Nicaraguan delegation expands partnership

A delegation of seven representatives from two universities in Nicaragua visited a Grand Valley State University class in Holland to continue a four-year-old program in socially conscious innovation between the institutions. While visiting Grand Valley, the three institutions signed an agreement to continue to look for ways to work closely together in the future.

The delegation included school faculty members and administrators from the Facultad Regional Multidisciplinaria (FAREM) and Universidad Popular de Nicaragua (UPONIC) in Estelí, Nicaragua.

“This agreement is a recognition that the work that has been done between these three institutions to date has been valuable and important,” said Mark Schaub, executive director of the Padnos International Center at Grand Valley.

The delegation was visiting a Grand Valley summer class about innovation on the Meijer Campus in Holland. The Liberal Studies course is taught by marketing professor Paul Lane and engineering professor John Farris. Lane and Farris are the driving force behind an interdisciplinary project that has seen them make multiple trips to Nicaragua over the past few years, working to create innovative and sustainable projects that can improve lives both here and there.

In the Estelí, Nicaragua, project, participants work in interdisciplinary teams to identify major problems that exist in the community and try to come up with products that could address those problems while still being affordable. Examples of products being developed include a mechanical fan that is powered by weights instead of electricity and can provide cooling. Another is a desk with a foot pedal underneath that can be used to power lights.

“The program has been a success because of the support of people at all three institutions. Four years ago, this partnership was a dream. Now, we’re all here together and this dream has become a concrete reality,” said Xochitl de los Angeles Meza Sosa, head of finance and strategy for UPONIC.

Those sentiments were echoed by Ramona (Monchita) Rodriguez Perez, decana (president) of FAREM. She added that UPONIC’s strong suit is engineering, while her own institution’s strength is in business. “In order to progress and to improve the local economic situation in Nicaragua, we need to create these kinds of alliances. Paul and John have played a big role in helping bring all of our institutions together.”

The participants in the project stay in touch through a monthly video teleconference. “That contact has helped us build the project,” Lane said. “Before that, we would only see each other every six months, and we’d have to spend the first two days getting caught up.”

Steve Glass, associate dean of the College of Interdisciplinary Studies at Grand Valley, said this program has far-reaching implications. He said: “We all can learn quite a bit from this program. Right now, the state of Michigan’s economy is going through a restructuring, and we’re trying to learn what next to innovate and how to grow and prosper. This is an example for the entire university — and the entire state — of how we can work together. It is a perfect example of collaboration.”

Lane and Farris are hoping the same kind of process could work in a community like Holland. The summer course is a blend of discussion and activities for groups and individuals. About half of the time is spent in the community, making site visits related to the topics of aging, sustainability or globalization.