Enhancing Academic Exchange Programs Throughout Intercultural Experiences
Throughout the grant period, Universidad Intercultural Maya de Quintana Roo (UIMQRoo) signed 11 cooperative agreements with U.S. universities, created a new study abroad program, trained 5 staff members to support these exchanges, sent 20 professors to the U.S. to do research, and received 12 U.S. professors to do research related to Mayan culture. The project also helped students continue their graduate studies at U.S. universities based on their engagement with Mayan communities and willingness to work towards the economic development of the Mayan region of Mexico. In order to promote joint efforts for the success of the project, UIMQRoo collaborated with the U.S. Consulate in Mérida, Mexico to enhance the knowledge of consular process and the services offered related to graduate studies in the U.S. This project was also successful due to the hiring of three indigenous students who spoke Mayan, Spanish, and English to be assistants to the project. One of the main accomplishments of the program was that it enabled students who come from a marginalized background and living in poverty to have the opportunity to study courses free of cost to the students. The inclusion of the TOEFL, GRE, GMAT, and providing an overview of admissions requirements also enabled the students to later continue studies in the U.S. if they wished.
UIMQRoo signed cooperative agreements with the following U.S. universities:| California State University, Long Beach Florida International University New Mexico State University Pontificia Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico Red Rocks Community College, Colorado Tulsa Community College, Oklahoma | University of California, Berkeley University of California, Santa Barbara University of New Mexico University of Vermont Western Colorado University |