Texas Border Business
By Amanda Sotelo
South Texas College continues to expand its partnerships across the border with a new letter of intent for collaboration with the Universidad Tecnológica de Matamoros (UTM) that could promote the economic development of the region.
“Texas and the Valley, like the rest of the country, are facing a manpower shortage and Mexico and the border partnerships we forge may well be the solution to the continued prosperity of our region,” said STC President Ricardo J. Solis, Ph.D. “We are excited to enter this partnership with UTM. We both have a lot to offer our students by working together.”
The university, established more than two decades ago, is in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, about 60 miles from STC’s Pecan campus in McAllen and focuses on robotics and mechatronics technologies.
In fact, the university with an enrollment of about 2,700 students, is ranked No. 6 in the world for its mechatronics program.
“I have to salute Dr. Solis for the work he does. Together we will continue the noble work to transform lives and bring greater opportunities to students on both sides of the border,” said UTM President Diana Masso Quintana. “We look forward to sharing best practices and collaborating with STC, a great institution.”
During a recent tour at UTM, which is modeled after French engineering institutes, STC administrators and city of McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos, received an in-depth look into advanced technologies offered and the university’s many successes.
Many of the university’s students prepare and compete annually at the Vex World Robotics competition, as the world’s largest global competition. In the coming months, UTM students will also be traveling to New York to showcase their talents.
Villalobos said these educational partnerships are valuable to the border region.
“These visits and partnerships are critical to the economic development of our communities,” he said. “Together, we can attract more businesses to the border, create more jobs and fill them with qualified candidates.”
Like at STC, UTM students are prepared for international opportunities upon graduating for successful technical careers.
Also, at UTM, students not only have a bilingual curriculum of English and Spanish, but they are also encouraged to learn French and German, and many go on to work at manufacturing companies outside of Mexico in the U.S. and Canada.
Solis has initiated a global effort to provide dual credit opportunities and workforce training to students and industry across the border.
STC Global Market Development coordinator, Luisa Fernanda Rodriguez spearheads this initiative.
“Education is the foundation of economic growth and with this collaboration both STC and UTM students will have the privilege of being exposed to many new training and employment opportunities,” said Rodriguez. “It’s a win-win for industries and communities that span both sides of the border.”
For more information on STC’s Institute for Advanced Manufacturing or technical programs offered, visit https://www.southtexascollege.edu/entrenamiento-global/
