VaC: First email to the MIT

[sadasant]

Based on our investigations, we should be able to send an initial email to the MIT with questions as well as well thought proposals.

You can follow and comment on our progress regarding this email here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KKcJBdTl95NE8bBrvD-QWMY138Iytr4XOjaGpHtWtSw/edit?usp=sharing

[sadasant]

The main thing I'd like to highlight from the email proposal is the questions:

• Do forced migrants qualify as Refugees?
• Could we start with a first batch of asylum seekers in the United States?
• Is 90 points on the TOEFL required?
• Are the current courses already designed for any kind of refugee or should we also plan on working together to develop a specific study program for Venezuelans?
• How would the selection be? We know at least a hundred asylum seekers in the USA that have a STEM background, should we invite them all?
• Can the program be initially remote? Even within the United States, the participants are likely to be distributed across the nation.
• Can the program have an optional physical location for practices or to reinforce the studies? We could host this location in the areas of higher density of Venezuelan asylum seekers in the United States. For example: Weston and/or Doral, both in Florida.
• What is the estimated cost per person? José Montes de Oca told me that it is going to be about $5000, but I wanted to confirm.
• Can we assign a couple of our team members to do an equivalent parallel Micro-Master? They would pay for the course. It’s so that fellow Venezuelans are able to help the other participants reach the maximum number of graduates.
• How many companies should we find to accept graduates from this program? What are the requirements for these companies?

💛💙❤️

[josemontesdeoca]

@sadasant For the email, it may be a good idea if I send it to Prof. Masic as part of a warm intro for the team that will be tackling this project.

This will be the Kick-off email for the project, letting Prof. Masic know about the current status of the project, who is going to lead it and make sure proper intros are made 🙏

WDYT?

[sadasant]

Go for it! Can I assign you this issue? (or just assign yourself to it, I'll make sure you have permissions)

[josemontesdeoca]

Also, another goal for this email is to try to set up a video conference with Prof. Masic. perhaps is a better setting for him to answer those questions and start putting faces to the project members.