TAMIU Students Travel to Azerbaijan for a Two-Week Certificate Program on Energy
A group of Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) students and faculty departed from the Laredo International Airport to Baku, Azerbaijan on July 5 for a two-week certificate program at the Annual Baku Energy Summer School (BESS).
The trip is made possible through a historic agreement that Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) 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 is the fifth year the program has been offered. This year, six students and two faculty members from TAMIU attended. President of Laredo College Dr. Ricardo Solis as well as students from University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio and Instituto Tecnológico de Nuevo Laredo were also part of the group.
The Baku Energy Summer School is an annual, two-week certificate program that brings together world-renowned scholars and policy-makers to gain a better understanding of global energy and environmental issues and policy. It 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. During this program, the students also had the opportunity to participate in cultural visits, lectures, seminars, and conversations with policy makers and world-renowned energy experts.
Congressman Cuellar said the trip presents an incredible learning and cultural experience for students.
“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. I also want to thank Dr. Solis, President of Laredo College, for attending this seminar. This is a unique opportunity for this group of bright students to view the world and the STEM field with a new perspective.”
TAMIU President Dr. Pablo Arenaz said that studying abroad in Azerbaijan provides students a chance to meet and learn from top experts internationally in the petroleum and energy engineering industry.
“For the fifth year, this exceptional learning opportunity for our students has emphasized TAMIU’s international mission,” Dr. Arenaz said, “Students will gain a deeper understanding of global energy and environmental issues and their practical applications from world-renowned scholars, academicians and policy-makers during this trip. For some students, this is a once in a lifetime chance to see a part of the world that not many have visited, and we are grateful to Congressman Cuellar for once again helping to make this opportunity a reality for our students.”
Arenaz added that TAMIU wishes to broaden its relationship with Azerbaijan and is working on future joint research ventures between TAMIU and universities in Azerbaijan.
For more information about the Azerbaijan program at TAMIU, please contact Dr. Guillermo Domínguez, director of the School of Engineering, at 956.326.2408, email guillermoc.dominguez@tamiu.edu or visit offices in the Lamar Bruni Vergara Science Center, room 312D.
Additional information is also available at the TAMIU School of Engineering site at https://www.tamiu.edu/coas/soen/index.shtml
