RICHARDSON, Texas (Aug. 13, 2004) — Officials from The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) and the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education in Mexico will sign an agreement of collaboration next week that will provide for joint research, as well as the exchange of students — and eventually faculty members — of the two institutions.
UTD’s Center for U.S.–Mexico Studies will play a key role in facilitating the collaboration. A signing ceremony between the two institutions is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 17, in the McDermott Suite of the Eugene McDermott Library on the UTD campus.
The agreement will enhance projects already in place, such as an Internet lecture series and scholarship support for Monterrey students pursuing graduate programs at UTD. Additionally, it will provide new venues for faculty and student exchange and for the development of bi-national research agendas between both institutions.
The Instituto Tecnologico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM) was founded in 1943 by a group of entrepreneurs seeking to educate professionals and equip them with the skills needed to succeed in the business world. ITESM is recognized nationally and internationally for its academic excellence. A private, nonprofit and nationwide university system, ITESM enrolls about 95,000 students at 32 campuses spread throughout 26 Mexican cities.
“We are delighted to form a partnership with Tecnológico de Monterrey,” said Dr. Rodolfo Hernandez, director of UTD’s Center for U.S.–Mexico Studies. “This relationship will provide a new spectrum of educational opportunity for young scholars in their future academic careers, and it will help to increase the goodwill and understanding between the two nations.”
UTD President Dr. Franklyn Jenifer will host the signing ceremony on Tuesday. The ITESM delegation will include Dr. Alberto Bustani, president of the ITESM, Monterrey campus; Dr. Enrique Zepeda, vice president for international affairs, Tec de Monterrey System; Dr. Eduardo Guzman, dean of international programs, campus Monterrey; Dr. Martin Hernandez, dean of health sciences, campus Monterrey; and Leticia Zamarripa, ITESM liaison for the southern United States.
About the Center for U.S.–Mexico Studies
The Center for U.S.–Mexico Studies was created in 1995 in response to UTD’s recognition of the richness of the Mexican-American relationship and history, as well as the importance of Mexico to the United States. The center strives to enhance the academic relationship between UTD and Mexico via international education, research and public service programs. Goals of the center are to provide curricula and exchange of faculty and students with Mexican universities, to conduct research and present lectures on issues of interest to both Mexico and the U.S. and to prepare individuals for leadership on critical business, political, scientific, technological and cultural issues of concern to both countries.
About UTD
The University of Texas at Dallas, located at the convergence of Richardson, Plano and Dallas in the heart of the complex of major multinational technology corporations known as the Telecom Corridor®, enrolls about 14,000 students. The school’s freshman class traditionally stands at the forefront of Texas state universities in terms of average SAT scores. The university offers a broad assortment of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs. For additional information about UTD, please visit the university’s Web site at www.utdallas.edu