420 Case study: Educational outreach as a component of graduate education

Abstract

Abstract Graduate students are developing skills in scientific communication, research, and various other specified trainings. However, adequate resources for these students are not always available at their home institution. Educational outreach programs are often discussed in relation to secondary education. The potential to expand these types of programs to the post-secondary and graduate levels of education would represent a potential benefit to the students, scientists, and universities involved in the exchange. In such programs, graduate students would participate in an exchange with other universities to address deficits introduced by a lack of resources. This educational experience in a new setting would allow exposure to techniques and ideals otherwise inaccessible to the student. The objective of this observational case study was to evaluate the relevance and value of graduate exchange as an educational outreach model in graduate education. In this case study, a graduate student from Tarleton State University’s Department of Animal Science and Veterinary Technology was supported to study for a period of three weeks in the University of Georgia’s Parasitology Laboratory. This exchange was established to teach in vitro techniques related to the student’s graduate research. The student was able to gain valuable experience in laboratory techniques that aided in personal and professional growth while also expanding the capabilities of the home institution through training exercises conducted on return to campus. In addition to expansion of research capacity, the student was able to serve as an ambassador for the home institution, thereby enabling a more fluid exchange of ideas through student recruitment. Qualitative results from this case study would indicate that similar educational outreach opportunities are valuable components of graduate education and serve as an example for development in future graduate programs.