Introduction The aim of the project is to create links between University education and industries in the field of aquaculture and aquatic resources management by launching “Internship” programs for post-graduate students with a view to providing more practical knowledge and problem solving skills. The proposed project aims to develop a system to support post-graduate students of European and Asian institutions to work with Aquaculture/Fisheries industries in Asia. Under this program, Asian partner institutions in their respective countries/locations will work jointly with the host organizations i.e. private commercial farms, non-government organizations, and research and extension offices of the government. Upon completion of 1- year course work, their post-graduate students in their respective countries/locations will work for at least six months to assist their host organizations. The selected students and the Local coordinator in consultation with the students’ advisors will choose the host organizations and make necessary arrangements. During the internship program, students will identify the problems of the real world while working with them, devise research plans for their thesis work and carry out thesis research to recommend the practical solutions. Similarly, the European partner institutions will also recruit and send their students to these Asian institutions and/or their host organizations for the same purpose. Over the period of three years, at least 36 Asian students (3 students per institution/year) will be supported to work in the field under this internship program. At least 20 instructors of the Asian partner institutions (5 per partner) and four European instructors will also be involved in the process. Four Asian instructors (1 per partner) will be doing internship while others will serve as committee members of the student’s evaluation and assist in monitoring their work and visiting host organizations under internship program. At the same time, at least eight European students will be recruited by the European partners to come and work with Asian partner institutions and/or their host organizations to get real field experience which could be a part of their thesis work or credits for community work depending upon their University systems and requirements. All of these interns will give a public seminar about their work. They will also publish their work in international journals or magazines depending upon the quality and the suitability of the contents. Instructors from AIT and European partners will serve as resource persons for seminars, and evaluation of student thesis work as well as the evaluation of internship programs. Attempts will be made to continue the program in the long-run. Marketing will be done aggressively through internet or other media to find fee paying European students to join internship in Asia with partner institutions. EU students will be provided with some fund raising ideas, if necessary and also offer reduced cost for food and accommodation (free in some cases) at host organizations. Depending upon the situation, Asian students either will pay costs for food and accommodation at subsidized (or free) from host organizations or University set aside some budget, wherever possible. Objectives: The ultimate goal of the project is to improve livelihood of resource poor families through sustainable development of aquaculture and aquatic resources. The immediate objectives are to develop and run practical internship programs together with industries, enhance knowledge and skills of post graduate students of Asia and Europe through internship program, enhance knowledge of Asian and European instructors through internship program in Asia, link approx. 20 private/public, organizations to work with academic institutions and strengthen the higher education system in aquaculture and aquatic resources management.
Target groups and beneficiaries Several target groups or the beneficiaries of the Project may be distinguished, as follows:
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| Linking the post-graduate education in aquaculture and aquatic resources management with its industries through internship program |
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