UBC Reports | Vol. 47 | No. 12 | August 9, 2001

Residence builds international links

Joint undergraduate program will accommodate 175 students from leading Mexican university

UBC and Tec de Monterrey -- Mexico's leading private university -- marked the establishment of a joint undergraduate academic program and student residence at a recent groundbreaking ceremony.

"We have enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship of academic and intellectual co-operation with Tec de Monterrey for some years," says UBC President Martha Piper. "This new residence symbolizes the sustainability of our partnership."

"One of the areas that really attracts us to British Columbia is the relationship it has with the Pacific Rim countries," says Raphael Rangel, president of Tec de Monterrey, formerly known as the Monterrey Institute of Technology (ITESM). "That and NAFTA make it very important for us to be here."

Increasing numbers of international students and building international scholarship and research, especially with Pacific Rim countries, are key goals of Trek 2000, the university's vision document.

Planning, design and location of the residence is under way.

Starting this September, 40-50 Tec students in their third and fourth years of study will be coming to campus.

Staying in existing campus accommodation, students will be able to take a range of regular credit courses. Curriculum will be based in the faculties of Agricultural Sciences, Arts and Commerce and Business Administration.

The program is expected to be fully operational by 2003-04 with the planned residence, called Tec de Monterrey-UBC House, expected to accommodate 175 students. Tec de Monterrey students will not be restricted to staying in the house and will be encouraged to stay in any UBC residence.

Funding for the academic program will come from tuition fees and both universities will share the cost of residence construction.

UBC signed its initial letter of intent with the Mexican university in 1996.

Other successful collaborative programs include an award-winning distance education and technology postgraduate certificate.