The cross-border education initiative includes plans to launch certificate programs in coordination with Centro de Enseñanza Técnica y Superior (CETYS) University.
Tijuana, MEXICO – June 2, 2016 – National University, a private, nonprofit university that is a leader in adult education, is partnering with one of the top universities in Mexico, Centro de Enseñanza Técnica y Superior (CETYS University), to offer students in Mexico the chance to benefit from National University’s faculty subject expertise in the specialty areas of sustainability management, autism education, and information technology.
The agreement is part of a wider effort to increase educational exchanges between the United States and Mexico. It opens the door for the two private, nonprofit institutions to develop certificate programs for CETYS students in the three subject areas that have been identified as growth areas for the U.S-Mexico border region. The agreement, formalized at a June 1 ceremony in Baja California, also calls for exploring future areas of collaboration, such as joint research projects, creating visiting professorships, and establishing possible dual degrees.
“The U.S.-Mexico border is a dynamic, innovative region, and all sides benefit from a highly educated workforce,” said Dr. Michael R. Cunningham, Chancellor of the National University System (NUS), which includes National University. “We expect this agreement will create even more cross-border educational opportunities, fostering a true global educational experience, which is something we encourage at all our NUS institutions.”
CETYS University President, Dr. Fernando Leon-Garcia said: “We are partnering with National University so that in a very focused approach we can parlay the strengths and synergies of both institutions, and offer in Baja California, to CETYS constituents, three specific certificate programs. What we hope is that through this partnership some areas that were not previously covered by our offerings can now serve the cross-border community more appropriately.”
The new partnership is in line with President Barack Obama’s 100,000 Strong in the America’s Initiative, which seeks to increase student mobility between the United States and the countries of the Western Hemisphere. It is also consistent with Mexico’s Proyecta 100,000 program, which aims to send 100,000 Mexican students to the United States and to receive 50,000 U.S. students in Mexico by 2018. A double degree program in business, engineering, and psychology is already available through an agreement between CETYS and City University of Seattle, which is part of the National University System.
“National University is proud to support the 100,000 Strong in the Americas and Proyecta 100,000 initiatives by partnering with Centro de Enseñanza Técnica y Superior (CETYS) University in developing leaders who are committed to building cross-border efforts that are vital to the economy and culture of the border region,” said National University President, Dr. David Andrews.
The agreement taps into subject areas where National University has established expertise and experience with partnerships, as is the case with a credit transfer partnership in sustainability management with the University of California San Diego Extension.
The agreement will initially focus on CETYS University students whose concentration of studies are in sustainability management, autism education, or information technology, though courses would be open to CETYS University’s more than 7,000 students. “Initially, the potential segment would be at a graduate level, but it can also apply at an undergraduate level, and we hope that this is the basis for other programs that we can jointly provide to constituents on both sides of the border,” said Leon-Garcia.
Both National University and CETYS University are accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC); CETYS University is one of the few universities in Mexico that have been accredited by an international accreditation agency. Among the top higher education institutions in Mexico, CETYS University has campuses in Mexicali, Tijuana, and Ensenada. The University was founded in 1961 and now offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in Business and Management, Engineering, and Social Sciences and Humanities, as well as a High School offering the International Baccalaureate program.
About National University: Founded in 1971, National University is one of the largest private, nonprofit institutions of higher education in California. With more than 230,000 alumni, National University is the flagship institution of the National University System. National University is dedicated to making lifelong learning opportunities accessible, challenging, and relevant to a diverse population of students. Four schools and two colleges – the College of Letters and Sciences; the Sanford College of Education; the School of Business and Management; the School of Engineering and Computing; the School of Health and Human Services; and the School of Professional Studies – offer more than 75 graduate and undergraduate degrees and 23 teacher credentials. Programs are offered at locations throughout California and across thenation, and are also available online. National University is headquartered in La Jolla, California. http://nusaweb.dev/
Media contact:
Anna Cearley
Director of Public Relations
858-642-8163
[email protected]