HACU celebrates its 9th International Conference in Puerto Rico
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) celebrates its 9th International Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Feb. 23-25, 2011, at the Conrad San Juan Condado Plaza, under the theme “Building Bridges for Cooperation in International Education.”
Dr. Álvaro Romo, HACU Associate Vice President for Programs, Services and International Affairs, addresses participants at the 9th International Conference.
“The Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities chose Puerto Rico as the location for its 9th International Conference because it represents an important region of the Caribbean, and also a significant portion of our member institutions. HACU believes it’s the ideal location that connects the United States with Latin America and European participants,” said Antonio R. Flores, HACU president and CEO.
The presentations and discussions of the international conference will revolve around four main themes: international education policy; international mobility; innovation in international education; and best practices in international education.
“The collaboration of higher education internationally not only promotes peace and a more complete appreciation of other cultures, but in fact, it can also be used as a means of improving the quality of higher education itself,” Flores emphasized. “At a time when conflicts and confrontations are taking place in other countries, it’s important to remember that education represents one of our greatest sources of hope for a better, more peaceful and more prosperous future for all.”
The conference will be a strategic meeting place not only for university presidents, administrators, faculty and staff, but also for students, research directors and higher education professionals that work to advance their respective institutions. Other topics of interest for conference participants include: student exchange programs and initiatives; joint degrees and dual degrees; distance learning; and work and study abroad.
(L-R) Josephine Resto Olivo, Chancellor, American University of Puerto Rico; Sr. Jose Mendez, Dr.h.c. President, Sistema Universitario G. Mendez; Dr. Jorge Velez Arocho, President, Pontificial Catholic University of Puerto Rico and Vice Chair of HACU's Governing Board; Dr. Álvaro Romo, Associate Vice President, Programs Services and International Affairs; Dr. Jose Jaime Rivera, President, Universidad del Sagrado Corazón; Agnes Mojica, Chancellor, Inter American University of Puerto Rico San German Campus; Dr. Jose Miguel Justel, President, UNIVERSIA, Puerto Rico
Among the keynote speakers invited are internationally renowned figures, including: Honorable Pedro Pierluisi, Puerto Rico’s Resident Commissioner in Washington, D.C.; The Honorable Jorge Dezcallar de Mazarredo, Ambassador of Spain in the United States; Hugo Ñopo, lead research economist in education at the Inter-American Development Bank; and Mark Feierstein, assistant administrator for Latin America and the Caribbean, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Also, Silvia Kofler, minister counselor, head of press and public diplomacy, Delegation of the European Union to the United States of America; Dr. Salme Harju Steinberg, president emerita, Northeastern Illinois University; and Manuel J. Fernós, president, Inter American University of Puerto Rico, Central Office.
According to HACU president and CEO, “We expect the participants to leave enriched from this experience after learning about the best practices and models that that have had positive results at other institutions, and that they take with them innovative ideas that result in projects that can benefit each of the higher education institutions and organizations they represent. HACU feels privileged and proud to be able host opportunities for collaboration between the institutions that attend the conference.”
HACU represents more than 400 institutions of higher education in the United States, Puerto Rico, Latin America, Spain and Portugal, including 226 designated as Hispanic-Serving Institutions.
Contacts:
Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities, Norma Jean Revilla-García, Executive Director of Communications and Marketing, (T) 210-576-3206
Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, María Eugenia Madrid, Director of Public Relations, (T) 787-727-7120
UNIVERSIA Puerto Rico, Odette Rodríguez, (T) 787.281.3543
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