CAI designs trips for academic institutions looking to offer travel opportunities to its students, faculty, and alumni. We can develop specialized programs around a variety of topics, including environmental planning and conservation, agroecology and food sustainability, marine ecology, socio-economic systems, and arts and culture.
Most trips are 1-2 weeks in length. CAI works closely with staff and faculty to ensure your institution’s academic requirements are met while providing an experiential travel opportunity with Cuban educational institutions, research institutes, and professionals working in the field. We also welcome the opportunity to develop bilateral research initiatives, alternative service breaks, international professional development trips for students and faculty, and any other specialized exchange programs for educational institutions. We ensure that all travel to Cuba by US citizens is in compliance with the US government regulations.
Recurring Academic Courses
Future date TBD
University of Vermont, Gund Institute for the Environment
From Ridge to Reef: An Experiential Learning Trip to Cuba
During the Spring academic semester, the Caribbean Agroecology Institute partners with the Gund Institute at the University of Vermont to teach an interdisciplinary course that explores Cuba's advances in agroecology, biodiversity conservation, marine ecology, sustainable development and climate change responses. This 3 credit graduate level course is divided into two sections: First, instructors will deliver an introduction to Cuba’s agriculture, ecology, and economy with an eye toward challenges and opportunities within the context of US-Cuba relations. Second, students will develop a small independent study project on a topic of their choice related to agriculture or coastal ecology in Cuba. Working with Cuban graduate students, we will present preliminary findings and draft a final report at the end of class. Much more than a travel course, the overarching goal of the class is to begin generating research to study and improve agriculture, coastal zone management, fisheries, and marine protected area networks in Cuba. Education is a two-way street: we hope to examine innovative approaches to agroecology and coastal restoration in Cuba to bring back to the United States. This course is coordinated in collaboration with the Center for Marine Studies at the University of Havana.
Most trips are 1-2 weeks in length. CAI works closely with staff and faculty to ensure your institution’s academic requirements are met while providing an experiential travel opportunity with Cuban educational institutions, research institutes, and professionals working in the field. We also welcome the opportunity to develop bilateral research initiatives, alternative service breaks, international professional development trips for students and faculty, and any other specialized exchange programs for educational institutions. We ensure that all travel to Cuba by US citizens is in compliance with the US government regulations.
Recurring Academic Courses
Future date TBD
University of Vermont, Gund Institute for the Environment
From Ridge to Reef: An Experiential Learning Trip to Cuba
During the Spring academic semester, the Caribbean Agroecology Institute partners with the Gund Institute at the University of Vermont to teach an interdisciplinary course that explores Cuba's advances in agroecology, biodiversity conservation, marine ecology, sustainable development and climate change responses. This 3 credit graduate level course is divided into two sections: First, instructors will deliver an introduction to Cuba’s agriculture, ecology, and economy with an eye toward challenges and opportunities within the context of US-Cuba relations. Second, students will develop a small independent study project on a topic of their choice related to agriculture or coastal ecology in Cuba. Working with Cuban graduate students, we will present preliminary findings and draft a final report at the end of class. Much more than a travel course, the overarching goal of the class is to begin generating research to study and improve agriculture, coastal zone management, fisheries, and marine protected area networks in Cuba. Education is a two-way street: we hope to examine innovative approaches to agroecology and coastal restoration in Cuba to bring back to the United States. This course is coordinated in collaboration with the Center for Marine Studies at the University of Havana.