Internationalizing the Coastal Ecosystems Curriculum, FIPSE United States-Brazil Student

Exchange Programs at the Ana G. Mndez University System

Puerto Rico

Dr. Carlos Padn, Dr. Juan C. Musa, Prof. Zaida Vega, Universidad Metropolitana (UMET); Dr. Wilfredo Coln, Universidad del Este (UNE);

Dr. Angel Rivera, Universidad del Turabo (UT)

BrazilDr. Thierry R. Gasnier, Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM), Manaus;

Dr. Carlos Eduardo de Rezende, Universidade Estatual Norte do Fluminense (UENF) Campos, Rio de Janeiro; Dr. Manuel Antonio de

Andrade Furtado Neto, Universidade Federal do Cear (UFC), Fortaleza, Cear

US Department of Education, Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE): U.S.-Brazil Higher Education Consortia Program

The program is jointly administered by the U.S. Department of Education and the Brazilian Ministry of Education.

Provides grants for up to four years to consortia of at least two academic institutions each from Brazil and the United States.

Fosters the exchange of students and faculty within the context of Fosters the exchange of students and faculty within the context of bilateral curricular development.

Promotes student-centered cooperation between the United States and Brazil to increase cross-national education and training opportunities in a wide range of academic and professional disciplines.

http://www2.ed.gov/programs/fipsebrazil/index.html

US Department of Education, Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE): U.S.-Brazil Higher Education Consortia Program

INSTITUTIONAL PROFILE AGMUS

Non-Profit private university system established in 1949. Licensed by the Puerto Rico Council of Higher Education (CESPR) and fully accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).

Third largest university system in PR and the fastest growing during the past decade; over 42,000 studentsgrowing during the past decade; over 42,000 students

Multi-institutional system: Four higher education institutions and a public television station:

- Universidad del Turabo (UT)- Universidad del Este (UNE)- Universidad Metropolitana (UMET)- Ana G. Mendez Virtual University

INSTITUTIONAL PROFILE AGMUS

Description 2009

Student Profile (Freshmen)

% Public Schools 78.5

% Private Schools 20.3

% Female 59.8

% Male 40.3% Male 40.3

%

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS

UTUT

UNE UNE

Main Campus Main Campus

Carolina, PRCarolina, PR

UMETUMET

Main Campus Main Campus

San Juan, San Juan, PRPR

11-- UNE UNE UtuadoUtuado

22-- UNE UNE CaboCabo RojoRojo

33-- UNE UNE YaucoYauco

44-- UNE UNE BarcelonetaBarceloneta

55-- UNE Santa IsabelUNE Santa Isabel

66-- UT UT CayeyCayey

77-- UT UT YabucoaYabucoa

Main Campus Main Campus

GuraboGurabo, PR, PR

88-- UT UT NaguaboNaguabo

99-- UT UT IsabelaIsabela

1010-- UT PonceUT Ponce

1111-- UMET AguadillaUMET Aguadilla

1212-- UMET UMET JayuyaJayuya

1313-- UMET UMET BayamnBayamn

MOUC

SFLUC

VISION 2015

By the year 2015 , AGMUS will be recognized for its excellence in learning, in research, and in

service, for its social responsibility and pertinence, and its growing global projection.

Two Grants:

Environmental Affairs and Globalization: Internationalizing

the Environmental Studies Curriculum (UMET and UT)

INTRODUCTION

Internationalizing the Coastal Ecosystem Curriculum (UMET and

UNE)

Environmental Affairs and Globalization: Internationalizing theEnvironmental Studies Curriculum

CORE PARTNERS

UniversidadeEstadualNorte do

Fluminense

UniversidadeFederal do Amazonas

Universidaddel Turabo

UniversidadMetropolitana

1. The partners developed a proposal and submitted it as aplanning grant to NSF. The proposal was approved.

2. Five (5) courses were revised to incorporate the internationalcomponent. Three (3) of them were developed on-line.

3. The Office of the Vice Chancellor of International, Federal andCorporate Affairs was created at UT and UMET.

Environmental Affairs and Globalization: Internationalizing theEnvironmental Studies Curriculum

