Mitacs and Mexico expand opportunities for research collaborations

Vancouver, BC — Mitacs, a Canadian organization that funds research and training, along with Mexico’s Secretariat of Public Education (SEP) announced a partnership to support international research opportunities for undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows.

Canada and Mexico are working together to increase student mobility, which will see researchers travel for international collaborations through several Mitacs Globalink initiatives:

• Canadian undergrads and grad students will conduct research at SEP-funded universities across Mexico, gaining invaluable experience while increasing their research skills and professional networks.
• Mexican senior-level undergraduate students will participate in 12-week research projects supervised by faculty at Canadian universities. This is a competitive initiative for international students from Brazil, China, France, India, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam.  Mitacs Globalink hosted more than 475 students from around the world in summer 2014, and is expecting over 750 this year.
• Returning graduate students from Mexico will be eligible for fellowships to attend graduate school in Canada.
• We are exploring an initiative whereby postdocs and early-career researchers from Mexico will be able to conduct research fellowships at Canadian universities.

Mitacs and the Secretariat of Public Education wish to acknowledge the Mexican Secretariat of Foreign Affairs, the Mexican Embassy in Ottawa, the Canadian Embassy in Mexico City, and the University of British Columbia for helping to bring this partnership to fruition.

Quote:

Alejandro Adem, CEO and Scientific Director:

“By formalizing this relationship with Mexico, we are encouraging the exchange of research knowledge and innovation between our two countries, in addition to providing new opportunities for students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty, and universities.”

The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade: 

“Our government welcomes the agreement between Mitacs and the Mexican Secretariat of Public Education. International education provides significant economic benefits to our communities, and creates jobs in classrooms and laboratories across the country.”

Learn more:

You can find more information about Mitacs and our programs at www.mitacs.ca/en/newsroom.

To learn about the Secretariat of Public Education, see www.sep.gob.mx.

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Dr. Sergio M. Alcocer, Undersecretary for North America, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Mexico, and Dr. Alejandro Adem, CEO and Scientific Director, Mitacs