Dominican Republic and Cuba – Field Research Program, Microfinance & Economic Development in Latin America (Closed)
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Dates
- Summer 1 Semester - May 6 - June 2, 2012
Application Deadline
- Summer 1 Semester - November 17, 2011
Description
Information Sessions
- Tuesday, October 18, 2011 from 6-7pm in 456 Ryder
- Wednesday, October 19, 2011 from 6-7pm in 456 Ryder
- Wednesday, October 26, 2011 from 6-7pm in 456 Ryder
- Wednesday, Nov 9 from 6-7pm in 237 Richards Hall
- Wednesday, Nov 16 from 6-7pm in 237 Richards Hall
Group Leader: Professor Dennis Shaughnessy (d.shaughnessy@neu.edu)
The Field Research Program in the Dominican Republic is built on the principles of rural micro-finance, village banking and the Grameen Bank model of solidarity, specific to rural "batey" communities of the Dominican Republic. The academic portion of the program includes daily classes Monday through Friday for two-three weeks with topics of study including social entrepreneurship, social enterprise development, micro-finance, business solutions to ending poverty and impact measurement. Classes are supplemented with site visits to social businesses throughout the country, including micro-finance networks, agricultural co-operatives and development organizations.
In the afternoon, students spend at least 3-5 hours "in the field" daily in batey communities where Haitian sugar plantation workers live in rural farm lands of La Romana and San Pedro de Marcolis. The purpose for this field exercise is to collect metrics for Esperanza International, the University’s field partner in the Dominican Republic. Esperanza is a leading microfinance organization in the island of Hispaniola and is an active Kiva field partner.
In this micro-consulting project, students design a qualitative or quantitative metric tool to assist Esperanza with measuring social impact for the organization's 18,000 active borrowers with a loan portfolio of approximately $20 million USD. Students also create a final presentation or deliverable which includes recommendations to management for best practices in the field of micro-finance. The fourth week of the program incorporates a week of service learning and additional site visits to the neighboring island of Cuba, where Esperanza International also has satellite lending offices. The Field Research Program will compare the typology of microcredit in a traditional capitalist economy in contrast to Cuba’s socialist economy. Students will also be given the opportunity to visit Esperanza’s partnerships with public health clinics and programs.
To watch an informational video about the Dominican Republic Field Research Program, please visit: please visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oA3cWPbY-ZE
Courses
- ENTR 3316 Microfinance and Economic Development in Latin America
- ENTR 3318 Business, Economics and History of Hispaniola and Latin America
Host University
Esperanza International
Eligibility Requirements
Please note this program is only open to students with a minimum 2.75 GPA. Students who do not meet this requirement but still wish to apply must contact Esther Chou (e.chou@neu.edu) so additional arrangements can be made to facilitate a reference. Preference is given to students who have completed ENTR2206: Social Entrepreneurship with Professor Dennis Shaughnessy. All students must attend supplemental interviews in addition to the online application.
Application Procedure
- Online Faculty- Led application (application open 10/17 - 11/18)
- Upload one unofficial transcript
- Upload one copy of passport ID page
- Upload essay questions
- Faculty may require additional information and/or interview (after application deadline)
Cost
$9,460 plus possible additional accommodation charge.
Accommodations
Students will live in hotel accommodations in the capital city of Santo Domingo to be included in Summer I tuition. Various travels to different parts of the island/Caribbean may include a change in hotel venue.