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ARS Home » Plains Area » Bushland, Texas » Conservation and Production Research Laboratory » Livestock Nutrient Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #414944

Research Project: Strategies to Manage Feed Nutrients, Reduce Gas Emissions, and Promote Soil Health for Beef and Dairy Cattle Production Systems of the Southern Great Plains

Location: Livestock Nutrient Management Research

Title: Professional development for faculty in Uzbekistan

Author
item COFFELT, TINA - Iowa State University
item Koziel, Jacek

Submitted to: Frontiers in Education
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/7/2025
Publication Date: 1/22/2025
Citation: Coffelt, T.A., Koziel, J.A. 2025. Professional development for faculty in Uzbekistan. Frontiers in Education. 10:Article 1523886. Available: https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2025.1523886.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2025.1523886

Interpretive Summary: Low to moderate income countries (LMICs) often seek partnerships with developed countries to aid in development. Uzbekistan is one such LMIC that has experienced rapid change and expansion since 2016. The government has an interest in expanding partnerships with the United States, in particular, and in all sectors, including higher education. The UniCEN (Central Asia University Partnerships Program) division of American Councils for International Education, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State, provides grant opportunities to support partnerships between Central Asian and U.S. higher education institutions. Faculty members at Iowa State University were awarded a UniCEN grant with Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers - Bukhara Branch (TIIAME-BB). The grant program required collaborations across disciplines and across geographic borders. In this research, scientists from USDA ARS-Bushland (Texas) and Iowa State University describe a collaboration, offer successes, and provide lessons learned. The information is beneficial to others interested in interdisciplinary and/or intercultural collaborations, especially those in Central Asia.

Technical Abstract: This ethnographic case study focuses on adult learners in a professional development grant program. The program applied the ADDIE model to train faculty in Uzbekistan to conduct research, write for academic audiences, and publish in top-tier academic journals. Agricultural and biosystems engineering and English faculty members at a US Midwest university forged an interdisciplinary partnership to virtually deliver a 5-month program to an initial cohort of 68 participants. Topics included research ethics, experimental and survey research design, and structure of scientific papers, among others. The pre- and post-tests objectively measured material covered in the curriculum. Post-test scores from 18 participants showed improvement (n=11), no change, (n=4), or lower scores (n=3). Regardless, the granting agency was pleased with the implementation of the project. This manuscript informs future collaborators on successful procedures, such as training models and virtual delivery, and opportunities for improvement, including English language proficiency, eligibility standards, and emphasizing research ethics.