GSIPM

This J-term, the DPMI program ran its first training in Cairo in 5 years, re-invoking a longstanding partnership with the American University of Cairo (AUC).  MIIS and Middlebury College students joined a cohort of Master’s students at the AUC’s New Cairo campus to participate in a three week training, complete with site visits, alumni events, and trips to local NGOs.  MIIS and AUC are hopeful the program will continue to run in years to come, with the possible addition of an internship component.

Read the full story on the AUC site.

For the summer of 2017, the AASD is seeking 12 students to participate in an 8-week intensive summer research practicum. These students will be split into two teams, each pursuing a unique research opportunity. One team will be working with the local government Office of Economic Development; the other team will make policy recommendations to institutions interested in scaling local community development projects. While these teams will be dedicated to separate projects, all students will participate in a common curriculum of research methods training, development theory and practice, and cross-sectoral collaboration.

Research Topics

Education and Agriculture: An Exploration of School Garden Projects in High-Altitude Communities

The AASD has extensive experience implementing school garden projects. An important factor in these projects is the diverse climates and social structures throughout Peru, which present unique obstacles and considerations. In this investigation, students would explore specific intricacies of implementing successful school gardens, and create a deliverable to convey their findings. The AASD has worked on school garden projects with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), Qali Warma (National School Lunch Program), and the local Department of Education Administration. These local and national actors represent potential collaborators in this research.

Supporting Development Through Local Government: Challenges & Opportunities

The Office of Economic Development has numerous projects throughout the Sacred Valley and surrounding areas. These projects largely involve capacity building and resource development across many industries, including a coffee growers initiative, guinea pig farming, and flower production. In this project, students will conduct a diagnostic of the various projects housed in the Office of Economic Development. By creating a comprehensive inventory of these projects, challenges, and opportunities the AASD will work with the Calca government to identify a significant point of intervention to be explored in future iterations of the project.

Student Experience  

The context of the Sacred Valley provides a rich environment for students to learn about development, while also enjoying the beauty of the Inca Breadbasket. Students will have ample opportunity to explore the many ruins and tourist attractions in the valley, but will also have a unique experience visiting and learning from local communities that are off the beaten track. Students will advance their Spanish language skills through practical application, and will be immersed in Peruvian culture throughout their time in the program.

As members of a research team, students will participate in a complete iteration of a research project, from initial client engagement through deliverable creation and delivery. The first weeks of the program will focus on building local context, research design, and methods training. Students will gain experience in field research, data interpretation, and partner engagement.

In addition to the skills-based curriculum, the practicum offers a holistic learning experience that incorporates a strong academic component. Students will utilize advanced critical thinking skills and observations from their work in the communities to explore the complexities and challenges of community development. Exposure to diverse realities and development lenses will help students to develop a global perspective, as well as providing a reflection point for personal exploration and learning.

Student Qualifications

The AASD is seeking students with diverse academic backgrounds, including: Geography, Latin American Studies, Food Studies, Environmental Studies, Agriculture, International and Global Studies, or Sociology and Anthropology. Students from all departments are encouraged to apply, however preference will be given to students who represent the listed fields. Ideal candidates have a desire to learn about research methods and process, and are conversational in Spanish.

Program Dates: June 5- July 28

Cost per Student: $4,400

Application Process

 Interested students should submit a resume (cover letter optional), and a statement of purpose to gaelen@alianzaandina.org. Candidates who are a good fit for the program will be contacted to schedule an interview. We will contact all priority submission applicants by February 3^rd (we will do our best to get back to you within one week of your submission), and all second phase applicants by April 7^th.

Deadlines:

Priority deadline: January 31, 2016

Final deadline: March 31, 2017

Guidelines for Statement of Purpose:

Your one-page statement of purpose should address the following points:

1. Why would you like to participate the AASD Summer Research Practicum? Why is this important and what are you hoping to get out of your experience?
2. How will your participation in the AASD Summer Research Practicum support your professional goals?

