New agreement to bring Mexican graduate students to U of L campus

trevor.kenney — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 16:05:51 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has reached an agreement with Mexico’s national council of science and technology that will see fully-funded Mexican graduate students study at its campus.

Under the agreement, Mexican students who are accepted and enrolled in a master’s or PhD program at the U of L will have a significant portion of their tuition fees and living expenses paid for by the National Council of Science and Technology of the United Mexican States (CONACYT).

Additionally, the agreement will open the door for Lethbridge and Mexican master’s and PhD students to participate in fellowship visits that will last up to one year. These visits are for the purpose of allowing Lethbridge and Mexican students the opportunity to acquire expertise in specific research projects.

“This agreement will provide Mexican graduate students an incredible opportunity to study at our university,” says U of L Dean of Graduate Studies, Dr. Rob Wood, adding that the continued internationalization of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ will benefit all students. “Just as important, these students will enrich our campus through the interactions and collaborations they have with our Canadian students and other international undergraduate and graduate students.”

The U of L is currently the institution of choice for nearly 500 international students representing 87 different countries.

CONACYT is an agency of the Mexican federal Government aimed at strengthening the country's scientific and technological capabilities. Areas of strategic importance for the organization include health, natural resources and the environment, alternative energy, education, social development, information technology, biotechnology, nanotechnology, and transportation. CONACYT administers several funding programs in education for the development of human capital in Mexico.

U of L President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Mike Mahon, says agreements like these will have a lasting impact, not only for students, but also for their countries.

“Universities play an important role in building relationships between nations,” says Mahon. “This collaboration will have lasting and positive economic and quality of life impacts that will benefit both Canada and Mexico.”

Building international connections is a key component of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s strategic direction to enhance relationships with external communities, as detailed in Destination 2020 – the U of L’s strategic plan.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge explores partnerships with universities in Mexico

trevor.kenney — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 21:12:29 +0000

Trip also explores research and graduate student opportunities

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge President Dr. Mike Mahon will travel to Mexico to further dialogue with indigenous universities and to explore opportunities for partnership with CONACYT (Mexico's National Council for Science and Technology) February 11 to 14.

"Working with indigenous universities in Mexico will help the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ better serve its aboriginal student body," says Mahon. "Strategic research opportunities, student/faculty exchanges, the sharing of best practices and planning successful strategies to better serve aboriginal communities are just some of the outcomes that are possible by working in tandem with our Mexican counterparts."

Mahon will also meet with CONACYT senior executives. CONACYT's mission is to promote and strengthen the scientific and technological modernization of Mexico, through the formation of high-level human resources, promotion and support of specific research projects and dissemination of scientific and technological information.

The trip also includes a meeting with officials from the Federal Ministry of Education.

In March 2012, Mahon travelled to Mexico with representatives from eight Canadian universities (including six Presidents) to hold an inaugural meeting with 10 indigenous universities. Initiated by Dr. Brian Stevenson, the President of Lakehead ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in Ontario, the meeting included several other university presidents who had a prime focus on aboriginal education or a long-standing commitment in this area.

The meeting was targeted to university presidents and rectors due to the importance of a high level, bilateral discussion regarding indigenous education. Roundtable discussions were held and led by panelists of both nations to create a foundational understanding of the challenges in aboriginal higher education in Canada and Mexico.

Expanding the internationalization of the U of L is a key strategic direction that can be found in the 2009-13 strategic plan. Also, in an open letter released last year to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community entitled the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge – Alberta's Destination ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, Mahon reconfirmed internationalization as a key priority for the U of L.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has a long-standing commitment to Blackfoot and other First Nations Metis and Inuit (FNMI) education that is articulated in the many programs and services across its campus. It the first university in Canada to establish a Department of Native American Studies and President Mahon has made a strong commitment to furthering aboriginal education in southern Alberta. Further information on strategic initiatives at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge may be accessed at http://www.uleth.ca/president/fnmi

UNews - CONACYT

New agreement to bring Mexican graduate students to U of L campus

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