TCD - Practitioner Experience
Practical experience is an integral component of preparing for work in the field of tropical conservation and development. The TCD Practitioner Experience Program assists students in gaining practical experience by providing funds to support short-term professional activities that complement academic training. Unlike traditional internships, TCD Practitioner Experiences require that there be a partnership between the student and the host organization. The student will learn from the host organization and actively contribute to its efforts. Sample practitioner experiences might include organizing and/or presenting a workshop with a partner organization, returning research results to a host organization and/or community, or assisting in project planning, implementation or evaluation.
Students find or develop their own practitioner experiences or, when available, TCD will place students in positions. Practitioner experiences must be related to the field of tropical conservation and development and should add a dimension to the student's training that is unavailable through UF coursework. They may take place in Latin America, the United States, or elsewhere. After the field experience, recipients are expected to complete a short written report and to share their experiences with the TCD community in an appropriate venue.
Practitioner experiences are funded on a semi-annual competitive basis. Grants average $1000 per student and only a few grants will be available each year. TCD funding can be used to cover airfare, meals, local transportation, lodging, materials, and/or MEDEX. Funding is not granted for salary, for course or conference attendance, nor for any kind of field research for a thesis or dissertation. Matching or counterpart funding is encouraged.
Applicants are advised to discuss their project idea with
a TCD faculty member prior to applying. Applications are reviewed by the
TCD Executive Committee. The TCD Practitioner Experience Program is made
possible by an endowment from the Ford Foundation.
Students proposing to return research results should attach a one-page summary of the key findings to be presented.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must be enrolled in the TCD Certificate or Concentration Program.
Application Deadlines
October 15, 2007
March 24, 2008
Application Requirements
To apply for a TCD Graduate Fellowhsip or Assistanship, submit the following materias:
-
A letter of recommendation from a faculty member. The letter should indicate the faculty member's willingness to advise and serve as a contact person for you while abroad.
-
A statement of purpose that describes the proposed practitioner experience and explains how the experience will enhance your training and how you will contribute to the organization's goals and objectives. Include background information on the host organization plus a brief summary of your previous contact with it.
-
A copy of any correspondence from the organization or a host person agreeing to your project.
- A budget of estimated expenses.
Additional supporting materials can be submitted and may be considered during the selection process. Examples include published papers or project proposals.
Sample Practitioner Experiences
Presentation of research results to a host community or organization upon completion of thesis or dissertation.
Evaluation of an environmental education program for an NGO.
Organization of a workshop on conflict resolution for staff of an NGO.
Development of a GIS framework to assist an NGO working on mapping an indigenous reserve.
Design and facilitate a workshop on gender issues in conservation and development.
Design a forest inventory workshop for a community.
Submission
Submit application materials to:
Tropical Conservation and Development Program
Center for Latin American Studies
University of Florida
358 Grinter Hall
PO Box 115531
Gainesville, FL 32611-5531
Electronic submission is encouraged. Please submit to Patricia
Sampaio.
Further Information
For further information contact Patricia Sampaio, TCD Program Coordinator:
Office: 358 Grinter Hall
Telephone: (352) 392-0375 Ext. 806
Fax: (352) 392-7682
E-mail: psampaio@latam.ufl.edu