Your Statement of Purpose should be forward looking. While it is ok to draw on past experience for examples, we prefer that past experience and qualifications come through in your resume and (optional) cover letter.

Thank you for your interest in the AASD Summer Research Practicum- we look forward to hearing from you!

Questions: gaelen@alianzaandina.org

On November 15, 2016, Dr. Lubomir Sklena from Czech Technical University (CTU), Prague met with MIIS students who will spending their J-term in Prague attending lectures at the Department of Nuclear Reactors at the CTU, conduct experiments on the research reactors, and go on the site visits.

Under the International Organizations and Nonproliferation Program (IONP), CTU will be hosting one MIIS student in the Spring 2017.

(Photo: Dr. Sklena with MIIS Students)

For more information on Czech Republic J-Term visit our website.

Every semester we offer weekend workshops to our graduate students on a wide variety of topics from Development Practice and Policy, Frontier Market Scouts, Intercultural Competence , International Education Management, International Environmental  Policy, International Professional Services to International Trade & Economic Diplomacy and Nonproliferation & Terrorism Studies.

The Professional Development Weekend Workshops are also open to interested professionals, community members, and students and faculty from other institutions. Access the Sring 2017 workshop listing. For inquiries, please contact: professional.dev@miis.edu.

Apply for a weekend workshop.

Search weekend workshop descriptions in our course catalog.

Upcoming Career Exploration Chats (First Two Thursday Evenings in November!)

Designed for spring IPSS and DPMI Plus fellows; Open to all students

What: “Pursuing a career in the US Federal government and internship opportunities at the Naval Post-graduate School”

Who: Nicholas Tomb (MIIS IPS ’01) is the Program Manager for the Africa Program at the Center for Civil-Military Relations (CCMR) at the US Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) and Captain Tim Doorey, USN (Ret.), Maritime Security Program Manager, CCMR, NPS

When: Thursday, November 3 from 6-7:30pm

Where: Digital Learning Commons (DLC) Design Space

Background on NPS Department: CCMR functions like an “executive training” center for the US military. They train hundreds of civilian and military staff from around the world every year. Full and part-time unpaid internships are available in this department at NPS this fall and spring. Positions would include research and the development of cases for the trainings as well as preparation and implementation of training programs. Students have the opportunity to attend the courses as part of the internship (wonderful opportunity!). Please see attached documents to learn about one of the many CCMR programs (Maritime Security) and an upcoming December training students are invited to sit-in on if they are considering a spring internship with NPS. International students are eligible.

This session will explore the following questions:

• How did you pursue a Federal government job after MIIS? What steps did you take?
• What are the pros and cons to working in the Federal government? What personality types succeed?
• What skills and experience are most beneficial for government job applications?
• Which agencies seem to be hiring the most in recent years?
• Which agencies have the most favorable work environments and why?
• How does career advancement work in the government?
• How can US and international students apply to internship positions with CCMR at NPS?

Save the Date

What: “Navigating the United Nations System”

Who: –Scott Pulizzi (MIIS MPA ’98) senior consultant at UNESCO and former project director at EDC and

–Elizabeth Wanic former UN Secretariat staffer and UNOCHA and UNDPKO staff member in Syria, Mali, and the Central African Republic

When: Thursday, November 10 from 6-7:30pm

Where: Digital Learning Commons (DLC) Design Space

Both events will include wine and cheese.

Please RSVP for one or both events here.

For more information email Carolyn Meyer at cmeyer@miis.edu or call 831-647-6417.

