EduCorps is undertaking a qualitative community-based study aimed at identifying/understanding the preparation and ongoing training of teachers in the four nations that make up the Great Lakes Region of Africa (DRC, Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi).  The results of this study will guide the programmatic actions of EduCorps and serve as a baseline against which results can be measured once EduCorps commences servicing schools in the target countries. 

The project will achieve this goal by studying and reporting:

-- Individual teacher preparation and training;

-- Ministerial requirements for preparation, training, and the availability of programs providing ongoing support to teachers;

-- Parental goals for the education of their children including the most desirable outcome of education.

We are seeking the support of four graduate students in any of these areas – education, development, public policy or international relations – who seek field work in Africa and possess practical implementation of data collection and/or survey methodologies.

There will be four research teams, one for each country.  Research teams will be comprised individual graduate students (one per location) and their local partners.  These teams will:

-- Participate in all aspects of the research project, taking into account individual and organizational capacities (skills, human, and other resources); 

-- Participate in team meetings, learning exchanges, the formulation of research questions, provide suggestions and feedback on the methodology;

-- Provide input on recruitment of research subjects, data collection, data analysis and interpretation, and dissemination; 

-- Be responsible for coordinating onsite administration, coordinating outreach to potential partners, setting/up coordinating research interviews, conducting interviews, collecting data including the delivery of interview notes/videos/tapes to the EduCorps leadership;

-- Be responsible for drafting/editing of the research report.

We intend to support these students by raising funds to pay for travel, room, board, insurance, and materials.  We expect funding to come from individuals and organizations committed to EduCorps’ work in Africa.

We look forward to hearing from you!