Our programs and research have both local and global impact. We work with partners around the world to implement systems and solutions that build strong communities. Some examples include:
Americas
At the third annual North American Process Symposium, federal officials and top executives from the U.S., Mexico and Canada addressed North American competitiveness with a focus on energy and infrastructure. Through a series of working groups and plenary sessions, attendees developed specific recommendations to bolster a more efficient, resourceful and competitive North America. Partners in the effort include ASU, University of Calgary School of Public Policy and Universidad Anahuac Mexico Norte.
Led by Dave White, Decision Center for a Desert City, Tecnológico de Monterrey and ASU are in the process of integrating a proposal for a diagnosis/intervention framework (for water/sanitation operators in Mexico) based on two IDB models: Emerging and Sustainable Cities Initiative (ESCI) and AquaRating.
The Center for Violence Prevention and Community Safety is working with the Regional Security System (RSS), the common defense system for seven Eastern Caribbean nations, to help gain an understanding of the problem of criminal youth groups, prioritize security concerns and assess trends for planning and resource allocation.
Africa
The Young African Leadership Initiative East Africa Regional Leadership Center (YALI EA RLC) is one of four centers serving as regional hubs across the continent of Africa to encourage transformational learning and enhance leadership skills. Through the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions, ASU developed a public leadership curriculum for the public management training track hosted by the YALI EA RLC at Nairobi, Kenya. During 2015-2017, a team of faculty traveled to Nairobi, Kenya to deliver the curriculum over five days in person, which was then followed by an eight-week online engagement. This public leadership course was delivered to 19 separate cohorts of YALI EA RLC participants. In an effort to transition delivery of the public leadership course from ASU to the YALI EA RLC, the Watts team also participated in a "train the trainer" program, where faculty trained YALI EA RLC facilitators in course delivery.
The Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center is leading a study to help determine what local barriers might prevent the adoption of a new assay for HIV in northern Tanzania.
The Center for Sustainable Tourism has led efforts on community well-being and empowerment in tourism-dependent indigenous communities, as well as assessments for the country’s sustainable tourism efforts.
The Center for Applied Behavioral Health Policy has brought together a collaborative network to evaluate adaption of low-cost behavioral health interventions for implementation in local African communities.
The Center for Science, Technology and Environmental Policy Studies is leading the Climate Smart Technology Network, part of the 2014-2019 Climate Change for Agriculture and Food Security Flagship Four initiative. Research on this project conducts network surveys and analysis to better understand a range of factors affecting the diffusion and uptake of climate smart technologies (CST) in Uganda and Tanzania, thereby providing the evidentiary basis for identifying policy interventions.
Asia
In a unique collaboration with the Ministry of Education in China, we launched the Hainan University - Arizona State University International Tourism College to address the growing need for highly educated professionals. Joint programs cover hotel/tourism management, parks and recreation management/urban and rural planning, and public service and public policy/public administration.
Building on the success of the Mandela Washington Fellows for Young African Leaders, ASU also led two tracks for President Obama's signature program to strengthen leadership development and networking in Southeast Asia: YSEALI. Through the Vocational and University Leadership and Innovation Institute, we are working to contribute directly to Vietnam’s national goal of increasing the quality of higher education and at the same time strengthening the human and institutional capacity to contribute to the country’s economic growth.
A team of researchers from the School of Community Resources and Development is examining strategies to support Burma in efforts to increase the involvement of local communities in the tourism value chain, contribute to the local economy and impact poverty reduction among local citizens. Groups have also recently worked with colleagues at Vietnam National University in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the School of Economics in Ho Chi Minh City and Saigon, ASU faculty presented an Executive Tourism Workshop for tourism and hospitality professionals in Ho Chi Minh City to cultivate sustainable tourism growth and educational opportunities.
Europe
Faculty and students are looking at the economic impact of tourism—key attractions, events and even the impact on residential property values—across Arizona as well as tourism studies throughout the world including Europe and Asia.
