SUNY, The State University of New York has entered into an agreement with the U.S. Embassy in Mexico and the Government of Puebla State to deepen the University’s engagement with Puebla and bring enhanced global opportunities to SUNY students.
As part of the agreement, a new SUNY-Puebla Intensive English Program will be launched this summer and bring 53 English professors and students from Puebla´s public technical universities to participate in a six-week intensive English program offered simultaneously on four SUNY campuses: University at Albany, University at Buffalo, SUNY New Paltz, and Stony Brook University.
The SUNY-Puebla program is one of the first efforts in Mexico to take place under President Obama´s “100,000 Strong in the Americas” education initiative, in which the U.S. Department of State is working with institutions of higher education to encourage expanded exchanges and closer partnerships between U.S. and Latin American and Caribbean universities and colleges.
Since the SUNY-Puebla program was first designed, Mexico´s federal Education Ministry as well as the Autonomous University of Hidalgo State have also decided to send first-time delegations of English professors to SUNY campuses this summer.
SUNY is one of the most engaged and visible U.S. institutions of higher education in Mexico. Established in 2004, SUNY´s programs in Mexico generate and support system-wide initiatives as well as existing campus programs and those seeking to establish new ties and initiatives. SUNY has formed important relationships with many of the top research and teaching centers in Mexico, including the National Autonomous University (UNAM), the Mexican Council on Science and Technology (CONACyT), and the Tec de Monterrey.
Robert Balkin, Director of SUNY Mexico says Puebla is Mexico´s fourth largest municipality, just two hours east of Mexico City. Puebla is one of Mexico´s most important education and manufacturing hubs and many Mexican and Mexican-Americans currently living in New York come from this region. He points to is as the centerpiece of Presidents Obama's 100,00 Strong in The Americas Initiative.