PANEL DISCUSSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION WITH THE UNDERSECRETARY FOR NORTH AMERICA, SERGIO ALCOCER, U.S. AMBASSADOR ANTHONY WAYNE, AND UNAM DEAN JOSE NARRO ROBLES

In the UNAM’s historic San Ildefonso College, a panel discussion on higher education was held with the Undersecretary for North America, Sergio Alcocer; U.S. ambassador Anthony Wayne; and the Dean of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Jose Narro Robles. The event was organized by the UNAM’s Center for Research on North America and was attended by about 150 students from the UNAM and other guests from academia.

The subjects discussed included the future of higher education in a globalized world; the ties between Mexico and the United States in this field; higher education and development in both countries; the balance between science and technology and social sciences and humanities; and the progress being made towards making higher education a strategic focus of the bilateral relationship.

Ambassador Wayne discussed the priority the U.S. gives to education in its relationship with Mexico and President Obama’s Force of Hundred Thousand initiative in the Americas, alluding to the importance of collaborative research, student and faculty exchanges, public-private partnerships, and giving impetus to college-to-college ties. He said that all of these steps could help strengthen the bilateral economic and political relationship and could also enrich the social and cultural ties that unite our countries.

The ambassador also noted that by working together, the young generations of both countries can improve our future by building on shared ideas and values. He agreed with Dean Narro that the European Union’s Erasmo exchange program has made a big difference in building cross-border ties in Europe, and said that academic exchanges have also made a big difference in the US-Mexico relationship. He said the challenge in the future is to strengthen and expand these exchanges.

Undersecretary Alcocer highlighted the diversity and depth of the Mexico-US agenda. He discussed how bilateral cooperation has a positive and direct impact on both societies. He also stressed the shared values ​​of both countries. "We must acknowledge that we are strategic partners who have to work together to make this region the most dynamic and competitive one in the world. For this we need education, science and technology."

Dean Narro discussed the universities’ role in promoting mutual understanding between peoples. "We have to find concrete formulas that allow us to strengthen the relationship between our institutions of higher education, that build wide avenues for academic mobility, and promote the building of bridges instead of walls, that open doors instead of closing them, in order to find areas of interest."

The governments of Mexico and the United States have operated educational programs for some time. Various academic institutions also have successful academic and research exchange programs. The governments are committed to working together on this to benefit both societies.