HISTORY

Formation of ICRPS

The ICRPS Consortium partnership arose from previous and ongoing mutual collaboration between the Universities of Missouri-Colombia (United States), the University of Guelph (Canada), the University of Aberdeen (Scotland), and the Economics and Business Studies Program of Budapest (Hungary). In 2002, representatives of these Universities met in Columbia, Missouri to discuss the need for post-graduate education in comparative rural policy. The meeting, hosted by the Rural Policy Research Institute, led to creation of the consortium, and plans for the ICRPS project.

The University of Aberdeen and the University of Guelph, as partners in the ICRPS collaboration, successfully applied to the EU-Canada Program for Collaboration between Institutions of Higher Education and Training in 2003 adding partners in Europe (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and The University of Leuven) and Canada (Université du Québec á Rimouski and Brandon University). The University of Highlands and Islands and Oregon State University subsequently joined the ICRPS Consortium bringing the total to 10 partners.

This rich multi-cultural learning experience of over 70 graduate students, the engagement of 17 faculty members from 8 universities and involvement of over 20 governmental and non-governmental agencies testifies to the success of this much needed education and research program. ICRPS has contributed directly to the 'internationlisation' of programs at all participating universities and has enriched professional development opportunities for rural agencies. 

FUTURE

Continuing and Expanding ICRPS

The program options are continually being tailored to attract top level graduate students, policy orientated mid-career professionals and a teaching faculty with the best research records in rural policy and related matters in the Western academic domain. New members will also be added to the ICRPS Consortium over time.

Engagement of Rural Policy Agencies

Each year ICRPS engages more relevant policy agencies. This enriches the learning experience of all concerned in several ways: learning from each other, from experts in policy fields, from field trips with observation and inquiry, from presenting synopses to colleagues, by formulating policy briefs, and from analyzing policy positions and impacts.

The main objective is to be able to learn first hand about policy work within collaborating units. In addition, collaborating units may contribute policy reading material and case studies for inclusion in a pre-summer school package and for online courses. Policy agencies can also assist by hosting visits of students from other institutions and jurisdictions.

The main way that a rural policy body can contribute will be to send staff from their branch or division to a summer school and/or by sponsoring a well qualified graduate student who would not otherwise be able to attend.