Sep 03, 2014 04:58 AM EDT By Staff Reporter, UniversityHerald Reporter

The San Francisco State University has signed a memorandum of understanding with Centro de Enseñanza Técnica y Superior (CETYS Universidad) of Baja California, Mexico, to establish cooperation and exchange of scholars and students between both the institutions.

This is the first alliance for San Francisco with a Mexican institution. The agreement is valid for a period of five years.

"San Francisco State University's partnership with CETYS presents new opportunities to build a foundation for strengthening our bilateral academic and research initiatives," said SF State President Les Wong in a statement. "I am delighted that our first partnership also reflects the rich historical and cultural relationships shared by the state of California and the state of Baja California."

Besides exchange of academic personnel for mutual benefits, the agreement includes participation in joint conferences and events; short visits, courses, seminars and professional programs; and joint initiatives on community service learning and civil engagement.

Presidents Wong and Dr. Fernando León García, president of CETYS Universidad also discussed Proyecta 100,000 - a strategy stemmed from the Bilateral Forum on Higher Education, Innovation and Research that was launched in May 2013 by President Barack Obama and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto. Proyecta 100,000 aims to increase student exchanges between the United States and Mexico during the next five years.

Similar to San Francisco State, the University of California San Diego has also entered into an agreement with Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (Tijuana, Mexico) to expand collaboration among faculty and students; engage in joint research projects and publications, and exchange programs.

"Strategically this initiative is very important to our campus as we are located in an ideal space for cross-border collaborations with large student populations on both sides," UCSD Chancellor Pradeep Khosla said in a statement. "Our unique location allows for the meaningful exchange of ideas and resources between our students and faculty."

This is the second such partnership between both the Universities. In 2013, a bridge program was started that brings together high school students from San Diego and Tijuana to the La Jolla campus for a summer session on science and engineering.

UABC President Felipe Cuamea Velázquez said the agreement "consolidates mutual visions of higher education, research and innovation" and will advance economic development for both countries," UT San Diego reports.

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