About Us
This is the Web site of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Association for International Development (UWRF-AID). This Association consists of approximately 60 UWRF faculty, staff, and emeriti faculty who represent every college on campus (Arts and Sciences; Business and Economics; Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences; and Education and Professional Studies), as well as various campus programs, institutes, and offices. Our objective is to bring together faculty, staff, and emeriti faculty who are interested in collaborating with each other about their various professional interests and activities involving the developing countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and Eastern Europe. These activities include research, consulting, faculty-exchange, curricular advance, best-practices, shared resources, and other faculty-led educational initiatives. For more information about the members of this Association, please go to Members
Our Background
In the summer of 2000, a group of 80 interdisciplinary UWRF faculty, staff, and emeriti faculty with compelling interests in international development met for the First Annual Workshop on International Development. The workshop was a hit! Energized by a common purpose, the group united to form an Association for International Development, and has continued to communicate and collaborate on topics of international research, projects, travel, curricular advance, and others ever since. Along with education, our goal is the development of countries of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Upcoming activities include international Education Week (November 16-20, 2009), our Brown Bag Lunch Seminar series, and our Video Series. We also co-sponsored the World Food Day on October 16, 2009. For more information about any of these activities, please contact Jackie Brux.
Our Mission
The Association for International Development is a faculty-driven alliance that will serve as a catalyst and forum for UWRF and regional faculty, staff, and emeriti faculty collaboration on issues and activities that focus on the developing countries of the world. Our broad purpose is to enhance international education in this field and ultimately to improve the economic, social, and ecological living conditions in developing countries.
Our Core Values
- Global Education: We will bring together UWRF faculty and staff to enhance education and research involving the developing countries of Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
- Collaboration: We will collaborate on activities that include research, consulting, faculty-exchange, curriculum, best-practices, grant-writing, shared resources, and other education initiatives.
- Partnership: We will partner with students, alumni, and community members; as well as faculty in the UW-System and Twin City Metropolitan area educational institutions, in order to enhance our mutual objectives.
Invitation
We invite others of like mind to join our Association, especially faculty in institutions of higher learning in the University of Wisconsin System and the Twin Cities Metropolitan area. A broader membership will enable greater collaboration and mutual support for activities throughout the region. If you would like to join our Association and be part of our list-serve, please go to the LIST-SERVE and follow the directions there. All members are welcome to post messages pertaining to conferences, events, presentations, study abroad programs, grants, consulting opportunities, resources, research, and other items relating to the development of developing countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and Eastern Europe.
Curricular Resources
One major project has been the purchase of almost $5,000 worth of videos and DVDs focusing on Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Curricular material was also prepared for most of these videos, and consists of faculty summaries and feedback, a list of student questions for discussion, and a list of answers to the questions for discussion for each video. For access to the videos and curricular material, please go to the UWRF Library website. The videos and material are available to faculty at UWRF and those of other regional institutions. The Association continues to write grants to support the on-going purchase of additional videos/DVDs.
Past Events
Our most recent workshop was held on September 11, 2009. Please see the link to the minutes of the 2009 workshop. The minutes of the 2008 workshop are available here.
