One hundred Mexican undergraduates joining UKM's mobility programme

 From UKM News Portal

 

One hundred Mexican undergraduates coming under UKM’s mobility programme 

By Mohd Safar Hasim
Pix Courtesy of Melinio.com

 BANGI, 25 Jan 2013 – One hundred Mexican undergraduate students are coming to Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia this year to join UKM’s mobility programme, the largest group to take part in the programme so far. 

All the students will come from various universities in The State of Mexico, a state in the Mexican Republic, which signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 21 January 2013 in Toluca, the capital city of the State.

Malaysian ambassador to Mexico, Dato’ Jamaiyah Mohd Yusof and Governor of the State of Mexico, Dr Eruviel Avila Villegas witnessed the signing.

The students will be attending short courses in and outside the campus. This is the largest number of students coming from the State of Mexico. In the past they came in small groups of four students.

The students are coming under the Mexico Mobility to Malaysia (MM2M100) which was announced by Governor Avila during the signing of the MOU. He also said students will be sent to join Permatapintar programme  and  expressed the hope to visit UKM to see for himself the Permatapintar.

The State of Mexico, is one of 32 states of the Republic of Mexico with a population of 14 million. 

Minister of Education of the State, Raymundo Martinez Carbajal signed on behalf of the state. Vice-Chancellor, Prof Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Sharifah Hapsah Shahabudin is the signed in absentia on behalf of UKM.

Dato’ Jamaiyah in her speech before the signing ceremony mentioned about the academic links between UKM and Latin America, particularly with Mexico.

She welcomed the the signing of the MOU as setting the groundwork for more cooperation with the State of Mexico in education and perhaps expand to other fields in the future.

Governor Avila in welcoming the signing said his government gives emphasis to education mentioning that the State of Mexico was the sixth entity to approve the republic’s legislative reform proposed by President Enrique Pena Nieto.

Students from the University of Ixtlahuaca performed the Wau Bulan and Zapin dances during the ceremony. The students learnt the dances during their earlier visit to UKM.

The Embassy of Malaysia in Mexico in its report to UKM said he grand ceremony and warm hospitality indicated the welcoming gestures of the State of Mexico for cooperation with Malaysia.  The presence of the Governor shows that the state really puts an emphasis in the field of education. 

The Embassy recommends UKM to invite the Governor to Malaysia and UKM particularly to see for himself the success of their programmes for more possible cooperation in the future.

The performance by the students from University of Ixtlahuaca is proof that academic cooperation can expand into other ways, especially culture.  The students were able to learn the Malaysian dances in such a short time.  However, the Embassy is of the view that the dancers be given better costumes than the old costumes that were worn during the ceremony.  This is also to appreciate their willingness to participate in showcasing Malaysia’s beautiful dances and indirectly give awareness about Malaysia to the Mexican public.

As an effort to complement the Governor’s programme, the Embassy of Malaysia in Mexico will visit universities and higher education institutions in the state to give a presentation about Malaysia as a way to increase students´ awareness on Malaysia. This will augur well with the state programme to send more students to Malaysia.

The signing ceremony received a wide coverage from the media.  An article on the ceremony were published on the state government’s website and Milenio, one of the most important daily newspapers in Mexico.
Photo Caption

Photo:  Courtesy of the Embassy of  Mexico in  Malaysia

1.  Governor of the State of Mexico, Eruviel Avila Villegas, after the sining ceremony (No. 14)

2.  Malaysian Ambassador Dato’ Jamaiyah listening to the speech by Governor Avila. (No 15).

3.  Governor Avila, Education Minister of The State of Mexico, Raymundo Martinez Carbajal and Malaysian Amabassador in Mexico, Dato’ Jamaiyah Mohd Yusof. (Malasia-1)

4.  Governor Avila dan Duta Malaysia with the  MOU documents.