| NSF Org: |
RISE Integrative and Collaborative Education and Research (ICER) |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | April 11, 2017 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | April 11, 2017 |
| Award Number: | 1725613 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Maria Uhle
muhle@nsf.gov (703)292-2250 RISE Integrative and Collaborative Education and Research (ICER) GEO Directorate for Geosciences |
| Start Date: | April 15, 2017 |
| End Date: | March 31, 2018 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $177,432.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $177,432.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
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| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
777 N CAPITOL ST NE WASHINGTON DC US 20002-4290 (202)962-3547 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
777 North Capitol St NE, 5th flo Washington DC US 20002-4239 |
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Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): | Intl Global Change Res & Coord |
| Primary Program Source: |
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| Program Reference Code(s): |
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| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.050 |
ABSTRACT
This award provides support for a workshop designed to enable US based institutions to work with their international counterparts to expand a unique partnership to address resiliency issues. The EPIC-N model partners colleges and universities paired with local communities in an effort to help make cities sustainable. Presently, approximately 30 US-based universities are implementing this model for connecting students and faculty to real-world projects that address the pressing needs of local municipalities and communities as they contend with real-life challenges of becoming more sustainable and resilient. The workshop will provide an opportunity for these institutions to develop partnerships with their international counterparts and to further develop the framework for universities and local communities to work together on real-world challenges and opportunities.
The EPIC-N model is designed to advance the knowledge of both academicians and local community practitioners. The partnership that forms the basis of the model is designed to address the broad spectrum of sustainability-related needs of local communities by strategically matching community needs with university capacity to provide research, creative designs and solutions in ways that benefit all parties, with lasting benefits and implications for all involved. Most importantly, students gain experience working on real issues confronting local communities and at the same time, local communities gain access to valuable data that can better inform critical decisions.
PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
Introduction
To support the formation of partnerships between local governments and higher education institutions to create more sustainable and resilient communities, ICMA facilitated the travel and participation of thirteen pairs of representatives from academic and local government sectors to the ICLEI Resilient Cities Congress in Bonn Germany May 4-6, 2017. One day prior to the Congress participants took part in a one-day training on operationalizing partnerships between academic institutions and local governments.
The training was designed around the Educational Partnerships for Innovation in Communities Network (EPIC-N) model, which enables communities to tap into the talents and energy of college students and faculty to accomplish critical projects. This working relationship between cities and higher education institutions puts student talent to work in order to strengthen communities. Engaging students early also lays the foundation for the next generation of local government leaders. This model has become a conduit for local governments interested in hiring qualified, talented, and passionate individuals looking to advance sustainability and resilience agendas at a local level.
Through a competitive process involving US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability, and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) evaluated letters of intent from local governments and academics interested in participating. In these letters applicants were asked to outline why they wanted to attend the training and how the institutions represented by the partnership would benefit from the training. Additionally, they were asked to demonstrate commitment and the ability to drive a partnership after the conclusion of the training. After reviewing over 100 submissions thirteen pairs were selected to be funded by NSF for the training on the EPIC-N Model.
Project Outcomes
As a result of the initial workshop in Bonn 91% of participants reported that they were very likely to start a local government/university partnership. However, it was clear that a one-day training was not sufficient to help the partnerships get off the ground. Additional training and ongoing technical assistance was identified as a need by over 70% of participants, and 40% noted that they would benefit from site visits by trainers.
Noting the feedback from the first global EPIC-N training, the team made a recommendation to look at strategic planning options for taking the EPIC-N model internationally. With approval from NSF, ICMA used remaining funds to support a strategic planning exercise in Washington DC with key stakeholders from EPA, EPIC-N, ICMA, UNEP, University of Wisconsin, and USAID. Based on lessons learned in Bonn the team made recommendations that addressed:
- Integrating international partnerships into the current EPIC framework
- Updating the candidate selection process
- Training methodology considerations
- Launching a sustainable international model
- Communicating accomplishments and driving momentum internationally
- Roles of key partner organizations
A full report from this meeting is available up on request. From these recommendations, UNEP offered to sponsor a regional workshop for partnerships in Southern Africa in Cape Town in November of 2017. With support from NSF, ICMA played a support role for this workshop by tracking changes to methodologies recommended based on the Bonn workshop and following up with participants to understand the status of partnerships, accomplishments, and challenges. From the workshop and follow on communications ICMA has confirmed projects have launched based on the EPIC model in Bela Horizonte, Brazil; Durban, South Africa; Iloilo, Philippines; Kampala, Uganda; Lusaka, Zambia; Quito, Ecuador; and Nairobi, Kenya.
Conclusion
The initial NSF funding for this project was meant to assess the feasibility of taking the EPIC model internationally. Based on the feedback from the initial training in Bonn it is clear that the EPIC model addresses a need to connect academics and community practitioners worldwide. Stakeholders are now looking for sustainable funding sources to continue the EPIC Network’s global reach.
Last Modified: 03/09/2018
Modified by: Jessica Johnston
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