Research Scholars Application Released: Center for Research, Policy and Innovation (CRPI)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 5, 2021 Indianapolis, IN, USA: The Burmese American Community Institute (BACI) today announced the releasing of the application for Research Scholars especially designed for students inside Myanmar. The innovative collaborative research project offers the unique opportunity for college seniors, graduates or doctoral students to conduct intensive research for 2-3 months individually, or in groups.

Innovatively tailored to meet the emerging needs in the Burmese communities in the global context, implemented under the Center for Research, Policy and Innovation (CRPI) in collaboration with higher education institutions, the program promotes collaborative research and action projects with local researchers, Burmese scholars, international colleagues, and stakeholders engaged in work related to the Burmese American community, Asian Americans, Myanmar, Southeast Asia, and the diaspora communities. The goal of the CRPI is to further innovative research activities, policy, and development-oriented projects that align with BACI’s vision and mission for advocacy, education, and service.

“We are delighted to create new opportunities by the development of new innovative programs in response to emerging needs in the community—especially in light of what’s happening in Myanmar—while putting all the effort toward sustaining these programs in comprehensive, creative, and impactful ways through big ideas”, said Elaisa Vahnie, Executive Director of BACI.

Established in August 2020, the CRPI builds upon nine years of impactful research programming through BACI’s Upward College Summer Scholars program. The Center aims to strengthen existing BACI programs and services, create innovative research projects in response to emerging needs in the community, translate research into action, and develop strategies for sustainability.

“The BACI has built a strong network of local partners and I am thankful for this opportunity to be part of the new center.  In partnership with the BACI, we have been awarded the Charles R. Bantz Chancellor’s Community Scholar Award from IUPUI.  With this we will expand community-driven research and strengthen community-university collaborations,” said Jessica Euna Lee, PhD, Co-Director of CRPI who also serves as Academic and Research Advisor.

This virtual program implemented remotely is FREE. The online form is available here: CRPI Research Scholars Application

Capstone Project and Thesis Option

Under this newly expanded program, the student researchers will have the opportunity to undertake a 2-3-month (or longer) intensive research project as follows:

Capstone Project: The researchers, in groups, conduct the policy and solution-oriented research which further offers several optional tracks. The project could be:
– Policy oriented PAR research
– Project based research that includes program design and implementation, or
– Secondary Data Analysis for effective policy and decision making.

Thesis: this option offers college seniors, graduates or doctoral students the opportunity to conduct individually, or in groups, intensive research for 2-3 months in one of the above research formats, combined with creatively linking the desired thesis topic to the capstone project.

These research projects can be used to meet the internship or degree requirements of their respective academic programs at various Universities as has been the case in the past. The allowable credit hours can be from 6 credit hours to 30 credit hours, depending on the length, the intensity, and the requirements of the institutions in which the researchers are enrolled or the students are wishing to use (these credit hours are potentially to be used for the requirements of the degree programs at various colleges and universities in Myanmar administered by the democratic Myanmar Ministry of Education, with the approval of concerned parties).

The CRPI is expanding BACI’s partner network of researchers, scholars, and academic and professional institutions.  The Center’s vision is to advance community-driven research and strengthen community-university collaborations. Possible topics for this summer research projects include: 

• Ethnic Harmonies and Peace
• Civic and Political Participation of the Burmese and Asian in the US
• Myanmar Military Coup and the Burmese struggles for Democracy (sub topics: Nonviolent Movement, the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs), Human Rights, Democracy, the United Nations and/or the UN Security Council, the Role of International Communities and International Laws, International Organizations, etc.)
• Institutional Design and Public Policy (Education, Health, Economic development, etc.)
• Federalism and Education
• Constitutional Design and Democratic Transitions in emerging democracies around the world
• Education and the International Development
• Climate Change Resilience, planning for Adaptation and Mitigation Measures for the Community that can support in the Implementing of Environmental Strategies for Myanmar.
• The Role of Myanmar Diaspora Community in Rebuilding the Southeast Asian Nation
• U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program and Secondary Migration
• COVID-19 and its Impact on the populations
• Higher Education, College Going Rates, College Persistence rates etc.
• Telemedicine, Global Health, Public Health, Nutrition Health, Community Health, and Health related topics and more.

Contact: CRPI@thebaci.org
More information about the CRPI can be found at: https://thebaci.org/crpi/

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