University - Inter-Disciplinary Studies

(The picture on the left is the college library.)

All students enroll in a discipline of their choice (nursing, business administration, journalism, tourism, etc) at IESPES when they start out as freshmen. However, they are also required to form an interdisciplinary team (one member from each discipline) of 8 or so and are given an at-risk barrio in Santarem to “adopt”. They start going out to this barrio as Freshmen and continue on with the project for four years. They select a certain problem to analyze and then develop strategies to solve the problem (children’s health, education, STD information, teen pregnancy, drugs, garbage, etc). They present their findings at the end of each semester.

I am very impressed with the presentations which are going on now, since it is the end of a semester. Student dress up with business attire (one group for instance is dressed in black business pant suits with white blouses. I asked – where do they get that kind of clothing in the Amazon and the response was they get someone to make it for them. They do their presentation with PowerPoint. It is interesting the perspective that each member of the team has, coming from their respective discipline, i.e. nursing, tourism, etc.) Many of these students have not been to the poorer parts of town where they were sent and so many were amazed about the poverty and passionate about what needs to be done. Hopefully the university is grooming the next leaders of the community of Santarem to be aware the many problems that exists.
(Here is a picture taken at the college café - the center of life - an a candid picture of a female student with the "uniforme" - tight jeans and 5 inch heels.)
The students reminded me of Peace Corps days but the potential impact and involvement that this group could have on the community is more powerful since they are from here.

The library is the most astounding place! It used to be a private home of a wealthy couple who made their fortune with sugar cane. Each of the many rooms have incredibly beautiful native wooden hand-carved doors are incredibly beautiful. (picture - below) There are more than 50 hand carved doors - carved on both sides. The pool of the home has been filled in and is a pavillion for the students.

The Mission and Values of the college which are posted everywhere are too important not to mention:

The Mission
To contribute to the development of the Amazon region through knowledge, with studies based on humanistic, values, as well as critical thinking.

Values
Quality
Interdisciplinary studies
Social consciousness
Theory, but emphasis in practice
Institutional democracy