3141 Chestnut Street • Randell Hall, Suite 235 • Philadelphia, PA 19104-2875 • TEL 215.895.6372 • FAX 215.895.2142 • www.drexel.edu/international
Brandy-­‐‑Joe Milliron, Ph.D Assistant Professor Nutrition Sciences Department, College of Nursing and Health Professions, Drexel University Expanding Education and Research Capacity in Cambodia: A situational analysis project to stimulate new partnerships in global health and nutrition. This project began in December of 2014 with an exploratory trip to Cambodia. Silpa T. Reddy, an MS Candidate in the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, and I traveled to Cambodia to meet with organizations that are engaged in community-­‐‑driven programming aimed at reducing poverty and malnutrition through diversifying and increasing food production and income. The long-­‐‑term goal of this project is to develop mutually beneficial education and research partnerships between Drexel University and health-­‐‑related organizations in Cambodia. The primary objective was to determine the feasibility of developing mutually beneficial relationships to expand international education and research capacity, co-­‐‑
curricular development, as well as civic engagement among Drexel University and organizations with field offices in one municipality (Phnom Penh) and two Cambodian provinces (Battambang and Siem Reap). Geographic locations were selected based on proximity to the Tonle Sap Lake, an area with some of the highest rates of food insecurity. We met with executive directors and project managers from USAID, OXFAM, PADEK, and Heifer International, to name a few organizations, and visited field sites in remote rural villages to observe some of the community education components of Cambodia HARVEST, one of the USAID-­‐‑lead projects that has been particularly successful http://www.cambodiaharvest.org. Additional objectives were accomplished by visiting local markets and collecting observational data on food availability, access, cost and location. This project will also lead to the development of a preliminary draft of Reddy'ʹs plan of study in preparation for pursuit of her doctoral degree in the Department of Nutrition Sciences. 3141 Chestnut Street • Randell Hall, Suite 235 • Philadelphia, PA 19104-2875 • TEL 215.895.6372 • FAX 215.895.2142 • www.drexel.edu/international
Still underway, this project will result in mutually beneficial collaborations among faculty, researchers and students. We are also exploring innovative sponsorship solutions to support study abroad opportunities for students who are studying in Cambodia and Vietnam. In addition to international research and collaborations, this project may also be shared at future conferences.