Three graduates of UWinnipeg’s Master of Arts in Environmental, Resource and Development Economics (ERDE) begin their PhD studies this month, each having earned significant funding of $20,000 or more.
Miao Dai is attending McGill University on renewable funding consisting of teaching assistantship, research assistantship, university scholarships, and department awards.
“The small size of the ERDE program ensured that each of us received individual attention to our studies, and were able to communicate effectively with the professors, as well as fellow colleagues,” said Dai.
While at UWinnipeg, Dai worked as a research assistant with Professor Amrita Ray Chaudhuri and Professor Soham Baksi in the area of cross-border energy trade. He also assisted on summarizing results from surveys conducted in Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak regarding internet access in preparation for a hearing with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).
“Working as a research assistant on these projects has allowed me to develop strong analytical and research capabilities, as well as to gain valuable data manipulation skills.”
Yixuan Li is attending The University of Waterloo on funding consisting of teaching assistantship, research assistantship, an international doctoral student award, and an economics graduate award. Li’s focus is on econometrics, a branch of economics that focuses on applying mathematical methods to economic systems.
“During my time at UWinnipeg, I learned how to express knowledge to others, and how to do research as a research assistant,” said Li. “The teachers in our department were very knowledgeable and supportive. My classmates were very helpful as well.”
Francis Chiparawasha is attending the University of Alberta on four-year funding from its economics department, and a doctoral recruitment scholarship from its faculty of graduate studies and research.
“ERDE was the perfect program for me because the it introduced me to issues in environmental and resource economics, which I didn’t study in my undergraduate courses,” said Chiparawasha. “Given the differences between Canada and the developing world (Africa) which I came from, I believe the program was also an eye opener on how African countries can sustainably improve their development outcomes.”
ERDE students study economic analysis, and apply this knowledge to issues surrounding low-income communities, resource use, and the environment. The program is normally completed over the course of one calendar year.
For more on ERDE and the Department of Economics, check out our recent Academic Spotlight.
