International student exchange opportunities and faculty research collaborations are on the rise for Trent students and faculty members thanks to a new agreement recently signed between Trent University and Universidad Iberoamericana Puebla in Mexico.

“Canadian-Mexican relations are increasingly significant and we welcome an opportunity to partner with a Mexican university that shares our interest in sustainable business, environmental research and issues of social justice,” said Dr. Leo Groarke, president and vice-chancellor of Trent University. “I hope we will see students and faculty taking an interest in these possibilities.” 

President Groarke met with Dr. Fernando Fernández Font, president of Universidad Iberoamericana Puebla, in Puebla, Mexico recently to sign the agreement and explore the opportunities for research collaborations and student exchanges with a special emphasis on sustainable business, water quality issues, community development and other topics of mutual interest. 

“Trent’s collaborations with Ibero will provide students with an opportunity to internationalize their education,” said Glennice Burns, associate vice-president, International at Trent. “In an increasingly global world, students will have the chance to learn about Mexican culture, increase their language skills and augment their degree.”

“I look forward to developing an active teaching and research hub involving Ibero Puebla and Trent faculty in areas of mutual interest,” added Dr. Asaf Zohar, Business professor and the chair of the Sustainability Studies M.A. program at Trent. “We are currently in discussions on integrating sustainability studies into the existing curriculum in Ibero’s business and environmental studies programs. It is my hope that these initiatives will create exciting collaborative opportunities for our faculty and students.”