Having an efficient,
safe, and sustainable transportation system is an essential element for the
economic development and welfare of any city, region or country. The
analysis and evaluation of the condition and performance of our
transportation systems require of trained professionals that can understand
the many fundamentals factors that make those systems thrive and must
realize the social, cultural and political implications of transportation
decisions.
The University of Rhode
Island (URI) and the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (UPRM) signed a
Collaboration Agreement in 2005 to formalize a partnership between the two
institutions to promote the instruction, research, and related activities
in transportation. The partnership has served to institute a Summer
Exchange Research Program during the last five years, with the assistance
of the Federal Highway Administration Dwight D. Eisenhower Fellowship
Program. The Agreement activities are administered by the URI
Transportation Center and the UPRM Transportation Technology Transfer
Center.
2011 Summer Exchange Program
UPRM students Davis Chacón and Josué Ortíz
participated in the Exchange Program during the Summer 2011. During the
eight-week period, the students traveled to the URI campus to work actively in the development and execution of a
transportation-related research study. A faculty advisor is assigned to
each student to provide guidance and help them develop their research
during the course of the internship. At the end of the period, the
students present their research findings and conclusions to faculty,
students, and staff in both universities. |
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UPRM Students
URI Students
Previous Participant Students and Research Projects
Program Achievements
The performance of the
students in the UPRM-URI Summer Research Exchange Program provides solid
evidence of its added value and significance. The Program has been very
effective in attracting students from both academic institutions. A total
of twenty-one undergraduate and graduate students (fifteen UPRM students
and six URI students) have participated in the Exchange Program.
Another accomplishment
for the UPRM-URI Program is the long-term effect on its participants toward
continuing on further education and training in a transportation-related
discipline. Five UPRM students were
enrolled in graduate school in the Transportation Engineering program of
the Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying when they participated in
the program. Out of the ten undergraduate students that have participated,
two are current undergraduate students at UPRM, five students have going on
to continue graduate students in a transportation-related discipline, and
two have going on to work on FHWA programs. The program has successfully
attracted 70 percent of the UPRM undergraduate students, or 80 percent of
all UPRM students, to continue a career in transportation.
In addition to acquire
experience by conducting a research project as part of their education and
training; the students in the Exchange Program benefit greatly from being
exposed to transportation issues in a different setting, environment, and
culture. It allows students from both institutions to perceive directly and
personally the differences in the transportation systems and their users.
This change in setting provides students with a different perspective that
permits them to open their minds to analyze and evaluate issues in
transportation in a global standpoint; a very important aspect in the
professional development of college students that cannot be reached
completely in the classroom.
The study of
transportation problems requires research to develop new technology and
methods to attain the always present objectives for mobility,
accessibility, and safety, as well as the goals for sustainability and
environmental conscience that have acquire more relevance in recent
decades. The UPRM-URI Summer Research Exchange Program is a model for
success in the promotion of new developments and professionals in the transportation
field that merit to be expanded and replicated. The collaborative program needs to expand
to effectively incorporate faculty and researchers from both universities
to participate in the exchange of ideas and the development of new
technology in transportation that can benefit from the particular
experiences, environment, and culture that each institution can provide.
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