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HACU's Vision and Activities in International Education Programs
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) established the category of international member in 1996. That same year, HACU began organizing international conferences. These activities were launched in an effort to facilitate cooperative agreements between HACU-member institutions and increase the participation of Hispanic students in international educational experiences. Since then, the number of international members has grown to a approximately 45 institutions in Latin America, Spain and Portugal. HACU established its Office of International Affairs on September 15, 2003. The establishment of this new office reflected HACU's commitment to international education. HACU’S International Conferences: I. Las Cruces, New Mexico, 1996 VI. Santa Fe, New Mexico, 2005. II. Tempe, Arizona, 1997 VII. Alcalá de Henares, Spain, 2007 III. San Diego, California, 1999 VIII. Guadalajara, Mexico, 2009 IV. San José, Costa Rica, 2001 IX. San Juan, Puerto Rico 2011 V. Guadalajara, Mexico, 2003 X. San Antonio, Texas 2013 Our Vision of International Higher Education The world is our virtual neighborhood. National borders are essentially irrelevant in the virtual global village of today, especially among learning communities across the world. Rapid and dramatic technological and scientific changes are fostering and speeding up this seemingly irreversible globalization of humanity. As it has done throughout history, higher education is leading the way in this information and knowledge revolution. HACU, as the champion of Hispanic success in higher education, is mindful of its important lead role in the internationalization of higher education. HACU’s vision in this regard is clear and far-reaching: Hispanic Americans and Hispanic-serving colleges and universities have a special mission to promote and support greater cross-national collaboration in higher education, particularly in the Americas and the Iberian Peninsula. This special mission calls for HACU to approach international initiatives and programs not as an appendix to its national work, but as an integral part of its strategic efforts to strengthen Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and advance the educational success of Hispanic Americans in the United States and in other regions of the world. HACU’s vision of international higher education, therefore, will be best realized through strong and lasting collaboration between its core constituencies in the United States and its emerging membership in the Americas and Europe. International education is the foundation to promote the welfare of humankind. As one international roundtable participant stated, “…education is a global issue because people can only be changed by education…and the big problems in the world are always addressed internationally.” HACU is uniquely poised through its multicultural membership and professional assets to facilitate collaborations and innovative programs between its national and international members. Achievements Since its creation in September 2003, the Office of International Programs at HACU has achieved the following:
HACU’S Commission on International Education HACU’s Commission on International Education provides guidance, advice and support to HACU on the following:
For a complete list of members of this Commission, please click here. For further information, please contact: |