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Posted: 2/17/09

New Agreement Paves Way for Joint Degrees with UAT

 

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In ceremonies held Monday, Feb. 16, 2009, in Nuevo Laredo’s Centro Cultural, two international higher education institutions agreed to join to enable border residents to receive joint bachelor's and masters' degrees.

Officials from Laredo’s Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) and Nuevo Laredo’s Universidad Autonoma de Tamaulipas (UAT), said the agreement is a vision of the future. Also present were the mayors of both cities, Raul Salinas of Laredo and Ramon Garza Barrios of Nuevo Laredo.

Simply put, the agreement allows TAMIU students to begin their degree there and finish at UAT. Their UAT counterparts could begin there and end at TAMIU. Both universities would recognize the joint degrees.

Dr. Ray Keck, TAMIU president, said the agreement affords TAMIU students an additional opportunity to realize the University’s global mission by engaging in a truly international curriculum.

"I thank President Gutiérrez and Mayor Garza for their joint push in completing this project. It certainly provides great news for our region, coming at a time of great uncertainty and fear for our international communities,” Dr. Keck said.

Rector Jose Maria Leal Gutiérrez, of UAT concurred, noting the historic nature of the occasion.

"This accord signed today opens great expectations and great hopes for the futures of professionals in Mexico and the United States. An invisible barrier that existed between our two nations has been broken,” he observed.

A joint press statement issued by the Consulates General of the United States in Monterrey and Nuevo Laredo observed that the accord offers an exciting example of what partners can do.

“The agreement is an exciting example of what the United States and international partners like Mexico are building by working not only government-to-government, but also with universities, NGO’s and many other partners to invest in people, strengthen civil society, and increase citizens’ participation in their societies. Our goal is to ensure a safer, more democratic, more prosperous and more cohesive hemisphere. The venerable tradition of cross-border interchange in this region provides fertile ground for building this partnership, which will foster even closer collaboration between our two countries,” the statement said.

For additional information, contact the TAMIU Division of International Programs’ Dr. Jaime Ortiz, associate vice president for International Programs, at 326.3068, e-mail jortiz@tamiu.edu or click on tamiu.edu/dip/


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