Fulbright in Costa Rica: 2011

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Forward thinking to 2012

In 2010 I received the Senior Specialist designation in Business Administration, which will be valid from 2010 - 2015. I hope to go back to Costa Rica to continue my work related to Costa Rica with administrative support of the Economic Science Research Institute (IICE). I've already been invited, and now IICE is in the process of filling out the formularios espantosos to get the necessary paperwork submitted. I am thinking that visit will happen by May of 2012.

My Fulbright Responsibilities

The College and My Award:
While in Costa Rica, I will be teaching at the University of Costa Rica in San José, which is right outside of the city in an area called San Pedro Montes de Oca. My Fulbright award is as a "Lecturer-Researcher." Therefore, 70% of my time will be research (investigaciones)and 30% in teaching (la docencia). Believe it or not, 30,000 students attend the University of Costa Rica, none of whom live in dormitories. (There are none).
...Regarding research, my Fulbright proposal commits me to investigate the challenges that companies are facing in the region specific to implementation of DR-CAFTA guidelines. Related areas of interest involve issues regarding technology integration, port security, and human resource capacitation. This will be a qualitative research endeavor. I have identified the following companies as potential interviewees: P/O Nedlloyd, Seaboard Marine, Remarsa, Junta de Administración Portuaria y de Desarrollo Económico de la Vertiente (JAPDEVA), Instituto Costarricense de Puertos del Pacífico (INCOP), Fed Ex Corp. (Gerente Director Regional), empresas locales: Hewlett Packard, IBM, Teradyne, Sykes, Baxter, Procter & Gamble I hope to involve my students in this effort, to include discussion of qualitative methodology--often under-emphasized or an "afterthought" in higher education business courses. The subject of DR-CAFTA is a political "hot potato" here, as Costa Rica is the only country that has not ratified it. There will be a referendum in November to decide the question. ...Regarding teaching, I will teach in the Business Administration Department in the area of Strategic Management. The "Facultad de Administración de Negocios" counts on 130 professors, 50% of who are part-time. There will be 5 sections of this course for 4th year students. For other Programs and Colleges at the University, go to http://www.ucr.ac.cr/facultades_escuelas.php and for the Business Administration Department visit http://www.ean.ucr.ac.cr/. View my complete profile.

Fulbright in Costa Rica

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Forward thinking to 2012

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My Fulbright Responsibilities