Since 2008, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee nursing students have made regular trips to Mexico\u2019s University of Guanajuato. There, they learn about health care in Latin America and strengthen their Spanish-language skills. It\u2019s just one example of 51ÁÔÆæ\u2019s ties to Mexico, and those ties just grew stronger.<\/p>\n
51ÁÔÆæ Chancellor Mark Mone and Luis Felipe Guerrero Agripino, rector general of the University of Guanajuato System, announced a memorandum of understanding between the institutions on Wednesday, April 27. It paves the way for multidisciplinary collaborations, expands study-abroad opportunities for both student bodies, and bolsters business partnerships between Wisconsin and Mexico, the Badger State\u2019s second-largest trading partner.<\/p>\n
Mone said an initial focal point is \u201cengaged partnerships that matter locally,\u201d noting that nearly 70 Wisconsin companies actively do business with Mexico. \u201cWe hope this partnership can help strengthen those relationships.\u201d<\/p>\n
Agripino, who\u2019s led the University of Guanajuato System since late 2015, said signing the agreement was a \u201cvery special moment.\u201d He noted the similarities between 51ÁÔÆæ and his university, which has a college-level enrollment of some 17,000 students.<\/p>\n
\u201cBoth are public universities that require a strong commitment to society,\u201d Agripino said in remarks translated by Javier Tapia, 51ÁÔÆæ associate professor of educational policy & community studies. \u201cUniversities provide a forum for discussion of all points of view. They have a great responsibility to society and humanity as a whole.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tapia has played no small role in the budding partnership. In 2001, he invited the Mexican state\u2019s then-governor, a former University of Guanajuato rector general named Juan Carlos Romero Hicks, to 51ÁÔÆæ for an official visit. Tapia also helped arrange the planned opening of a Mexican consulate in Milwaukee, which will happen later in 2016. And earlier in April, current Guanajuato Gov. Miguel Marquez appointed Tapia as Guanajuato\u2019s ambassador to Wisconsin.<\/p>\n
Milwaukee\u2019s thriving Mexican community is an anchor for the state\u2019s Hispanic population, which stands at 6.34 percent of the total population, making it Wisconsin\u2019s\u00a0largest minority group.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cToday\u2019s signing is a very important event in the history of 51ÁÔÆæ, history of Milwaukee, history of the growing Mexican population in the state of Wisconsin,\u201d Tapia said Wednesday. \u201cIt\u2019s important for the government sector to work in collaboration with the business community in order to prepare the labor force for the 21st century.\u201d<\/p>\n 51ÁÔÆæ\u2019s College of Nursing will remain a key player in that push, and a water institute at the University of Guanajuato is planning collaborative work with 51ÁÔÆæ\u2019s School of Freshwater Sciences.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 51ÁÔÆæ and the University of Guanajuato are partnering to encourage educational collaborations and business partnerships between Wisconsin and Mexico.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":487,"featured_media":33166,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","uwm_wg_additional_authors":[]},"categories":[174],"tags":[249,250],"section":[122,123],"display_categories":[115,116],"related-coverage":[179,260],"uwmnews-feed":[343,152,163],"class_list":["post-33165","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-community-engagement","tag-student-success","section-campus-community","section-campus-partnerships","display_categories-top-story-secondary","display_categories-top-story-section","related-coverage-chancellor","related-coverage-community-engagement","uwmnews-feed-health-professions-sciences","uwmnews-feed-freshwater-sciences","uwmnews-feed-nursing"],"yoast_head":"\n