CIRGE undertakes evaluative research of the National Science Foundation’s Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) programs that chart the innovations of this US flagship interdisciplinary doctoral education program.
In order to evaluate the learning process of these innovative doctoral programs, CIRGE has developed evaluation plans, conducted web surveys, focus groups and interviews, and prepared reports on findings as well as on the sustainability and best practices of IGERTs.
Working with the IGERTs has offered CIRGE a unique opportunity to develop its expertise in formative and summative evaluation of these interdisciplinary doctoral programs.
The US National Science Foundation initiated the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) program in 1997 in order to meet the challenges of educating PhD students in interdisciplinary backgrounds, fostering deep knowledge in chosen disciplines, and providing technical, professional, and personal skills to become leaders and creative agents for change. These programs are intended to contribute to the development of a diverse, interdisciplinary, globally-engaged science and engineering workforce.