As part of efforts to strengthen the internationalization of the Industrial University of Santander (UIS), the institution hosted a visit from Araceli Romo Cabrera, director of the Aragón School of Higher Studies (FES) at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).
The meeting provided an opportunity to share the academic capabilities of both institutions, learn about the educational programs offered by FES Aragón, and identify areas of common interest to advance new cooperation initiatives, particularly in student and faculty exchange, research, and the development of joint projects.
During her visit to the UIS, Araceli Romo Cabrera, director of the Aragón School of Advanced Studies at UNAM, emphasized the importance of strengthening existing ties and moving forward with projects that allow both universities to leverage their respective strengths.
“We wish to promote collaborative projects between our institutions, not only in the area of academic mobility for students and faculty, but also in collaborative, transdisciplinary, and multidisciplinary research projects on a bilateral basis,” stated Romo Cabrera.
FES Aragón is a multidisciplinary academic unit of UNAM with a student body of more than 20,000 and an academic offering that includes 14 bachelor’s degree programs—three of which are also available through the Open and Distance Learning System—two specializations, six master’s degrees, and three doctoral programs. Its bachelor’s degree programs also undergo accreditation processes that attest to their academic quality.
A Look at the UIS’s Capabilities
As part of the agenda, Dr. Romo Cabrera toured various areas of the university, including the Physicomechanical Engineering building, where she visited some of the laboratories in the electrical and electronic engineering departments, as well as other facilities dedicated to education, student well-being, and research.
“I am fascinated by the UIS. I love it. We just visited the Physicomechanical Engineering building, where there are a number of spectacular laboratories. And I believe that if we create this synergy with UNAM itself—which also has a long history and excellent facilities, institutes, research centers, schools, and faculties—we will be able to foster a very enriching collaboration for the benefit of our countries.”
Internationalization to Create New Opportunities
For Professor Olga Mercedes Álvarez Ojeda, UIS Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, “it is very important for the University to consolidate these partnerships and knowledge networks, with the aim of encouraging both faculty and students to participate in joint exchange programs—both incoming and outgoing—and to develop joint research and outreach projects in the future.”
From this perspective, strengthening international relations is not limited to signing agreements but seeks to translate into concrete opportunities for students, faculty, and researchers, in accordance with their interests and areas of expertise.
“To this end, you can count on the Foreign Affairs team to strengthen existing agreements and establish new ones that will enable, among other things, the creation of dual-degree programs,” Álvarez Ojeada explained.
The goal is for these partnerships to bring together the capabilities, knowledge, and experiences of institutions from different countries, while opening up new opportunities for student education, research, and the development of projects that address the needs of communities.