Members of the MIIS community are invited to join Profs. Yuwei Shi and Sandra Dow in spending time with and learning from an exceptional group of social innovators who will be on campus on Friday, November 4^th for the J.M.K Innovation Prize. The founders of the following award-winning nonprofits/social enterprises will be in attendance:

• Advancing Real Change, Inc.: Using state-of-the-art investigative tools and methods, legal defense teams can highlight an offender’s life history, reducing severe sentences and reshaping a retributive criminal justice system.
• Bay2Tray / Real Good Fish: Bringing local fish into schools proves a powerful way to cultivate the next generation of ocean stewards, while promoting sustainable seafood and supporting a community’s fishing industry. Founded by MIIS alum Alan Lovewell.
• Behold! New Lebanon: A model for activating human resources in rural places, this “living museum of contemporary rural life” celebrates the inventive residents of New Lebanon, New York while engaging every sector of the town.
• org: To advance worker well-being, Coworker.org harnesses online tools to advocate for freelancers, independent contractors, and others in today’s gig-based workforce.
• Essie Justice Group: This peer-support program’s “healing to advocacy” agenda empowers women with incarcerated loved ones to push for social and policy reform, while boosting their economic resilience.
• Growing Veterans: Through a unique blend of peer mentoring, community farming, and “dirt therapy,” Growing Veterans uses sustainable agriculture as a catalyst for ending veteran isolation.
• Land Art Generator Initiative: A series of large-scale public art installations seeks to transform unloved clean-energy infrastructure into wildly inspiring cultural and economic assets.
• ScholarCHIPS: To break the cycle of intergenerational incarceration, ScholarCHIPS supports college students in the Washington, D.C. area who are among the millions of children with incarcerated parents.

From 11:00am – 12:30pm, we’ll break into groups to think through how emerging mega-trends (e.g., growing inequality) will impact the future of these and other mission-driven organizations.  From 12:30pm – 2:00pm, participants are invited to join a celebratory end-of-week picnic catered by Alan Lovewell’s organization featuring – what else? – sustainably sourced fish!

Space is limited.  Please complete this form to register.  Additional logistical details will be emailed to those who register.

We hope you can join us for this special opportunity!

Information Session:

East Asia Seminar and Spring Break Immersive Trip to Tokyo and Beijing

The immersive trip (March 18-26) is an integral part of the semester-long seminar “Foreign Policy, Trade, and Security in East Asia,” taught by Professors Akaha and Liang (GSIPM) in the spring of 2017. Everyone who wants to join the trip is required to register either for 4 credits (preferable) or for audit.

When: Thursday, October 13th at 12:00pm

Where: Casa Fuente 434

Professor Fredric Kropp

After 17 years, Professor Fredric Kropp will be ending his tenure here at the Middlebury Institute. As fall 2016 will serve as his last semester, the Graduate School of International Policy and Management recently interviewed Kropp to discuss and reflect upon his time in academia.

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1. What was it that first brought you to the Middlebury Institute?

My wife and I were living in Australia, and we decided we wanted to come back to the States. I had never heard of the Monterey Institute. So, I did some research on it, and it looked like a pretty interesting place to be. I like the international viewpoint of the students and the faculty, and it was Monterey and the students themselves that were really interesting.

2. And how long have you been here?

I’m starting my 18th year. It was a different place back then.

3. What has been the most rewarding aspect of your teaching here?

The things that I’ve done since I’ve been here besides teaching is research. I was president of the faculty senate. I was co-chair of the faculty evaluation committee, and I was chair of the Fisher International MBA program. Typically, I’ve taught about five courses a year, and I really enjoy the interaction with students. Again, it goes back to the worldview and the sophistication of the students.

When I first came here, I was doing research on marketing, cross cultural impacts, advertising, and over time I’ve gone from that to social marketing to entrepreneurship to social entrepreneurship… I have counted it up and I think I’ve had about 32 refereed journal articles since I’ve been here, probably 60 or so conference presentations and eight or nine book chapters. I looked today (on Google Scholar), and since 2011, my papers have been cited over a thousand times. So, that’s really been satisfying to me to know that I made a contribution to the academic literature.

