Student from Tampico, Mexico listens in during welcome session Students from Tampico, Mexico were officially welcomed to Nipissing University during a reception Tuesday at the Chancellor’s House on College Drive.
Student from Tampico, Mexico listens in during welcome session
Students from Tampico, Mexico were officially welcomed to Nipissing University during a reception Tuesday at the Chancellor’s House on College Drive.
Twenty students from Mexico’s Instituto Tecnologicoy de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM), are here for a five week intensive study program.
Nipissing University President, Dennis Mock, says the program benefits both the school and the community in growing the global market.
“We're trying to increase our international exposure to our own students, and to bring international students. It's part of the internationalization of the whole campus.”
“If you're in business today, you’ve got to have an understanding of international markets and the way people think in other parts of the world. The Spanish population is growing remarkably, it's a big chunk of the world now. So, this is a great opportunity to bring Mexican students into, not only Nipissing, but also North Bay. We benefit, they benefit, so it's a win-win situation,” he says.
Mock also says there are three main goals for outcomes of the program.
“First of all, their (students) English is going to be better, and that's one thing they want. They are trying to improve their English. This is a bit of an immersion. We are bringing in 20 of our own students to actually be classmates with them, so that's going to help with interaction.”
“Secondly, they get two credits at Nipissing University, that are being transferred back to Monterrey Tech. This goes towards their degree at Monterrey Tech, which is very important. And thirdly, it heightens the whole concept of internationalization on our campus and in our community. We feel we should be doing more of this and this is a perfect example,” states Mock.
Sandra Chavez, a participating student from Tampico, says that she has many things she hopes to walk away with at the conclusion of her studies in Canada.
“As a student, I'm hoping to pass my two courses, but so far, everything they told us, everything we're going to do, just sounds like so much fun,” she says.
“We'll be meeting a lot of people and getting to know a little bit about Canadian culture. Just making friends, but you get whatever you want out of the experience.”
The students will also travel throughout Ontario visiting a number of attractions starting with a trip to Ottawa for the Canada Day celebrations.
