Fundación Cimas del Ecuador have been conducting academic, research and community development programs for more than 16 years. There is a strong involvement of staff, teachers, researchers and students, searches for ways to support communities in their efforts to construct their own alternatives of development, in order to reduce the impact of globalization on the local groups. The academic programs are affiliated with the Learning Abroad Center of the University of Minnesota and the Consortium of Universities in the State of Washington. Four different programs are conducted by Ecuadorian Professors, with an interdisciplinary and team teaching approach, integrating concepts like modernity, progress, contrasting the western with indigenous way of thinking, and reflecting from globalization to the local community perspectives.

Our courses integrate three main components:

•  Spanish Language proficiency for the students to become very fluent.

•  Theoretical component on the contradictions of development and the impact on the social and economic reality of a developing country, Ecuador.

•  Internship opportunities for the students to directly work with grass roots organizations in the search for solutions to many pressing local needs.

COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMS WITH NORTH AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES

EQWA Program

Sponsored by the Consortium of Universities of the State of Washington : includes the Language and Culture Program (every Quarter), Conservation Ecology (Fall), Public Health (Winter Quarter), Alternative Development (Spring Quarter) and Internship/Directed Studies (every Quarter).

MSID Program

Sponsored by the Learning Abroad Center of the University of Minnesota. Fall semester is held principally in Quito, classroom activities are relayed to development issues (impacts and contradictions). Spring Semester is devoted to internship/directed study activities. This is an academic year program

During MSID Ecuador Spring program, the students participate in the THEORIES AND MODELS OF DEVELOPMENT course. The last month is devoted to field work at the internship sites.

Global Experience Program

Sponsored by the Learning Abroad Center of the University of Minnesota and the University of Oregon, facilitates the placement of graduate students in Internships.

MIRT Program

Sponsored by the Division of Epidemiology of the University of Washington and the Fogarty Foundation. A Summer Quarter program. Scholarships are granted to selected students.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS

Are designed in direct collaboration with faculty of several universities. The length and scope of the program vary in relation to the specific academic objectives. Cimas provides academic, logistic and facilities according to the needs of the program.