3. How have you incorporated your extensive professional experience into the classroom? Any specific ways or methods?

Well, pretty much everything I do informs my teaching. Research certainly informs my teaching, but I’m a strong believer in immersive learning, and almost all of my courses are project based. So, typically I’ll run projects with about four or five students each. So, if there are 20 students in the class, it will be about four or five projects. They’ll be with existing firms or social ventures or social entrepreneurs in the community both near and afar.

So, if it’s my social entrepreneur class, I work with social entrepreneurs and the students act almost as a consulting team to the entrepreneur. They get immersed in their lives, they understand what it is to be an entrepreneur and they help them solve problems.

If it’s a marketing class, then it will have marketing projects. Last semester, we did [one] for a local entrepreneur in Salinas who, a number of years ago, was [Monterey County’s] Entrepreneur of the Year. Those are just a couple of examples. For the social entrepreneurship we are always working with social entrepreneurs…

4. How have you seen social entrepreneurship develop throughout your career?

It’s really an interesting thing because it’s been going on for decades. I think they look back and see Clara Barton, one of the founders of the Red Cross, as a social entrepreneur. But, as a discipline, it didn’t really start getting named until about 20 years ago and it’s only over the last ten years that people start to know it and understand it [well].

But when I’m talking to other people, and I say I work in social entrepreneurship, the most common question I get is, “What’s that?” So, in graduate schools and education, it’s getting better known, but outside it’s still thought of as maybe charities or people doing good stuff. The field has really taken off, and it uses business approaches, in particular entrepreneurial approaches, to solve social problems.

5. How has MIIS evolved on a whole since you began your tenure?

One of the accomplishments that I’m proud of while being the MBA chair was to develop and implement the joint degrees. Before I was the chair, we had something called dual degrees where people could take an MBA and they could take an IEP or another degree and kind of combine them. You got enough credit that instead of doing it in 3 years you could do it in 2 years. What we really wanted to do was develop the synergies between the programs.  So, we developed an integrated MBA/IPD or IEP, and now there’s a map for students to get through in five semesters.

So, I personally developed a course in social entrepreneurship, and it was my desire to have it be open to students of any degree. It wasn’t just in MBA. I think I’ve had students from [almost] every degree program.

MIIS is really focused on solving social problems, and it’s something that we’ve done and it’s something that attracted me here. Now, I think it may be more purposeful as part of the curriculum and also more purposeful in terms of internships and intensive activities, immersion activities to which Frontier Market Scouts is an example. It’s a wonderful program. I actually sat through it a number of years ago and sat through all the classes to see what our students were getting. They were able to get three extra credits by doing an intensive research program. If I were wearing a hat, I would take it off to CSIL. Everybody over there has done a wonderful job. That has been a tremendous focus for social entrepreneurship and helping the community.

6. When you look at MIIS as a whole and your time here, what has been your biggest challenge here?

Becoming part of Middlebury has been wonderful. People have asked me how that’s gone and I say on a scale from 1 to 10, it’s probably 11. It’s been great being part of somebody that understands us. And who supports us and who really is not just a fan of what we’re doing, but an advocate.

On a personal level I think that there’s just so much more that I’d want to do… A few years ago, I tried to start a Latino entrepreneurship program, and I had really good emotional support but no financial support, no bandwidth. So, I can remember talking to one of our presidents and I said I really want to do this and they said, “Can you do this and teach all of your courses?” I said, “No.” So, we had to put the Latino entrepreneurship on a back burner. I wish I were more people, [but] that’s a little psychotic (Kropp laughs).

7. What is your biggest success? Or what do you get the most satisfaction out of?

Success is such an amorphous concept. I like mentoring students, and I have some lifelong relationships with students. In fact I’ve even performed wedding ceremonies for students. The bond with students, that’s great for me… helping them after they’re out of here.

