ELADES Students Benefit from Extensive Library Support in their Research

This year, 36 students from 16 countries participate in the ELADES study program at ECLAC which runs from July to August annually and is coordinated by the Division of Productive and Business Development of ECLAC. 

Antonino Zunino from Uruguay is among this year’s course participants. He is pursuing a Ph.D. in Social Sciences focusing on Economic History at the University of the Republic (UDELAR) in Uruguay. Zunino shared his motivations and experiences with us.

“I applied as part of my doctoral studies,” Zunino explained. “I have a strong interest in Latin American studies and wanted to connect with others interested in regional development from a critical perspective, which aligns with my interests.”

One of Zunino’s primary goals for participating in ELADES is to enhance his methodological toolkit. Despite his familiarity with many of ECLAC's theoretical discussions, he sees the program as an opportunity to delve deeper and refine his research. 

“I am particularly looking forward to making significant progress on my thesis through the final project of the program,” he noted, “which will likely constitute a chapter of my final text.”

The Library’s Extensive Support Enriches ELADES Students' Experience 

“The Library has been incredibly helpful,” Zunino remarked.

The support from the Library and its services has been a significant aspect of Zunino’s positive experience at ELADES. 

Following an initial presentation on the library’s resources, Zunino sought assistance with his research topic. He was pleasantly surprised by the swift and effective support he received, including access to relevant bibliographic material from the ECLAC Digital Repository and personalized guidance from the Librarians.

“The Library staff understood the scope of my research very well and sent a highly pertinent bibliography. Frankly, I am not used to such good service — it was an excellent surprise,” he said. 

“We strive to provide comprehensive and timely assistance to enhance ELADES student's research efforts. It’s gratifying to hear that our services make a difference in their academic journeys.”, said Claudia Vilches, Senior Librarian at the Hernán Santa Cruz Library.

The Library has developed a research guide (in Spanish) specifically for ELADES students to ensure they have easy access to all resources and information about the program. This guide offers comprehensive details about the class schedule, the curriculum, teaching materials, recommended readings by professors, Library services, and how to access academic resources.

ELADES was established in 2000, and since then, over 600 students from various countries and universities have participated in the program.