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1 Internationalizing the Coastal Ecosystems Curriculum, FIPSE United States-Brazil Student Exchange Programs at the Ana G. Méndez University System Puerto Rico Dr. Carlos Padín, Dr. Juan C. Musa, Prof. Zaida Vega, Universidad Metropolitana (UMET); Dr. Wilfredo Colón, Universidad del Este (UNE); Dr. Angel Rivera, Universidad del Turabo (UT) Brazil Dr. Thierry R. Gasnier, Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM), Manaus; Dr. Carlos Eduardo de Rezende, Universidade Estatual Norte do Fluminense (UENF) Campos, Rio de Janeiro; Dr. Manuel Antonio de Andrade Furtado Neto, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Fortaleza, Ceará

2 US Department of Education, Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE): U.S.-Brazil Higher Education Consortia Program The program is jointly administered by the U.S. Department of Education and the Brazilian Ministry of Education. Provides grants for up to four years to consortia of at least two academic institutions each from Brazil and the United States. Fosters the exchange of students and faculty within the context of bilateral curricular development. Promotes student-centered cooperation between the United States and Brazil to increase cross-national education and training opportunities in a wide range of academic and professional disciplines.

3 US Department of Education, Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE): U.S.-Brazil Higher Education Consortia Program

4 INSTITUTIONAL PROFILE AGMUS Non-Profit private university system established in Licensed by the Puerto Rico Council of Higher Education (CESPR) and fully accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Third largest university system in PR and the fastest growing during the past decade; over 42,000 students Multi-institutional system: Four higher education institutions and a public television station: - Universidad del Turabo (UT) - Universidad del Este (UNE) - Universidad Metropolitana (UMET) - Ana G. Mendez Virtual University

5 INSTITUTIONAL PROFILE AGMUS Description 2009 Student Profile (Freshmen) % Public Schools 78.5 % Private Schools 20.3 % Female 59.8 % Male 40.3 % <20 years 78.7 % years 13.7 % 25 years 6.3 Faculty (3,164) % Full Time 12 % Part Time 88 % Doctoral Degrees 44.5

6 GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS UMET Main Campus San Juan, PR UNE Main Campus Carolina, PR UT Main Campus Gurabo, PR MOUC SFLUC 1- UNE Utuado 2- UNE Cabo Rojo 3- UNE Yauco 4- UNE Barceloneta 5- UNE Santa Isabel 6- UT Cayey 7- UT Yabucoa 8- UT Naguabo 9- UT Isabela 10- UT Ponce 11- UMET Aguadilla 12- UMET Jayuya 13- UMET Bayamón

7 VISION 2015 By the year 2015, AGMUS will be recognized for its excellence in learning, in research, and in service, for its social responsibility and pertinence, and its growing global projection.

8 INTRODUCTION Two Grants: Environmental Affairs and Globalization: Internationalizing the Environmental Studies Curriculum (UMET and UT) Internationalizing the Coastal Ecosystem Curriculum (UMET and UNE)

9 Environmental Affairs and Globalization: Internationalizing the Environmental Studies Curriculum CORE PARTNERS Universidade Estadual Norte do Fluminense Universidade Federal do Amazonas Universidad del Turabo Universidad Metropolitana 1. The partners developed a proposal and submitted it as a planning grant to NSF. The proposal was approved. 2. Five (5) courses were revised to incorporate the international component. Three (3) of them were developed on-line. 3. The Office of the Vice Chancellor of International, Federal and Corporate Affairs was created at UT and UMET.

10 Environmental Affairs and Globalization: Internationalizing the Environmental Studies Curriculum From To # Students # Credits UMET UFAM 5 30 UMET UENF 6 36 UFAM UMET UENF UMET 4 52 UT UFAM 6 36 UT UENF 3 18 UFAM UT 0 0 UENF UT 5 55 Main accomplishments: Implemented an international cultural and educational exchange program between the US (PR) and Brazil. 2. Offered mutual credit recognition and portability focused on coastal systems research.

11 Internationalizing the Coastal Ecosystem Curriculum (UMET and UNE) CORE PARTNERS Universidade Estadual Norte do Fluminense Universidade Federal do Ceará Universidad del Este Universidad Metropolitana 1. Ten undergraduate students are carrying out research projects. 2. A basic Portuguese course is now offered each semester at UNE. Prepared by a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence from Brazil. 3. Participating universities have strengthen their international student services. 4. Establishment of collaborative efforts in other fields.

12 Internationalizing the Coastal Ecosystem Curriculum (UMET and UNE) Consortia Agreement for the Educational Exchange of Undergraduate and Graduate Students and Faculty Between Universidad Metropolitana and Universidad del Este in The United States of America and Universidade Estadual Do Norte Fluminense and Universidade Federal Do Ceará in Fortaleza, Brasil

13 STUDENT AND FACULTY EXCHANGE 2010 Brazilian Students in Puerto Rico Puerto Rican Students in Brazil Annual Director s Meeting.

14 DISSEMINATION 2008 TV Interview of Dr. Thierry R. Gasnier, Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM), Manaus 2011 Internet Streaming Interview of Brazilian Students in Puerto Rico.

