MOU designed to help improve quality of teachers
A memo of understanding was signed recently between the College of Education at the University of New Mexico and the Secretary of Education in the Mexican State of Jalisco, to further develop teacher education, workforce training and to help improve higher education in Jalisco.
Photo: Flanked by UNM President David J. Schmidly, Miguel Angel Martinez Espinoza, Secretary of Education in the State of Jalisco, speaks to supporters of a memo of understanding between the Higher Education Department in Jalisco, Mexico and UNM's College of Education.
Among the dignitaries at the signing were Miguel Angel Martinez Espinoza, Secretary of Education in the State of Jalisco; Gustavo de Unanue, Consul of Mexico in New Mexico; UNM President David J. Schmidly, Interim COE Dean Richard Howell, Secretary of Education of New Mexico, Veronica Garcia; and Rebecca Blum-Martinez, director, COE Office of Latin American Programs in Education.
“We need collaboration across our borders, not fences,” Schmidly said. “Teacher education and workforce training go hand in hand. This will help us build cooperation and mutual respect. It also helps us do the right things between our two countries.”
“The opportunity to have this exchange and agreement is a wonderful opportunity for all educational institutions in Jalisco,” Martinez Espinoza said. “We chose the University of New Mexico to pursue cultural knowledge. It’s a great honor in a deeper sense to establish ties with New Mexico, which has a great respect for Mexico’s past and its identity.
“It’s important for us to have an open attitude toward our plDavid Brookshire and languages to help preserve our identities. It speaks to the issues of multiculturalism and bilingualism in teacher preparation and an exchange in technology. We’re open to each other with respect.”
The first training session under the new agreement gets underway in July when UNM hosts 30 English teachers from Jalisco. The teachers will earn regular class credit and will learn theory and practice in English as a second language to help improve their pedagogy and English.
“It’s the first of many collaborations,” Blum-Martinez said. “We hope to develop some dual MA programs in ESL and bilingual education, and other areas of high need for our two states.”
“I’m very proud of the state of Jalisco and the University of New Mexico signing this agreement,” said Consul de Unanue. “This type of agreement builds confidence between the two countries. We need to build these types of agreements between our countries – not walls.”
During their visit to UNM, Jalisco’s Secretaría de Educación dignitaries met with their counterparts at the New Mexico Public Education Department, and with experts in Teacher Education, American Indian Education and Special Education in the UNM COE.
Media Contact: Steve Carr, (505) 277-1821; e-mail: scarr@unm.edu