TAMIU Signs Agreement with Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México-San Antonio
Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) recently signed an agreement with Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) in San Antonio, which will allow the two institutions to collaborate to develop students' biliteracy levels.
Representing TAMIU at the signing ceremony, which took place at TAMIU, were President Dr. Pablo Arenaz; Dr. Claudia San Miguel, provost; Dr. James O’Meara, College of Education dean; María Eugenia Calderón-Porter, assistant vice president for Global Initiatives, and Dr. Christian Faltis, College of Education, department of Educational Programs chair and professor.
Present from UNAM San Antonio were Ing. Paula de Gortari, UNAM San Antonio director, Dr. Jorge Madrazo, director of the Support Program of Mexicans Abroad, Zoraida Serrano, Spanish department chair, and Alfredo Avalos, Community and Culture coordinator.
Also present was Mexican Consul General of Laredo Juan Carlos Mendoza Sánchez.
The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) will allow for the recruitment, evaluation of students, development, and delivery of coursework by the two institutions as part of the Seal of Biliteracy for the Americas coursework.
The Seal of Biliteracy for the Americas represents an innovative and dynamic program designed to meet the needs of students seeking to advance their careers in dual-language workplaces (English and Spanish) where workplaces require higher levels of biliteracy, said Dr. O'Meara.
"It also represents a collaboration for creating an interdisciplinary and collaborative research environment between TAMIU and UNAM for fostering discovery, increasing biliteracy levels among students and professionals working in dual language workplaces, and generating research-informed solutions for improving learning outcomes in the K-12 classrooms serving bilingual communities," O’Meara said.
UNAM San Antonio's director, Paula de Gortari, said the program will provide opportunities for bilingual students.
"This is the very first time that we are formalizing such an opportunity for students, for the community to give them an academic level for their Spanish-speaking," she said, "So this is a very important collaboration between both universities."
A Seal of Biliteracy for the Americas language certificate can be used to meet language requirements for school admissions, course placement, and university enrollment.
For more information, please contact Mariana Barberena, program manager, TAMIU Office of Global Initiatives and Bi-National Center, at 956.326.2831 or email mariana.barberena@tamiu.edu
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