8. What are your hopes for MIIS’ future?

When MIIS was becoming a part of Middlebury, there was a lot of concern on the part of students, and what I would say was “I’m willing to bet you 100 bucks that you’re degree is going to be worth more in ten years than it is now.” I didn’t get any takers. But I think [I] would have made a lot of money on that, and Middlebury is an astounding entity. I think of Middlebury College as one of the finest liberal arts schools in the country, but it’s now more than Middlebury College, it’s the Middlebury Universe. I think it’s going to bring excellence and continued excellence. So, what I would see in the next decade or two or three is that we will continue to be innovative, and we’ll continue to be world class. If anything we’ll get even stronger.

9. Due to retirement, this will be your last semester. Any immediate plans?

Lots of plans! I’ve been named a Fulbright scholar, and I will be in Ireland from February [2017] to May [2017] of next year doing research on social entrepreneurship. I have a position at the University of Adelaide in Australia. It’s a research position, and the title is “University Professorial Research Fellow.” Sounds pompous, but I guess I’m a jolly good fellow (Kropp laughs).

I go there three times a year. I work with faculty there on their research, and I work with doctoral students. I’ve supervised a couple and advised a number [of them]. So, I’ll continue doing that, and there are potential opportunities in Costa Rica and in France.

10. Is there anything you would like to leave off with?

I love this place. I hope to be emeritus after I retire. I live about seven, eight minutes away from here. So, I hope to be a presence on campus for a number of years to come.

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We here at GSIPM would like to thank Professor Kropp for his dedication and selfless service throughout the years. His expertise and passion for the forward progress of students and the Institute on a whole will be missed. We wish him well on his future endeavors and congratulate him on his Fulbright appointment.

Prof. Yuwei Shi is back from a year-long sabbatical at Semester at Sea and Shanghai University (SUFE) where he taught two social entrepreneurship classes through Semester at Sea. Through these classes he was able to recruit 21 teams of students, faculty and staff to compete in a Social Venture Challenge. Several “life-long learners” aboard the ship served as mentors and judges, and teams competed for $5,000 in prize money. “Everyone was dedicated. They were meeting with students all the time,” explains Yuwei. After a 103 day journey (48 days at sea), three winners were declared and Yuwei was off to his second sabbatical project, in his hometown of Shanghai.

Yuwei describes the higher education sector in China as “reaching a tipping point. Parents are not happy with the [Chinese] schools and are sending their children abroad.” As part of the government’s economic reforms, 13 universities in China have been selected to experiment with liberalization. As a result, Shanghai University created a new finance school called “The Model School for Globalization”. “It’s an exciting time in China,” Yuwei explains. “Because these experiments are government-backed, the ideas will not just stay on paper.”

Cue Yuwei’s consultancy at SUFE, where Yuwei primarily conducted design thinking sessions. Working with university officials, members of McKinsey and Co. and Ashoka’s European arm, he explored what students need to know in the world of finance. Design thinking, championed by the Stanford D School, is a mixture of empathy mapping, stakeholder analysis, brainstorming and prototyping. A visual recorder, similar to a cartoonist, typically documents the design process. “Design thinking,” Yuwei indicates, “is a highly sought after skill, and it’s something that MIIS students learn to do in Frontier Market Scouts (FMS) and DPMI.”

Professor Shi will be back in the classroom this fall, teaching the Case Competition Prep Course, Business and Global Issues, Global Business Strategies and the Frontier Market Scouts practicum.

As soon as I heard about Design, Partnering Management and Innovation (DPMI), I knew I would apply. There was really no convincing necessary, except that I was pretty committed to joining the Washington, DC Cohort and completing the full three-week program. This was admittedly for the selfish reason of recharging on the east coast—since I’m a New Jersey native, but also to experience DC in a way that I had never experienced it before.

