TWO MODELS FOR STUDENT ENGAGEMENT IN RESEARCH WITHIN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Over the past decade, several distinct models for student involvement in projects concerning groundwater resources in developing countries have been studied and applied through the University of Notre Dame in the countries of Haiti and Benin. Two of these models (REU or Research Experience for Undergraduates, and LTR or Long-Term Research) are focused predominantly on providing U.S. undergraduate students with international research experiences. The REU model provides opportunities for students from multiple universities in the U.S. to join forces for a single summer working on a research project (defined by a faculty advisor) within a developing country. Due to time constraints, the students tend to see only a portion of the research project and have limited opportunity to work with in-country partners. However, they receive an extremely focused research experience. The LTR model provides opportunities for students at a single university to spend approximately 18 months on a single project with opportunities for extensive interaction with in-country partners and strong, collaborative field experiences. Challenges with this model include the lack of interaction with U.S. students from other universities and the significant time commitment required of the individual student. Assessment of these two models demonstrates a number of commonalities, including preferential attraction of these opportunities to women and significant interest in the international experience. The LTR model appears to present additional advantages and challenges. In terms of advantages, the LTR model provides greater experience in combining technical research with service-learning, as well as opportunities for collaboration with in-country peers. However, the extended time commitment of the LTR has proven to be a challenge, particularly to engineering students with interest in industry internships. Both models appear to provide exceptional international experiences for the students.