Delaware Association for Public Administration MPA Students Partner with Romanian Counterparts in Study Abroad Research
—by Sarah Logrieco and Austin Egan | download PDF 
In January 2010, Dr. Arno Loessner and Dr. Maria Aristigueta, professors from the University of Delaware (UD) School of Urban Affairs & Public Policy (SUAPP) coordinated a joint study-abroad trip with faculty from Babes Bolyai Univeristy in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. The coordinated efforts of these two universities provided the opportunity for American graduate students in public administration to partner with English-speaking Romanian students to comparatively study local governance practices. Seven Master of Public Administration students joined Loessner and Aristigueta on the trip to Romania, where they teamed up with 14 public administration students from Babes-Bolyai University to conduct cross-cultural research.
The students first relied on technology—via videoconference—as a primary means of communication to meet their international colleagues last October and start focusing their joint research efforts. This partnership developed throughout the fall and winter, as students continued their interactions through email and began to develop surveys and research questions for their work together in Romania. Based on these discussions, students’ research topics included public health, public education, opportunities for economic and social development of minorities, disaster response, freedom of information, anti-corruption measures, and the relationship of public transportation to air quality.
Upon arrival in Cluj-Napoca in January, students worked in research teams of two or three in order to conduct interviews and collect data on topics of mutual interest. Over two weeks of intensive study, the students met with city and county leaders of Cluj, representatives of Romania's central government, nonprofit organizations, schools, media and other well-informed individuals. These meetings provided opportunities for UD’s MPA students to not only learn more about Romania’s government and public institutions directly but also share American policies and practices with well-informed members of a country experiencing large amounts of transition.
While still in Romania, the teams presented their preliminary experiences and findings at a January 21 forum. The presentations were preceded by a press conference, during which Romanian print and TV media interviewed the students. As a result of this work, each student research team produced a 20-page research paper on their findings.
The group of UD students presented their respective research papers to SUAPP on March 19, 2010. Dr. Aristigueta and Dr. Loessner joined the students and provided an overview of the study-abroad program. The study-abroad program to Romania is part of ongoing efforts by SUAPP to encourage graduate students to engage in international study as part of the public affairs curriculum. Other recent study trips have taken place in South Africa, South Korea, China, and the Netherlands.
In an effort to further these graduate students’ efforts and their desire to participate in global education opportunities, students have also been invited to share their research at well-recognized national and international conferences. Two students will reconnect with their Romanian counterparts this May at the 18th annual Network of Institutes and Schools of Public Administration in Central and Eastern Europe (NISPAcee) Conference in Warsaw, Poland, to present their papers on a panel titled “Combining Teaching and Research in a Cross Cultural Course in Public Administration and Policy.” Others will join SUAPP faculty and share their experience and work at panels this fall at the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration conference in Las Vegas, Nev., and next spring at the American Society of Public Administration Conference in Baltimore, Md.
Student participants in this program have found the experience extremely valuable to their graduate study and continue to apply the skills and knowledge acquired during their trip in their academic work and other professional opportunities.