Being a participant in this professional certificate program in International Development and Social Change was an indelible experience. The location was perfect with parks, restaurants, metro stops and monuments nearby. The weather was beautiful and just as humid as I had expected it to be. The cohort was rich with perspective, experience, energy and creativity. The room was filled with current MIIS students, recent Middlebury graduates, Davis Scholars and practitioners from Columbia, St. Lucia, Jamaica, Haiti, Nigeria, Uganda, Liberia, Pakistan and Nepal.

After having participated in the Sprintensive pilot program, which allowed students to take courses in a block schedule over three weeks, taking these one week modules felt like muscle memory. It’s almost like I’m conditioned to work in small teams and shuffle my groups around frequently. I’m never surprised to play a new role, whether it be moderator, facilitator, analyst or visionary. I’m also less and less frustrated by the iterative nature of design work. Our modules in program design, partnership and innovation and then finally facilitation of participatory development were thoughtfully woven—from the tools we learned and utilized to the exercises and simulations we engaged in.

There were small group and large group activities throughout our engagement every day. We completed tasks and evaluated the work done by others. Timed ideation exercises in design thinking resulted in the generation of hundreds of ideas! During Week One my team designed a program that focused on malnutrition in Indonesia. During Week Two we engaged in a simulation in which my team represented IRC and we partnered with IREX and PATH to address challenges female refugees in Turkey face in accessing maternal health care. During Week Three my team developed a social marketing campaign to address primary-school aged children in Haiti reaching education milestones in both French and Haitian Creole.

My time outside the Middlebury Offices was also well spent. There were opportunities to visit such places as the World Bank and ACDI VOCA; I attended a site visit at Search for Common Ground—which happened to be one of the organizations that some cohort members represented in our week two simulations. We had the opportunity to sit with their African Program Development Associate, Africa Team Intern and the Director of Monitoring & Evaluation. I also attended a couple of different social events with the cohort, DPMI Alumni and MIIS students interning and working in DC this summer. DPMI alumni highlighted how their learning still continues to intersect with the work they are currently doing in International Development.

In the end I fully enjoyed my experience. The days were long, we hit some walls, we failed forward and we will be more competent practitioners for it.

Author: Daniele Elizaire, MPA Candidate 2017

Professor Tsuneo Akaha (GSIPM) and Professor Anna Vassilieva (GSTILE) co-authored an essay on Russia-Japan relations based on their research into the evolving relations between the two countries. The essay, “Cause for optimism in Russia-Japan relations?” has been published on the East Asia Forum, Crawford School of Economics and Government, Australian National University, July 2016. Available at: http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2016/07/19/cause-for-optimism-in-russia-japan-relations/

2016 IPSS Fellow Shen Li is currently interning in the Market Access Division of the World Trade Organization.  The WTO recently interviewed Shen for its newsletter – you can read the interview below.

Where are you from, and what did you study before joining the WTO?

I am from Beijing.  I did my Bachelor’s degree in China where I studied French.  Then I went to the US to do a Master’s degree in International Policy Studies – Trade, Investment and Development – at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey.

One of the reasons I am here as an intern is to earn academic credits for my school project.  I applied for an internship at the WTO because I am studying trade.  Also as I have studied French, Geneva is the perfect place to practise it.

When did you apply for the internship?

I have been planning the internship for a long time.  I would say that the WTO has fascinated me ever since I started to study trade two years ago.  I have always wondered what it would be like to work here.  At university, we had an international trade negotiation class where we simulated negotiations in the Doha Round, imitating the way WTO negotiations take place.  Whenever we wanted to raise some points or ask questions, we would raise a nameplate to speak.  It is amazing to find it is exactly the same here.

I submitted my application last October and I was really surprised when I received the internship offer in December.  This is my very first experience of professional life so it is a great starting point.  I am really excited and grateful to have this opportunity to learn about trade issues, the needs of developing countries and the challenges facing international trade.

You have been working in the Market Access Division since 1 February.  What kind of work have you been doing?

