Support to Education and Training

In Bolivia, there is a small, but growing base of trained specialists in urban development. For the longer term, there is a need to support educational institutions involved in training Bolivians to work effectively in the urban context. This includes building the capacity of Bolivian educational institutions engaged in training Bolivians to work effectively in urban research, urban planning, municipal policy and regulatory reform. UTUI has been working toward this goal by organizing policy workshops, developing technical capacity, initiating academic exchanges, leading a student practicum program for graduate or post-graduate students, and including practical work in the training of Bolivian students. This institutional linkage with educational institutions has started to build a broader base of Bolivian expertise in urban development.

The following Masters programs in Local Development have been initiated through a partnership between UTUI and Bolivian educational institutions:

As part of these programs, a number of Bolivian students have been provided with stipends to assist with their field research for their theses. Several Canadian graduate students have also been placed in Bolivian organizations for practical training as part of UTUI's graduate student practicum program. Read about some of their experiences Fieldworker perspectives.

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" On objective of ours is to provide training on how to perform analysis, interpretation, and search for solutions, particularly in relation to the planning, training, and the elaboration of territorialisation policies of the state, social sectors, and others. We believe that with this Masters degree, students get extraordinary benefits because they meet different professionals in several areas of their degree, and it allows us to set the foundations for permanent training in Bolivia on municipal development, within the framework of changes the Bolivian state is undergoing. "

- José Blanes, Academic Coordinator CEBEM, regarding the new Masters program in Urban Development available at CEBEM, 1998

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Several policy-oriented studies have been completed to build the capacity of Bolivian professors to conduct research relevant to Bolivia:

• Social Capital, a study by a Bolivian faculty member
• Community Associations and Watchdog Committees, studies in three Bolivian cities.
• Metropolisation in Bolivia, North America and Europe (two comprehensive policy studies and two comparative studies).