Costa Rica

Sustainable Development Study Abroad Grant ProgramMadison Area Technical College is pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for faculty at community and technical colleges to receive funding and training to develop new short-term, faculty-led study abroad programs in the target areas of engineering, renewable energy, sustainable development, technical education, and related fields. Funded partciapants will be engaged in a study abroad immersion experience in rural Costa Rica January 3-13, 2012, followed by a program of mentoring and workshop training spring and summer 2012. Madison Area Technical College has been selected to administer a Capacity Building in Study Abroad grant from the US Department of State. This award is designed to support the creation of new study abroad programs at community and technical colleges.

Program Summary:This program will bring a cohort of eight faculty to rural Costa Rica for a study abroad immersion experienceworking alongside students enrolled in a Renewable Energy for International Development course. All costs of travel, meals and lodging are paid for selected participants. This in-country training will be followed by a series of workshops on new study abroad program and curriculum development. In turn, these faculty and their supporting institutions will be empowered to develop a new study abroad course in one of the target subject areas (engineering, renewable energy, sustainable development and technical education). Participating institutions will join a consortium to collectively market the new courses and cross-enroll students from partner institutions. The end result will be a network of colleges offering new programs in the areas of renewable energy and sustainable development. Benefit to Faculty Participants:

• Funding for airfare, local transportation, and lodging to participate in a January 3-13, 2012 training on Renewable Energy for International Development conducted by Solar Energy International (SEI) in rural Costa Rica. [Participants should expect rustic camp lodging, substantial, but primarily vegetarian, meals, and be prepared for semi-strenuous physical activity in a hot and humid tropical climate.]

• Mileage, lodging and per diem to participate in a 3-day workshop in Madison, WI on new study abroad program development and content and pedagogy for the development of new study abroad curriculum.

• A stipend of $1,000 for the development of new study abroad course curriculum.

• Mentoring and program development support from colleagues with established study abroad programs.

• Opportunity to apply for additional funds to visit and explore new program sites in Central America or the Caribbean as part of the development of education abroad offerings.

Responsibilities of Participant Institutions:• Release or otherwise allow the faculty member to devote 10% of their workload for one year to

participation in this project including participation in the January 2012 training, and spring/summer workshops for new program development, and subsequent planning and development of a new study abroad offering.

• Commit to the development of a new credit-bearing study abroad course (either by themselves or in partnership with other institutions) in the target subject areas of engineering, renewable energy, sustainable development, or technical education.

• Join a consortium to allow the enrollment of students and articulation of credits among a network of other colleges participating in this capacity building program.

• Agree to participate in grant-related assessments of new programs including surveys of student participants.

• College President, Provost, or Chief Academic Officer will sign a Memoranda of Understanding that outlines the terms of this agreement as a condition of participation.