15 FACULTY EXCHANGE AT UMET UFAM Dr. Thierry Gasnier (2006) Dr. Andrea Waichman (2005) UFC Dr. Manuel Furtado (2009) UENF Dr. Carlos Ruiz, Visiting Professor (7/2007 7/2008) Dr. Adriana Grativol, Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence (07-08) Dr. Carlos Rezende (2007, 2009) Dr. Marina Suzuki (2009) Dr. Marcos Pedlowski (2006)

16 FACULTY EXCHANGE NSF PLANNING GRANT Presentations UNEF: 1.Estrutura das florestas de mangue do Norte Fluminense. Dr. Elaine Bernini (UENF) 2.Biodiversidade e Funcionalidade de Ecossistemas - uma abordagem multidisciplinar de comunidades microbianas. Dr. Adriana Grativol (UENF) 3.Courses of Biological Sciences (Undergraduate) and Ecology and Natural Resources (Graduate) Programs. Dr. Carlos Eduardo de Rezende. (UENF) 4.Influência dos manguezais na biogeoquímica aquática de estuários. Dr. Marcos Sarmet Moreira de Barros Salomão (UENF)

17 FACULTY EXCHANGE NSF PLANNING GRANT Presentations UMET and UNE: 1.Cucharillas Marsh: Research, Education and Community Participation. Dr. Carlos Padin (UMET) 2.The use of Nitrogen index approach to assess Nitrogen loses to the environment. Dr. Wilfredo Colón (UNE) 3.Nutrients use efficiency in mangrove ecosystem at Joyuda Lagoon, Puerto Rico. Dr. Juan C. Musa (UMET) 4.Molecular toxicology at Chemical, Environmental and Molecular Toxicology Laboratory. Dr. Beatriz Zayas (UMET) 5.Particulates in Cataño Air Basin and benefits from proximity of Cucharillas Marsh. Prof. María C. Ortiz (UMET) 6.Antibiotics resistance in genetic diversity of Enterococci isolated from sea water. Dr. Nidia Rodríguez Bonano (UNE)

18 STUDENT PRESENTATIONS - UMET Three students presented at the XX Undergraduate Research Symposium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, May The poster titles are: Impact of the Iguana iguana in a wetland restoration project. Impact of herbaria in a wetland restoration project Wetland productivity in Cucharillas Marsh.

19 STUDENT PRESENTATIONS - UNE BIOCHEMICAL AND ULTRASTRUCTURAL STUDY OF THE INTERACTION PROCESS OF RHODNIUS PROLIXUS WITHTRYPANOSOMARANGELI 1,4 Batista, K.K.S., 1 Monteiro, N.O., 1 Douétts-Peres, J.C., 1 Araújo, G.S.M., 1 Loureiro, G.G., 2 Gonzales, M., 3 Azambuja, P., 3 Garcia, E.S. 3, 1 DaMatta, R.A., 1 Sant Anna, N.F. 1 Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil; 2 Departamento de Biologia General, Universidade Federal Fluminense; 3 Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro. Brasil; 4 FIPSE-US-Brazil International Exchange Student, Universidad del Este, Carolina, Puerto Rico WASTEWATER TREATMENT FROM A SHRIMP OPERATION AND GENERATION OF BIOMASS TO FEED PACIFIC WHITE SHRIMPLITOPENEUSVANNAMEI ,2 1 Santaella, S.T., Leitão, R.C., Nunes, A.J.P., Neto, H.S., and Lima, H.N. Instituto de Ciências do Mar, LABOMAR, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, 2 Brazil, FIPSE-US-Brazil International Exchange Student, Universidad del Este, Carolina, Puerto Rico 46 th Junior Technical Meeting March 12, 2011 San Juan, Puerto Rico

20 STUDENT RESEARCH PROJECTS - UMET 1. Metals (Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe and Pb) in the seagrass Halodule writii in the San Juan Bay Estuary Ecosystem 2. Heavy Metals (Pb, Mn, Cr, Zn) in sands at the San Juan Bay Estuary Ecosystem 3. Distribution of Heavy Metals in Bottom Sediments in the San Juan Bay Estuary Ecosystem 4. Forest Structure and Biomass in a Red Mangrove Stand at the San Juan Bay Estuary Ecosystem

21 STUDENT RESEARCH PROJECTS - UNE Assessment of Enterococcus spp. distribution, genetic diversity and antibiotic susceptibility/resistance patterns in Puerto Rico s coastal waters. Mentor Dr. Nydia Rodriguez

22 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS Strengthening of the Offices of the Vice Chancellors for International, Federal and Corporate Affairs at each institution. 48 students from PR to Brazil. 47 students from Brazil to PR. 100% language proficiency. Portuguese instruction 8 graduate courses has been actualized with an international dimension.

23 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS Integration of other funding opportunities (NSF, Fulbright). A long-term core research agenda on wetland ecosystems for the university consortia. A project web site ( The web site includes project information, the partners, the professors and research areas, the publications and the wetlands located in each place. Student Exchange Manual & Procedures s_corporativos_mision_vision.asp

24 QUESTIONS?