On March 27, incoming Mexican undergraduates from the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), one of the largest public universities in Mexico, visited with Mexican Consul General Liliana Ferrer in Sacramento as part of the Student Mobility Partnership, a joint collaboration between UC Davis Extension’s Global Study Program and UC Davis Global Affairs.

Designed to accommodate IPN’s students on campus as well as a reciprocal exchange program for UC Davis students in Mexico, this is the first partnership focused on student mobility between the organizations and represents a true bilateral commitment to strengthening ties between the universities.

“This partnership will greatly contribute to our Global Education for All initiative,” said Zachary Frieders, director of Study Abroad in Global Affairs. “This is more than a simple academic exchange as this first group of Instituto Politécnico Nacional students is engaging across the spectrum of California - Mexico economic, social, and research relationships. We are excited to expand similar opportunities to UC Davis students when they go to IPN next year.”

Consul Ferrer, a proud UC Davis alumna and a major proponent of the program, was particularly enthused to meet the students. She discussed the important relationship between Mexico and California and how the students’ presence will serve an ambassadorial role when they return to Mexico. Ferrer provided the students with a welcome packet of consular activities and expressed an interest in having students join her as she visits different constituents in her region. She also plans to meet the UC Davis students heading to study abroad in Mexico next year to extend a pre-departure welcome and assist in any way that she can.

"This program is an excellent example of the outstanding global education programming possible when the various parts of the university and our international partners work together,” said Jake Hosier, interim director of University Programs at UC Davis Extension. “We hope it will serve as a model for the future, in which the strategic thought of Global Affairs and the nimble, responsible academic programming capabilities of UC Davis Extension work together seamlessly.”

About Global Affairs

Global Affairs brings the world to UC Davis, welcoming more than 8,400 international students, scholars and leaders, and hosting programs that inspire global curiosity, understanding and engagement. Compelled by the valuable outcomes of thinking globally, we make transformative opportunities a reality by supporting the thousands of students and faculty studying and researching internationally-and by facilitating collaborations that tackle the world's most pressing problems through more than 150 international partnerships.

Putting our vision of a UC Davis community that engages, thrives, and leads in this interconnected world into action, Global Affairs is now in pursuit of an ambitious goal: Global Education for All.

About the Center for International Education

The Center for International Education is part of UC Davis Extension, the continuing and professional education division of UC Davis. UC Davis Extension has been an internationally recognized leader in educational outreach for individuals, organizations and communities for more than 50 years. With 62,000 annual enrollments in classroom and online university-level courses, UC Davis Extension serves lifelong learners in the growing Sacramento region, all 50 states and more than 100 countries.