ITESM Students Benefit from A&M International Summer Program

A select group of students from the Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM) are getting a hands-on introduction to the world of international business, transportation and logistics through an innovative summer program at Texas A&M International University.

The seven students are undergraduate international business students enrolled in two courses and accompanying field visits that form the Transportation and International Logistics Summer Program.

Dr. Michael Patrick, professor and chair of the department of economics and finance and program director, said the students have a distinct advantage in undertaking their studies in an environment rich in transportation and logistics.

"The University and Laredo offer a unique setting for these studies. The day's classroom lessons can come to life in any of a number of scheduled field trips to freight forwarding companies, customs brokerage offices, and transportation, warehousing and logistics facilities and service providers," Patrick explained.

The students' courses are delivered in English and include Principles of Transportation and Export/Import Operations and Practice.

The students are the first to come to A&M International as part of an articulation agreement between the University and ITESM signed last year. That agreement provides for joint degree study, special projects research and faculty and student exchange. The effort is coordinated by ITESM's Office of International Programs and the University's College of Business Administration.

The University has additional agreements that afford similar study travel opportunities in Canada, France, Germany and Central and South America. An A&M International student group of 22 will return shortly from summer study programs undertaken in Germany and France.

ITESM students will complete their summer program July 8 and earn six credit hours. They will return to their Monterrey campus to complete undergraduate degrees. Many have expressed an interest in returning to Laredo to continue their graduate business studies.

For additional information, contact Dr. Patrick at 326.2515 or visit offices in located in Pellegrino Hall, room 304.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at pais@tamiu.edu