and environmental control, particularly with respect to the paper and petroleum industries. The consortium members also intend to have students assist in the creation of web based educational modules, which will facilitate the introduction of process integration for environmental control in engineering curricula. These modules will be made widely available in each of the participating countries. The longer-term objective of the consortium will provide faculty exchanges in order to develop a network for cooperation and development of process integration and its applications to environmental control. This network will guide the exchange program and development of educational modules during the grant period. It is anticipated that the consortium will continue beyond the grant period to maintain student exchanges and to further develop process integration education and collaboration among the consortium members.

Total US funding for 4 years: $230,808

The partners in the consortium propose to provide North American students an opportunity to gain enhanced understanding of intercultural, geographic, policy and economic issues and to contribute to the developing knowledge base of North American eco-tourism by: developing a series of internationalized student assignments to be incorporated into the curriculum of the six institutions; developing virtual and actual opportunities for student exchanges in the six locations to learn of the cultural and geographic treasures of each location; engaging students in an international directed field study experience that will focus on tourism and outdoor pursuits that promote and protect natural resources; increasing awareness in the tourism industry in the three countries of the importance of developing sustainable and ecologically sound programs. This project provides a unique opportunity to develop a North American perspective while contributing to the future development of eco-tourism as an emerging discipline vital to the local economies in all three countries.

Total US funding for 4 years: $180,576

This consortium will broaden the scope of restoration ecology by addressing landscape-scale ecological problems that cross North American national boundaries. Its dual purpose is to educate students about ecological and landscape restoration principles and problems and prepare them to apply landscape restoration as a tool in environmental management. The consortium will develop joint courses in landscape restoration and secure internships for participating students. Ultimately, the consortium institutions will offer these courses to a wider group of students and environmental practitioners.

Total US funding for 4 years: $206,179

This project focuses on reducing barriers to trade and business development by providing learning experiences among the three nations. Through multilateral student exchange programs, the project will develop and sustain a multicultural curriculum and credit transfer system for undergraduate and graduate students. The international agribusiness program developed by the consortia members will enhance understanding of global diversity in food chain management, agribusiness marketing and finance, and increase the awareness of the advantages of the global integrated food and fiber market.

Total US Funding: 4 years $203,170

This project will broaden the focus of the work of the participating institutions by including an international context for the training of graduate students on cognition, policy, culture, and language and their respective influence on education. The contributors from Canada, Mexico, and the United States will provide research and pedagogical expertise in each of these areas. The trilateral partnership will help graduate students develop professional skills that include a multicultural framework for teaching educational methodologies.

Total US funding for 4 years: $190,168

The Three Dimensional Environmental Education Consortium (3DEE) will focus on the development of a technical program of study in the areas of waste water generation/restoration; air emissions clean-up and soil sampling and restitution. The program will engage students from the United States, Mexico and Canada in the best practices of each country's sustainable restoration and environmental monitoring. Environmental resources sustainability is one of the world's greatest challenges. Each of the colleges and universities in this consortia were chosen for their prominence and leadership in environmental studies and for their diversity of climate which will enhance the participating students' experience to "act locally and think globally." Multimedia and on-line environmental study modules will be created as a product of the exchanges.

Total US funding for 4 years: $208,121

The International Ethics and Social Responsibility in marketing (IESRM) project will prepare students to communicate and market to customers globally, while focusing on the social and political issues surrounding free trade, globalization and international employment initiatives. IESRM is designed to provide an innovative opportunity to students who desire an international and social component to their marketing education and will forge new partnerships for excellence in core international marketing curriculum development, while contributing to an international code for marketing practices.

Total US Funding for 4 years, $220,000

The primary purpose of this project is to promote high quality cross-cultural learning and professional development experiences that will lead to better employment outcomes for persons with disabilities and the professionals that work with them. This purpose will be realized through the following goals: promotion of a sound understanding of employment and independence issues faced by people with disabilities in the three countries, the policy bases that have or are being developed to address these issues, and the universality of application of principles of social justice and inclusion to other underrepresented groups; examination of ways in which all of the programs can be mutually supportive in developing program content responding to new and emerging issues related to employment of persons with disabilities; building on prior experience in distributed program delivery by developing and institutionalizing transnational courses that will fit into degree programs of consortium members; and developing greater portability of university credits as well as professional credentials across all three countries.

Total US funding for 4 years: $204,535

As internationalization of animal agriculture increases the diversity of problems within each country, a tremendous opportunity for technology transfer and cross training of students has emerged. This project will allow graduate and veterinary students from each country to leverage their knowledge and expertise to find new solution to emerging internationalization issues related to animal agriculture. The project will facilitate mutual understanding through short courses, collaborative research, technique acquisition, and cultural/socioeconomic information exchange. Short-term benefits include immediate cross-training and cultural exchange, development of contacts, and development of collaborative research projects. Long-term benefits include improved working relations, reduced infectious disease hazards, and fewer non-tariff barriers associated with animal and poultry disease issues.

Total US Funding for 4 years: $199,268