Higher Education Challenge Grant: University of Missouri, Oregon State University and Pennsylvania State University

1. Higher Education Challenge Grant: University of Missouri, Oregon State University and Pennsylvania State University International Comparative Rural Policy Studies (ICRPS) Consortium of universities and research institutes: Canada, Europe, Mexico & US • Objectives • Create a cadre of analysts who think comparatively about rural policy • Understand the influence of history, culture and political philosophy on rural policy • Varying approaches to address rural issues and their comparative outcomes • Create an international network of colleagues who use social networking to stay in touch • Summer institute for graduate students (2010-2012) • The institutes have focused on sustainability in the US, Norway and Canada • 34 US Citizens and 5 international students from US universities • 6 US faculty members • US students interacted with approximately 75 students from other countries and 20 faculty members, researchers and international agencies • Worked in approximately 15 communities in 3 countries • Pedagogy • Co-learning: student-student, professor-student, student-professor and professor-professor • Co-learning: Communities to students and students to communities • Interdisciplinary faculty and students • Offer a variety of opportunities and teaching approaches • Summer institute • On-line courses • Internships • Book on-line • Model behavior: 2nd year students present research and are peer mentors • Held in a different country each year to provide an opportunity to learn about some aspect of a country in depth • Each university uses its standards to give credit to its students • Outcomes • Published manuscript of case studies from the 2011 program in Norway • Many participants are still in school • "I did not realize at the time just how much the experience would teach me, primarily about what is different and the same in rural contexts across the world. This thinking is critical to both realize what policies can be applied from other countries' contexts and to recognize the limitations of their applications and the need for something new. I am constantly reminded how rare a comparative perspective is and how much it is needed.“ • Online courses • Research Methods • Public Policy Theory • Comparative Environmental Policy and Politics • Current Issues in Rural Policy • Graduate student internships and research • Students write a comparative research proposal or a research paper • 2nd year students present their research • Gain experience in comparative analysis through an international internship • 10 internships with examples of topics: • Italy—comparison of broadband access as a factor in land values • Mexico—migration between Mexico and Canada • Norway—migration policy • Canada—nuclear waste management activism, local foods • Outcomes: • 246 students • Enrollment is increasing • Outcomes: • Research: 2 theses completed, 2 theses in progress and research papers • “During my ICRPS internship, I explored the ways in which community groups engaged in contentious politics, specifically around proposed nuclear waste storage facilities. This opportunity allowed me to better understand the unique methods that Canadian and American groups use to engage with policy, in addition to giving me a glimpse into relationships between rural and urban communities with respect to energy development and waste storage. “ • Yes, it is a lot of work, but the faculty also gain a lot • Put inquisitive graduate students together and magic happens • Faculty learn about recent policy thinking and policy changes from each other, which is used in classes and in our research • Helps recruit students • Comparative and joint research projects—8 papers published Judith I. Stallmann, Maria Augusta Figueroa-Armijos, Thomas G. Johnson (University of Missouri) and Brent Steel (Oregon State University)