TAMIU Group Participates in International Study Opportunity in Azerbaijan

A group of Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) students and others participated in a 7,300-mile plus study trip this summer as they attended the two-week 12^th Annual Baku Summer Energy  School  (BSES) in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The trip was made possible through a historic agreement that Congressman Henry Cuellar (’82) facilitated between TAMIU and the country of Azerbaijan in 2015 to promote student and faculty research and study collaborations on energy between universities in Texas, México and Azerbaijan. This was the fourth year the program was offered.

The BSES is an annual, two-week certificate program that brings together world-renowned scholars and policy makers to examine and gain a better understanding of global energy and environment issues and their practical application.

The program is offered by the Caspian Center for Energy and Environment at ADA University in Baku, Azerbaijan, in partnership with the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR), British Petroleum in Azerbaijan and ExxonMobil.

Congressman Cuellar said he was impressed by the opportunity students will have to learn as they explore the world.

“This is an amazing opportunity for our local students to explore the world and to learn from world experts on energy,” said Congressman Cuellar, “We want our students to take advantage of the great opportunities in engineering and other STEM fields in order to develop our future energy landscape in South Texas and Northern México. I thank the country of Azerbaijan,  Dr. Pablo Arenaz and the director of the TAMIU School of Engineering, Dr. Guillermo Domínguez, for their leadership in organizing this study abroad opportunity.”

TAMIU president Dr. Pablo Arenaz said the trip to Azerbaijan presented an exceptional learning opportunity for students.

“This study opportunity really provided our students with a chance to ‘live’ the international mission of our university.  They spoke with world-renowned scholars, academicians and policy makers to examine and  better understand global energy and environmental issues. Such profound and enlightening experiences are rare at most universities, and we are most thankful to Congressman Cuellar for helping to make this experience a reality for TAMIU students.”

Of the 12-member group of students attending BSES this year, nine were TAMIU students, one was from the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, one from the Instituto Tecnológico de Nuevo Laredo and another from Anahuac University in Mexico City. They were accompanied by TAMIU School of Engineering faculty member Dr. Tariq Tashtoush.

The TAMIU students participating were: Valeria Arce, Joanna Botello, Adalberto Flores, Ruben Gallardo, Jayne Mendoza Colchado, Francisco Hernández, Luis Reyna, Tabata Rodríguez and Pedro Salce.  The remaining students included Timothy Champagne (Incarnate Word), Oziel Guerrero (Instituto Tecnológico de Nuevo Laredo) and Luis Medina (Universidad Anahuac).

For more information, please contact Dr. Guillermo Domínguez, director of the TAMIU School of Engineering, at 326.2408, email guillermoc.dominguez@tamiu.edu or visit offices located in the Lamar Bruni Vergara Science Center, room 312D.