Canadian University Projects in International Development Database (CUPID)

Americas

Chile

• Strengthening a Centre for Sustainable Rural Development in Chile
• Programme pour les coopératives
• Mollusc Aquaculture Enhancement in Chile
• Training for Regional Sustainable Development
• Rural Community Water Conservation
• Renforcement des capacités en intervention auprès des enfants et des adolescents

Strengthening a Centre for Sustainable Rural Development in Chile

Project purpose:
This project will strengthen the recently created Centre for Sustainable Development at the Catholic University of Temuco in Chile through, among other things, the development of a postgraduate diploma and the redesign of a master's program in sustainable rural development (SRD). Both programs are offered via distance education to rural development professionals in Chile and other parts of Latin America. The partners work with relevant non-governmental organizations to develop viable solutions directed at impoverished sectors.

Key results to date:
The distance education postgraduate diploma in Sustainable Rural development has made strong progress and 13 students are presently advancing through the diploma program. While the status of the Master's Program has changed (the Master's program will see continuity in another Chilean institution, thus securing continuity and sustainability of results), the clear majority of current students have had their theses approved and are expected to graduate. Considerable advances in the institutionalization of CDS within the Catholic University have been made, including the restoration of the Centre's physical space and secretarial support. Curriculum improvement and research and faculty capacity have been advanced via workshops and conferences, new multidisciplinary projects, and international faculty visits and academic exchange. The project has also brought about the consolidation of the Rural and Community Development Group (RCDG) at York University, which provided young scholars with a forum in which to present their research for commentary and debate in an interdisciplinary environment. The RCDG in turn evolved into the University Consortium on the Global South, an association of departments and institutions at York University designed to create spaces for public debate on issues confronting the Global South.

Renforcement des capacités en intervention auprès des enfants et des adolescents

Project purpose:
The objective of the project is to strengthen the capacity to assist children and adolescents with psycho-social adaptation problems in Chile's Araucania region by increasing the intervention abilities of the Universidad de la Frontera and other organizations working in this field.

Key results to date:
The Universidad de la Frontera (UFRO) has established and is now independently delivering a technical training program on psychoeducation officially recognized by the Chilean Ministry of Education. To date, 25 students have graduated of which 24 are working in relevant regional organizations. The UFRO offers two optional specialized training courses in psychoeducation in the context of its degree program in psychology. Since 2008, the UFRO has put in place a diploma program to train additional teachers. This degree program targets workers and professionals intervening with youth, In addition, the UFRO delivered an introduction to psychoeducation and intervention to 33 boarding school supervisors. The new national youth responsibility legislation has created a heavy demand by national organizations interested in UFRO's basic training sessions to help them conform to this legislation. A number of organizations are collaborating on the project, including the Fundación Tierra de Esperanza in Chile and the National Youth Service.

Mollusc Aquaculture Enhancement in Chile

Project purpose:
The project assisted in the development of mollusc aquaculture in Chile by enhancing the development-related research, education and community extension capabilities of the Universidad Austral de Chile (UACh) and its Institute of Marine Biology (IBM).

Key results to date:
The main results of the project included enhanced mollusc biology skills among IBM scientists, graduate and undergraduate students and increased attraction of internal and external funding to sustain projects and other research initiatives. This has helped bring the IBM into a position of leadership within the Chilean aquaculture/marine biology community. In addition, under the project a significant mollusc aquaculture extension training program was developed and implemented with rural fisher cooperatives on Chiloé Island. As a result, a women's cooperative and a mixed-gender cooperative were able to start and operate their own mollusc operations and to diversify from other declining resource use activities. Media, such as a Web site, videos, CD ROMs, booklets and posters, on various aspects of mollusc aquaculture were developed and used in community training initiatives and to provide information to undergraduate students, teachers and school children.

Rural Community Water Conservation

Project purpose:
The purpose of the project is to increase the capacity of the Universidad de la Serena (ULS) to educate, train and enhance awareness among communities, government agencies and regional industries in water resource conservation and management to address inequities in water distribution to the rural poor.

Key results to date:
Four online training courses and several training seminars on community water conservation, climate change, institutional frameworks, and women's participation were delivered at the Universidad de la Serena (ULS), with 587 ULS students trained in water conservation and management. The ULS staff implemented two baseline assessments in the three municipalities of the project to contextualize rural water issues. Numerous seminars, workshops, and public talks were organized for government staff, water users, and rural community residents, with 1,696 people attending these activities on watershed management and conservation. In this process, the project contributed to the development of a regional network on water issues, and developed a website, as well as a variety of educational material for schools and the general public.

Programme pour les coopératives

Project purpose:
The objective is to enable members, directors and managers of community organizations and cooperatives in Chile to meet current economic and community challenges through improved management so that cooperatives can fully play their economic role in national and international markets, and to introduce contemporary cooperative tools to maximize their democratic dynamic.

Key results to date:
This project has helped to revive and implement a locally adapted and sustainable university program in cooperativism in Chile. The Universidad de Chile now delivers a master's degree in strategic management of cooperatives and other associations, as well as a customized master's degree in local economic development. Approximately 3,500 students, members, employees and managers of cooperatives and associations, government officials, leaders and social workers have been trained. The project also led to the creation of more than 40 service cooperatives in schools managed by students in primary and secondary schools and in four universities across the country. The project ended with discussions about future collaboration between representatives of cooperatives from the Mapuche and Aymara indigenous communities of Chile and the Inuits of northern Quebec. The project's achievements will enable the cooperative sector in Chile to offer better services and products and to be a recognized economic player both in Chile and internationally.

Training for Regional Sustainable Development

Project purpose:
To help their regions address the pressing problems associated with environmental deterioration and poverty, the Universidad de la Serena in Chile and the Universidad Nacional Autónoma in Costa Rica, in collaboration with the University of Regina, worked to strengthen their capacities to provide leadership in regional sustainable development in the areas of teaching, training, research, information management, institutional assessment and project management.

Key results to date:
All of the training of the two partner university teams in sustainable development concepts and methods, research methods, information systems and institutional assessment has been completed. The two teams have also finished their work related to the information system, field research and institutional assessments, and have experienced significant success in the organization and delivery of their training programs.