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Most students know him as “Professor Martin”—but “World Traveler Martin” would be an equally fitting title. Indeed, Randall Martin (BA ’76), instructor in the Department of Management and International Business and faculty director of the College of Business Administration’s study-abroad programs, has traveled around the globe, often while leading student groups. This summer, he ventured solo to the rugged, but beautiful, eastern coast of Honduras where, as part of the John Ogonowski Farmer-to-Framer (FTF) program, he worked with the Centro Universitario Regional Del Litoral Atlántico (CURLA) to help the university create a viable strategic plan and a forward-looking operational design. “An important issue for me is to help the citizens of the world lead better lives,” Martin said. “The work at CURLA was another step toward achieving that goal.” One person can make a difference.
During his three-week stay, Martin interviewed representatives from each CURLA department, undertook a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis, and conducted training sessions about how to develop an effective strategic plan. “My primary focus was on operational processes. I looked at all aspects of the university, gathering information about its current operations, budget, student enrollment, and course offerings,” Martin said.
“This seems to be a completely untapped area in this region of Honduras,” he said. “With the right investments and course development, CURLA could develop a curriculum geared toward supporting the travel and hospitality industry, teaching students how to be tour guides or even to open tour companies catering to the growing number of adventurous travelers looking for the ‘next new hot spot’ to visit.” “We are very pleased to have had Martin lead this effort in Honduras; he is the first professor from the college to participate directly in the program,” said Carmen Algeciras, (MIB ’03, BA ’01), director, USAID Farmer-to-Farmer program, which falls under the umbrella of the college’s Knight Ridder Center for Excellence in Management and the Eugenio Pino and Family Global Entrepreneurship Center. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funds the FTF program. Higher education opens the door to a brighter future. The overriding mission for CURLA is to teach, conduct research, and transfer technology with the purpose of preparing capable professionals while contributing to the development of the country and improving the quality of life for its citizens.
“We requested technical assistance to help CURLA create a strategic plan,” said Candido Ruiz, Honduran country manager with the FTF program. “Professor Martin helped create a plan that showed the CURLA team where they needed to invest to strengthen the institution. He also led discussions on marketing the institution to increase enrollment, on which careers/curricula should be our primary focus, and what external factors should be considered in making the strategy work.” In Ruiz’s opinion, one of the most important aspects of this experience was how the teachers as well as the administrators worked together and really got involved in the projects Martin led. “The results were all very positive,” Ruiz said. “We are proud to say that CURLA is the first extension branch within the entire Honduran university system to have completed a strategic plan.”
Projects like this one in Honduras play a vital role in the greater FTF program. “Working with universities in the FTF program is part of what makes our activities sustainable,” Algeciras said. “Strengthening higher education creates a multiplier effect and has proven to be a critical step in improving employment, competitiveness, and the creation of knowledge-based societies, thereby alleviating poverty in the region.” To learn more about the USAID Farmer-to-Farmer program, visit http://usaid.fiu.edu. For more details on related classes and future projects—and how you might participate—contact Carmen Algeciras, program director, at 305-348-0399 or algecira@fiu.edu.
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CURLA is an extension branch of the Honduran national university system. Many of its 2,500 students come from low-income families who live and work in the surrounding rural area. Tuition averages approximately $20 year—but even with such a seemingly affordable fee, the university is looking for ways to grow and attract more students.
Ecotourism is one opportunity he identified.
CURLA turned to the FTF program for guidance on how to best meet these goals.
Playing a global role: CURLA project exemplifies goals and value of FTF program.