I am mostly working on the Trade Facilitation Agreement with Sheri Rosenow.  Last week we organized a donor event, where donor countries and international organizations introduced their programmes for helping developing countries implement the Agreement.  Once the Agreement is implemented, the international trade is going to flow much more smoothly.  So I feel like I am making a real contribution to world trade.  It’s so exciting.

In March, we had a workshop to help participants gain a better understanding of the Agreement so that their governments can ratify it sooner rather than later.  I helped to prepare the presentation and facilitated the workshop with other members of the Trade Facilitation Agreement Facility team.

How have you found life at the WTO so far?

I really like the atmosphere here because people are very open to other cultures.  Everyone in the Market Access Division is really nice.  I am also so pleased that we have a Volleyball Club at the WTO because I really love playing volleyball.  It is quite relaxing to play a game after work.  I haven’t met all the interns yet but we do have lunch together and sometimes we meet in the atrium for a coffee break and to have a chat.  It is a really nice opportunity to get to know people.

Is it your first time in Switzerland?

No, this is my second time.  As I studied French for my Bachelor’s degree, I undertook an exchange programme in Paris.  As an exchange student, I had quite a lot of holiday so I took the opportunity to travel, including to Switzerland.  I used to think that everywhere in Switzerland would be very peaceful, like it is by the lake, but after moving here I realize it is much busier than I thought.

What have you done for fun in Geneva?

I have tried a relaxing picnic by the lake with some friends.  I’ve also been to the chocolate festival, which was very interesting.  We tasted all kinds of chocolates and bought many different varieties.  It was a good way to spend the weekend.  I like Geneva because it feels very familiar here, having already lived in France for a year.  So there are not too many culture shocks and that has helped me adjust more quickly than I did in the US.

Last question: what are your plans for the future?

I think after this I will go to the US to finish my school project and graduate.  After that, I haven’t given it a lot of thought but I would welcome any opportunities involving international trade.  An international organization would be perfect but the private sector could also be interesting.

The Raechel & Jackie Foundation is looking for MIIS graduate students to work on:

A. RJF Fellowship Program Development
B. Water Resource Management Project
C. Program Monitoring & Evaluation

There is flexibility to work from Monterey, Santa Cruz, Nicaragua or a combination of the three. For students who are interested in spending part of the time in Nicaragua, there is potential for partial or full assistance to cover a homestay in one of the communities where we are working.

For more information and detailed job descriptions, click here.

If interested, join Executive Director Sooni Gillett at her information session on Thursday, April 28th at 12 pm in Morse B207.

MBA Capstone Information Session – Tuesday April 19^th, 12:15-1:30pm, MG100

Are you a current MBA, Joint MBA/IEP or Joint MBA/IPD degree candidate? Starting to think about your capstone experience next year? Wondering about how the various options work?

Please plan to join Assistant Dean/MBA Program Manager Toni Thomas for an MBA Capstone Information session. Learn the ins and outs, and timing for committing to your capstone project. All MBA candidates that will not have completed their capstone by end of spring 2016 term should plan to attend.

The Californian interviewed Middlebury Institute of International Studies alumna Lisa Brinton for her new position as Senior Planner for the City of Salinas. Ms. Brinton holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from MIIS and served for eight years as Community and Economic Services Manager for the City of Seaside before transitioning to her position with the City of Salinas. See the full interview here.

The Monterey County Weekly recently published an article on the MIIS Cyber Initiative. Check it out here!

Application Deadline: May 16, 2016

Symposium Dates: July 23-August 13

Location: Bologna, Italy

Description: New types of conflict challenge classic methods of conflict management and resolution. Collapsed and fragile states, autonomous networks of illegal activities, the speed of information, and extremist revolutionary movements are all part of the complex conflict kaleidoscope that must be addressed by the contemporary peacebuilder.

