Fall 2009 Course Description
Policy research project
| Section Title: |
Capacity-Building in International Transportation at the TX Department of Transportation |
| Instructor(s): |
Leigh Boske |
| Course: |
P A 680PA - Policy research project |
| Unique Number: |
62913 |
| Day & Time: |
Tuesdays, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM |
| Room: |
SRH 3.316 |
| Waitlist Information: | For LBJ Students: UT Waitlist Information |
| Notes: |
This course can be counted as a MGPS policy research project |
This course fulfills requirements for the following specialization(s):
- International Trade and Finance
Description: This PRP will assist the International Relations Office (IRO) of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to expand its capabilities to provide advice and information on worldwide transportation practices, policies, and programs to state decisionmakers. As such, students will work closely with IRO staff throughout the academic year.
It is anticipated that students will investigate the following:
- WTO and multi-national trade agreements;
- trade statistics and databases;
- maritime and land trade lanes;
- international ocean liner and air cargo routes, rates, and schedules;
- organizational structures and activities of foreign departments of transportation;
- international transportation security programs;
- international greenhouse gas mitigation programs in foreign countries; and
- foreign country best practices in transport finance, public participation, and planning.
The first eight weeks (or so) of class will involve a variety of guest speakers who will discuss international transportation and trade from the standpoint of their organizations.
Possible guest speakers will be representatives of the Port of Houston, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport, the U.S. State Department, European Commission, the Organization of American States, and private-sector trade associations.
Students likely will travel to related organizations to conduct interviews and collect information.
In addition, students will examine websites, online databases, transportation and trade journals, electronic newsletters, and the like.
The final products will be a combination of reports, foreign country profiles, information source catalogs, contact information lists, and possibly the creation of a CD-ROM that will enable users to navigate a menu of databases.Return to Fall 2009 Course Schedule