Collaborating Institution
Oregon State University
Marion McNamara

Cooperating Institutions
Central Luzon State University
Remedios Bolivar

Secretaría de Agricultura y Ganadería, Republic of Honduras
Marco Polo Micheletti Bain

Objectives

1) To build aquacultural research capacity in CRSP host countries.
2) To increase local capacity to direct and manage research programs.
3) To improve communication between research station and extension personnel in CRSP host countries.

Significance
Allocation of sufficient human and financial resources to research and development for improved management is critical to the future of fisheries and aquaculture. US and host country CRSP researchers in Honduras and Philippines agree that the lack of university training inhibits the development of host country aquaculture research programs. As the CRSP moves away from a development model that relies on US expatriates to provide leadership in developing and implementing the research program, it becomes increasingly important to provide opportunities for higher education and training to develop host country capacities to continue the work beyond the life of the CRSP. This activity proposes to support graduate level studies for host country personnel.

Anticipated Benefits
The proposed activity is anticipated to have the following benefits:

1) Improve the knowledge, skills, and abilities of CRSP Host Country researchers to conduct aquaculture research and to communicate results to extension personnel.
2) Increase the cadre of professionals trained to design and implement an aquaculture research program.
3) Improve the long-term sustainability of aquaculture in Honduras and Philippines.

Activity Plan
Masters level students will be supported in Honduras. In the Philippines, masters and doctoral students will receive thesis support stipends for topics related to CRSP research. In each country, an Education Advisory Panel will work with the EDC Coordinator and the US and Host Country PIs to establish the highest priority research area, to recommend most appropriate institutional placement, and to develop criteria for selection of candidates for financial support. Training may take place at appropriate regional or host country institutions of higher learning, or at US institutions, if appropriate. If possible, the US PI and/or HC PI will serve on the sponsored student’s graduate committee. The student’s research project will address constraints to aquaculture in her/his home country, and research will be conducted in the home country. The EDC will coordinate admission to US universities, and will be responsible for collecting participant data.

The Honduras Advisory Panel has recommended supporting a masters level student at Auburn University. The process of candidate selection will begin in the spring of 1998, and the student will begin studies in the spring of 1999. (Note: funding for three-fourths of this activity was included in the Eighth Work Plan.) The Philippines Advisory Panel will be formed during this work plan time period. Initial input from the PIs on the Philippines project suggests that sufficient in-country educational resources exist to provide most of the degree programs needed to prepare students to assume responsibility for aquaculture research in their countries; thus the EDC may be able to support students attending local or regional universities. In the Philippines, masters and Ph.D. students (total of three per year) will receive stipends to support their research on CRSP-related topics.

Schedule

Report Submissions
Students will submit their academic enrollment and quarterly progress reports signed by their professor to the EDC. The EDC will report student progress to the PMO in quarterly and annual reports.

* As of the time of printing, the PMO has approved this investigation for funding, but the formal subcontract for work is still in process.

Collaborating Institution
Oregon State University
Marion McNamara

Cooperating Institutions
Central Luzon State University
Remedios Bolivar

Secretaría de Agricultura y Ganadería, Republic of Honduras
Marco Polo Micheletti Bain

Objective
To establish an Education Advisory Committee in each region in which the CRSP works.

Significance
Training and education resources can be optimized by supporting the most appropriate training activities in each region. Government agencies, producers’ groups, educational institutions, and NGOs have a stake in the success of aquaculture in each country, and can provide a valuable perspective in determining the training and education priorities for their region. By inviting participation from the stakeholders in the planning stage, the EDC can foster collaboration in the implementation of training activities at each site. Such collaborative efforts will increase chances for the activities success, and will help create a support system for future education and training efforts undertaken by any of the cooperating institutions.

Activity Plan
Education Advisory Panels in each country will consist of the US and Host Country PIs and representatives of institutions that have a stake in aquaculture development in the country or region. The panel will provide guidance to the EDC Coordinator in establishing long-term training and education goals for the country or region. The EDC Coordinator will meet with the panel to discuss long-term goals and strategies for reaching these goals. The EDC coordinator will prepare a written report to the panel outlining the agreed-upon goals and suggesting activities to be undertaken to meet these goals. Panel members will provide evaluative feedback to the EDC Coordinator on the outcomes of training and education activities undertaken. The establishment of these advisory panels will be staged, beginning with Honduras (established in 1997), then the Philippines.

Schedule

Reports
The EDC will provide a report to the committee and to the PMO within 30 days of the initial meeting and within 30 days of each subsequent meeting.

* As of the time of printing, the PMO has approved this investigation for funding, but the formal subcontract for work is still in process.