A collaborative project in West Africa: student research experience in development

Undergraduate and graduate students from the University of Notre Dame and the Universite d´Abomey-Calavi, Benin, West Africa, have been involved in an international research experience. Established in 1998, this project includes regional sampling of groundwater quality, water-quality monitoring/education in a village in south-central Benin, a well drilling program, and a geostatistics course taught in Benin. In addition to student experience, these efforts have led to significant collaboration and time commitment among the faculty involved. In reviewing these efforts, two significant differences are noted between this research experience and other service experiences in developing countries. First, collaborative research requires long-term commitment between colleagues in the U.S. and in the partner country. Hence, it is concluded, short-term trips without long-term follow-up are unlikely to provide an optimal environment for international research collaboration. Second, research experiences are optimized when they include collaboration not only among faculty and students, but also among professionals, NGOs, and local populations in the partner country