McMaster strengthens international student exchange program

McMaster has strengthened a student exchange program with one of Latin America's leading post-secondary institutions.

Dean of business Paul Bates, dean of engineering Mo Elbestawi and associate vice-president, International Affairs, Luke Chan recently visited Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM) in Monterrey Mixico, to renew and expand an international student exchange agreement.

McMaster's DeGroote School of Business has had a long-term student exchange agreement with ITESM. With the agreement up for renewal, the Office of International Affairs explored avenues to expand it to include the Faculty of Engineering.

The renewed agreement will allow a total of 12 McMaster students and 12 ITESM students to be exchanged per year. Of the 12 exchanges, six will be from the School of Business and six will be from the Faculty of Engineering.

“This is a great opportunity for business students in a world where international experience will be a prerequisite for employment,” says business dean Paul Bates.

“The same can be said about engineers,” adds Mo Elbestawi, dean of engineering. “Exchanges and international internships provide our students the experience of living and working in other countries. This experience is making our graduates more valuable in the market place.”

ITESM is one Latin America's top university's with more than 33 campuses in 22 cities in Mexico. The ITESM system has more than 92,000 students.

The Office of International Affairs will continue to monitor the exchange to see if other disciplines would benefit from similar partnerships.