As a modern peace leader you will need a toolkit of essential practical skills, but also appropriate strategies based on a novel understanding of how civil society interacts with security reform, statebuilding, religious establishment, community, and bottom-up institutions. At the 2016 Bologna Symposium, you will go through an intensive training process with the field’s premier political leaders, academic experts, practitioners, and advocates who will challenge you to tackle this century’s most pressing issues.

As a participant, you receive an IPSI Post-Graduate Certificate in “International Conflict Management” upon successful completion of the course.  If you choose to undertake additional rigorous assignments you will earn an IPSI Post-Graduate Certificate in “International Conflict Management with Distinction.”  In addition, you may decide to apply to earn graduate-level MA course credit from The Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), one of the world’s premier graduate schools for international affairs.

Eligibility: Conflict resolution professionals, peacebuilding practitioners, negotiation students, human rights advocates.  Those with stellar academic and/or professional achievement, proven interest in peace & security, a record of leadership positions in community affairs, experience in/with government agencies, military service, and/or demonstrated ability in undertaking social entrepreneurship ventures.

Scholarship: Partial financial aid for MIIS alumni and students (-500 USD)

Standard applicants will be informed of acceptance on a rolling basis, in most cases within two weeks of submitting their applications (acceptances are merit-based and spots are limited).

Fee / Costs: 4000 USD

How to apply: https://ipsinstitute.fluidreview.com/

Official Website: http://ipsinstitute.org/bologna-2016/

Contact: amartinez@ipsinstitute.org

Interested in an International Professional Service Semester for spring 2017?  Not sure if you’re interested?  Come learn more about IPSS logistics, opportunities, and application deadlines at the info session on Thursday, March 3rd from 12 to 1 pm in Morse B105.  IEP, DPP, and NPTS students are eligible to apply.

In this proposed course, students will conduct academic research to explore the topics of trade, diplomacy, and development in China.  The field research component of the course will run from June 7th to June 28th, 2016.  Students will have the option to stay in China for another two weeks if they wish to conduct more field research on their own.

More Details

During the spring 2016 semester, students from both MIIS and Middlebury will work with three professors to develop project ideas and to design appropriate research methodologies with assistance from the Meta Lab at MIIS.  In June, the group will travel to Beijing, where top scholars will workshop their research ideas.  The group will then travel to research sites in teams consisting of at least one professor and a team of MIIS and Middlebury students.  Interpreters from the MIIS Translation and Interpretation (T&I) program will travel with each team to assist with language.  At each site, the team will conduct fieldwork using the methodologies developed on campus.  Students will have the option of incorporating their original research into an independent study project or Master’s thesis upon their return to campus in fall 2016.

Requirements & Expectations

• No language requirement, although some Mandarin would be helpful
• Spring 2016: a two-hour/week independent study section with Professor Lewis (this doesn’t have to be for credit, but does require participation)

You Will Learn

• Research design
• Methodologies like surveys, interviews, statistical modeling, archival research, etc.
• How to conduct research in the field, including adapting to field conditions and challenges
• Chinese language skills (with help from the T&I students)
• How to analyze the research you collect in the field
• How to write academic articles for publication based on your fieldwork findings

Cost

The program cost of $2,000 will include instructions, guest lectures, lodging, 2 meals per day, and field trip bus rental. It does NOT include airfare to China, local transportation, domestic travel, dinners, visa fee, or additional costs for extended stay.

How to Apply

Interested students should submit an unofficial transcript, C.V. and a one-page essay explaining why you would like to take the course, your goals for the experience, and the particular strengths, interests, and experiences you would bring to the course.  Please submit the application materials to Professor Liang (wliang@miis.edu) by FEBRUARY 29th.  For additional information, please contact Professor Liang or Professor Lewis (olewis@middlebury.edu).

Don’t miss your opportunity to participate in the 2016 Online DC Summer Internship Fair and connect directly with employers in government, public policy, international affairs, communications, and philanthropy. This event is great for those exploring opportunities in Washington DC.  The event will take place on March 1, 2016 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST).