In a historic first for a New Zealand University, Victoria University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Mexico which will provide a visiting Mexican academic with an annual Chair.
The Chair is expected to last a trimester and be available in any of Victoria University’s teaching areas. It will consist of a number of teaching and research opportunities and also include the delivery of a public lecture.
Mexican signatory Ambassador Angelica Arce said the MOU was an important step in enhancing academic collaboration between Mexico and New Zealand. These feelings were echoed by Victoria’s Pro-Vice Chancellor (International) Professor Rob Rabel.
“This MOU is another opportunity for Victoria’s staff and students to exchange experiences, knowledge and perspectives with a fellow academic and it will strengthen relations between our two countries,” Professor Rabel said.
The agreement, as it stands, does not extent to Victoria staff, but Rabel remains hopeful that a similar opportunity will eventually arise for Vic’s academics.
“Although we are not ruling out this possibility in the future, we have not received any similar offers to date for Victoria University academics to spend time at a Mexican university,” Professor Rabel said.
Students need not fret either, for movements are currently afoot for the implementation of an exchange programme with universities in the land of tequila sunrises.
“The recent MOU only covers visiting Mexican academic staff, [but] we are, however, actively exploring the development of student exchanges with at least one Mexican university,” Professor Rabel said optimistically.
The Chair will be available from 2010.