The ink was barely dry on a new agreement of collaboration between the University of Calgary and one of Latin America’s largest universities when three assistant professors were sent for a week of lectures and knowledge exchange.
The University of Calgary recently signed an agreement with Tecnologico de Monterrey (ITESM), Guadalajara, Mexico, opening several collaborative opportunities. The agreement reinforces the University of Calgary’s commitment to internationalization outlined in the Eyes High strategy.
Under the agreement’s new Global Faculty Program, several assistant professors will travel to ITESM each year to connect with peers from 15 other universities for a week of lectures and networking. Under the new Academic Leaders program, two senior scholars from business, computing sciences, engineering, industrial design, social science, medical and biomedical sciences will travel to ITESM each year for a knowledge exchange. The two universities are also considering a short-term summer exchange program, an appealing option for students interested to study abroad.
“We are poised to become a global intellectual hub,” says Dru Marshall, provost and vice-president (academic). “It’s essential that we continue to expand our international profile and network through strategic international collaboration agreements such as this.”
Adds Janaka Ruwanpura, vice-provost international: “The signing of this agreement helps us leverage on our unique areas of expertise and enhances our opportunities for education, research and development collaboration with Mexico, one of the six countries of emphasis identified in our International Strategy.”
Shared interests in energy innovation
Mexico’s shared interest in energy innovation forms the basis for collaboration and training between the two universities. The convergence of geographic proximity, trilateral agreements, and the strength of ongoing collaborations in Latin America further make Mexico attractive for the University of Calgary. Mexico is famous for its beautiful beaches and great food, but it also has 2,359 public and private universities for a population of 116.2 million people. It’s the second largest economy in Latin America (after Brazil). Some 50 Mexican universities are included in the Latin America region’s top 300 in the 2013 QS university rankings.
The three assistant professors taking part in the first exchange were excited about their journey. “I teach constitutional law and I welcome the opportunity to learn about other jurisdictions, do comparative research and establish an international network of peers,” says Maureen Duffy, assistant professor at the Faculty of Law. “Law is operating in an increasingly global context and I can bring what I learn from this unique experience and incorporate it into my teaching and research.”
Ruisheng Wang, assistant professor in the Department of Geomatics, Schulich School of Engineering, sees several benefits. “We focus on mapping. Being able to monitor and map the environment in a developing country with an informal setting is a rare opportunity. Add the cross-cultural knowledge and international connections and you know it’s going to be a great addition to your teaching experience,” says Wang.
International exposure a great opportunity
Jason Johnson from the Faculty of Environmental Design is the third assistant professor taking the trip. “I’ve always been involved in international work. The Faculty of Environmental Design is running different international programs and is interested to have more international graduate students attend our program. It’s a perfect alignment. Plus, it’s an opportunity to meet new people, enjoy an authentic cultural experience and escape the cold winter for a week.”
Ruwanpura and the Government of Alberta’s Mexico office were instrumental in signing the agreement with Tecnologico at the end of 2013. “It is a great opportunity for our young faculty members to get exposure to international environments and network with peers from different countries,” says Ruwanpura. “I was lucky to get such opportunities early in my career and it has helped me tremendously to build a strong academic career with significant international collaborations.”
Contact the Centre for International Students and Study Abroad (CISSA) for opportunities to study and volunteer in Mexico or other countries. Check out the Latin American Research Centre for more info on Mexico.
Image courtesy of UToday: Ruisheng Wang, Maureen Duffy and Jason Johnson were the first three assistant professors to travel to ITESM under the agreement's new Global Faculty Program.