Campbell President J. Bradley Creed took part in the first Higher Education Summit of the United States and Mexico in Guadalajara, Mexico, in March. The summit meeting explored partnership opportunities between Mexican and U.S. colleges and universities.
Creed was among a U.S. delegation of 24 independent college and university presidents and five cabinet-level officers from U.S. institutions who met with their Mexican counterparts. The meeting was organized by the Council of Independent Colleges and the Mexican Federation of Private Higher Education Institutions and supported by Santander Universidades and Universia.
The summit, “Reaffirming the North American Spirit of Collaboration in Higher Education: Creating Bridges of Communications” emphasized the importance of international exchange. Participants were taught to provide enhanced exchange opportunities for students and faculty members in both countries; provide students with increased access to internships in Mexico and the United States; and allow faculty members and students to collaborate in shared research projects and development programs.
The Summit followed three years during which delegations of Mexican private universities participated in CIC’s Presidents Institute, the largest annual gathering of college and university presidents in the U.S.
The U.S. presidents and their Mexican colleagues visited and met with campus leaders of three Mexican higher education institutions: Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Universidad Panamericana, and Universidad del Valle de Atemajac. They also met with the U.S. Consul General in Guadalajara, Tanya C. Anderson, and with local, state, and national Mexican officials, as well as additional university rectors.
The groups discussed student and faculty exchange programs, articulation agreements, global leadership, visa issues, and undocumented students.
