For more than 10 years, College of Education Associate Professor of Special Education Robert Ives has facilitated the Research in Romania summer program, in connection with University Extended Studies, bringing graduate or soon-to-be graduate students along to learn first-hand the application of academic and research methods. A Fulbright Fellow in Romania in 2008, Ives has teaching, research and service ties with professional colleagues and students in Romania and the U.S.

The four-week program was co-founded and is co-directed by Ives and Kathy Obenchain, a former College of Education professor now at Purdue University. Ives' focus is on quantitative and mixed research methods, assessment and students who struggle in mathematics. Obenchain is an assistant professor in social studies education, focusing on qualitative research methods and democratic citizenship education, with an emphasis in developing democracies. Both their research focuses on understanding how the country's end of communism in 1989 and acceptance into the European Union in 2007 relate to Romanian society and the educational system today. 

Participating students enroll in EDRS 700 - Introduction to Educational Research, and EDRS 752 - Qualitative Research in Education. EDRS 700 is required of all graduate students in the College of Education. EDRS 752 is required of all doctoral students in the College. More advanced students have other course options.

"This trip offers students the opportunity to complete field experience in empirical-based research," Ives said. "Students get an opportunity to practice doing research and learn whether or not it is something that relates to them and their passion." Based in Cluj-Napoca, Research in Romania participants immerse themselves in cultural experiences while studying mixed-methods research appropriate for the social sciences, education and history.

"Some of the best benefits from this trip were the little interactions everyday - from using new words to get around, learning new lessons to use in the classroom, or working on statistics with my University classmates in a foreign setting," Marti Deyo, doctoral student in educational leadership and recent Research in Romania participant, said. "We were able to directly apply what we learned from a textbook in an international classroom - opening our mind and our hearts to new people, places, experiences, and adventures."

To learn more about the program email Ives at rives@unr.edu.