A new cross-border agreement signed by the University of Arizona and the National Association of Universities Polytechnic in Mexico will result in more Mexican students pursuing advanced studies and research opportunities in Tucson.
The UA’s Office of Latin American Partnership Initiatives is facilitating the agreement, which involves dozens of polytechnic campuses in Mexico that are specifically targeting students in rural areas — and those who have interests in high-tech disciplines.
“The U.S. is seen as the door of the world, and it is well known for its research intiatives,” Alvarez Mexia said. “Often, institutions in Mexico are trying to offer the best opportunities that they can, but they sometimes do not have the same resources.”
The agreement, signed in November, comes as the UA continues to complain about its funding and after it raised tuition on students.
“This agreement advances our status as a preferred and trusted institutional partner supporting higher education in Mexico,” said Mike Proctor, UA’s vice president of global initiatives.
UA President Ann Weaver Hart and the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, or UNAM, signed a memorandum of understanding earlier this year to establish a Center for Mexican Studies at the UA.
The UA also has led a number of outreach efforts through its statewide Cooperative Extension offices to help build a comparable land-grant network in Mexico. Called the Red de Extensión e Innovación Nacional Universitaria, also known as project REINU, it is a national university-based network of scientists and educators who provide resources and educational services across the country.
“In Mexico, there are few other ways for low-income classes to gain mobility. Studying in a high-tech university can bring more opportunities to students,” Alvarez Mexia said.