From To # Students # Credits

UMET UFAM 5 30

UMET UENF 6 36

UFAM UMET 11 100

UENF UMET 4 52

UT UFAM 6 36

UT UENF 3 18 UT UENF 3 18

UFAM UT 0 0

UENF UT 5 55

40 327

Main accomplishments:

1. Implemented an international cultural and educational exchange program between the US (PR) and Brazil.

2. Offered mutual credit recognition and portability focused on coastal systems research.

Internationalizing the Coastal Ecosystem Curriculum(UMET and UNE)

CORE PARTNERS

UniversidadeEstadualNorte do

Fluminense

UniversidadeFederal do

Cear

Universidaddel Este

UniversidadMetropolitana

1. Ten undergraduate students are carrying out research projects.

2. A basic Portuguese course is now offered each semester atUNE. Prepared by a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence from Brazil.

3. Participating universities have strengthen their internationalstudent services.

4. Establishment of collaborative efforts in other fields.

Consortia Agreement for the Educational Exchange of

Undergraduate and Graduate Students and Faculty Between Universidad Metropolitana and

Internationalizing the Coastal Ecosystem Curriculum(UMET and UNE)

Universidad Metropolitana and Universidad del Este in The United States of America and Universidade Estadual Do Norte Fluminense and Universidade Federal Do Cear in

Fortaleza, Brasil

STUDENT AND FACULTY EXCHANGE

2010 Brazilian Students in Puerto Rico.

2009 Puerto Rican Students in Brazil. 2009 Annual Directors Meeting.

DISSEMINATION

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/12150307

2008 TV Interview of Dr. Thierry R. Gasnier, Universidade

Federal do Amazonas (UFAM), Manaus

2011 Internet Streaming Interview of

Brazilian Students in Puerto Rico.

FACULTY EXCHANGE AT UMET

UFAM Dr. Thierry Gasnier (2006) Dr. Andrea Waichman (2005)

UFCDr. Manuel Furtado (2009) Dr. Manuel Furtado (2009)

UENF Dr. Carlos Ruiz, Visiting Professor (7/2007 7/2008) Dr. Adriana Grativol, Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence (07-08) Dr. Carlos Rezende (2007, 2009) Dr. Marina Suzuki (2009) Dr. Marcos Pedlowski (2006)

FACULTY EXCHANGE NSF PLANNING GRANT

Presentations UNEF:

1.Estrutura das florestas de mangue do Norte Fluminense. Dr. Elaine Bernini (UENF)

2.Biodiversidade e Funcionalidade de Ecossistemas - uma abordagem multidisciplinar de comunidades microbianas. Dr. Adriana Grativol (UENF)Adriana Grativol (UENF)

3.Courses of Biological Sciences (Undergraduate) and Ecology and Natural Resources (Graduate) Programs. Dr. Carlos Eduardo de Rezende. (UENF)

4.Influncia dos manguezais na biogeoqumica aqutica de esturios. Dr. Marcos Sarmet Moreira de Barros Salomo (UENF)

FACULTY EXCHANGE NSF PLANNING GRANT

Presentations UMET and UNE:

1.Cucharillas Marsh: Research, Education and Community Participation. Dr. Carlos Padin (UMET)

2.The use of Nitrogen index approach to assess Nitrogen loses to the environment. Dr. Wilfredo Coln (UNE)

3.Nutrients use efficiency in mangrove ecosystem at Joyuda3.Nutrients use efficiency in mangrove ecosystem at JoyudaLagoon, Puerto Rico. Dr. Juan C. Musa (UMET)

4.Molecular toxicology at Chemical, Environmental and Molecular Toxicology Laboratory. Dr. Beatriz Zayas (UMET)

5.Particulates in Catao Air Basin and benefits from proximity of Cucharillas Marsh. Prof. Mara C. Ortiz (UMET)

6.Antibiotics resistance in genetic diversity of Enterococci isolated from sea water. Dr. Nidia Rodrguez Bonano (UNE)

STUDENT PRESENTATIONS - UMET

Three students presented at the XX UndergraduateResearch Symposium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, May2008. The poster titles are:

Impact of the Iguana iguana in a wetlandrestoration project.restoration project.

Impact of herbaria in a wetland restorationproject Wetland productivity in CucharillasMarsh.

STUDENT PRESENTATIONS - UNE

BIOCHEMICAL AND ULTRASTRUCTURAL STUDY OF THE INTERACTIONPROCESS OF RHODNIUS PROLIXUS WITH TRYPANOSOMA RANGELI

1,4Batista, K.K.S., 1Monteiro, N.O., 1Doutts-Peres, J.C., 1Arajo, G.S.M., 1Loureiro,G.G., 2Gonzales, M., 3Azambuja, P., 3Garcia, E.S. 3, 1DaMatta, R.A., 1SantAnna, N.F.1Centro de Biocincias e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense,Rio de Janeiro, Brasil; 2Departamento de Biologia General, Universidade FederalFluminense; 3Departamento de Bioqumica e Biologia Molecular, Fundao OswaldoCruz, Rio de Janeiro. Brasil; 4FIPSE-US-Brazil International Exchange Student,Cruz, Rio de Janeiro. Brasil; FIPSE-US-Brazil International Exchange Student,Universidad del Este, Carolina, Puerto Rico

WASTEWATER TREATMENT FROM A SHRIMP OPERATION AND GENERATIONOF BIOMASS TO FEED PACIFIC WHITE SHRIMP LITOPENEUS VANNAMEI

1Santaella, S.T.,

1Leito, R.C.,

1Nunes, A.J.P.,

1Neto, H.S., and

1,2Lima, H.N.

1Instituto

de Cincias do Mar, LABOMAR, Universidade Federal do Cear, Fortaleza, Cear,Brazil,

2FIPSE-US-Brazil International Exchange Student, Universidad del Este,

Carolina, Puerto Rico

46thJunior Technical MeetingMarch 12, 2011

San Juan, Puerto Rico

STUDENT RESEARCH PROJECTS - UMET

1. Metals (Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe and Pb) in the seagrass Halodule writii in the San Juan Bay Estuary Ecosystem

2. Heavy Metals (Pb, Mn, Cr, Zn) in sands at the San Juan Bay Estuary Ecosystem

3. Distribution of Heavy Metals in Bottom Sediments in the San Juan Bay Estuary Ecosystem

4. Forest Structure and Biomass in a Red Mangrove Stand at the San Juan Bay Estuary EcosystemSan Juan Bay Estuary Ecosystem

STUDENT RESEARCH PROJECTS - UNE

Assessment of Enterococcus spp. distribution, genetic diversity and antibiotic susceptibility/resistance patterns in Puerto Ricos coastal waters. Mentor Dr. Nydia Rodriguez

MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Strengthening of the Offices of the Vice Chancellors

for International, Federal and Corporate Affairs at

each institution.

48 students from PR to Brazil.

47 students from Brazil to PR. 47 students from Brazil to PR.

100% language proficiency.

Portuguese instruction

8 graduate courses has been actualized with an

international dimension.

MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Integration of other funding opportunities (NSF,

Fulbright).

A long-term core research agenda on wetland

ecosystems for the university consortia.

A project web site (http://wetlandnetwork.wetpaint.com).

The web site includes project information, the The web site includes project information, the

partners, the professors and research areas, the

publications and the wetlands located in each place.

Student Exchange Manual & Procedures http://www.suagm.edu/umet/con_vicerrectoria_asuntos_internacionale

s_corporativos_mision_vision.asp

QUESTIONS?