Collaborative links between Aberdeen and Mexico are set to be strengthened with the signing of Memoranda of Understanding with two of Mexico’s leading universities.
Aberdeen has forged ties with the Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco and the Universidad Olmeca at ceremonies being held in Villahermosa, Tabasco.
The MoUs are designed to facilitate collaborative links between the academic institutions, developing joint research projects, and access to and sharing of teaching programmes, particularly at postgraduate level, and relating to the Energy sector.
Mark Critchley, Assistant College Registrar, University of Aberdeen, is in Mexico this week and has been facilitating the collaboration. He said: "It is the University of Aberdeen's ambition to increase our profile as an internationally leading centre of quality and excellence in education and research.
"We are seeking to improve access in the Energy industries in Mexico and to build on the expertise available across the institutions, thereby working together to engage in strategically important research and development projects in Energy technologies."
The agreement between the universities mirrors the MoU which already exists between Aberdeen and Villahermosa, and has helped to forge closer links between the cities, both of whom are members of the World Energy Cities Partnership, and is a feature of the strong alliance being developed between the cities.
The University of Aberdeen is visiting Mexico this week as part of an education and training mission organised by Scottish Development International, which is also being attended by a number of other education and training providers from Aberdeen and from across Scotland and the UK.
Aberdeen is developing closer links with a number of organisations in Mexico to promote the education, training and research expertise in Aberdeen to industry and universities in Mexico, and the links with UJAT and Olmeca are examples of several formal links being finalised this month by the University of Aberdeen with Mexican universities.
Head of the College of Physical Sciences at the University of Aberdeen, Professor Albert Rodger, welcomes today's signings and said: "This is an excellent opportunity for the University of Aberdeen to work together with the two institutions in Mexico.
"The collaborative links being developed have the support of Aberdeen City Council, the British Embassy in Mexico City and the Mexican Embassy in London. We very much value the assistance of the UK Trade & Investment and Scottish Development International in facilitating this venture.
"This engagement is an important step forward in our ambition to have the University of Aberdeen recognised throughout Latin America as an international centre of quality and excellence in Energy."
Aberdeen City Council Leader, Kate Dean, added: "We greatly welcome the forging of these fresh links between Aberdeen and Villahermosa, which will build on the existing Memoranda of Understanding that the Council has with the City of Villahermosa and the State of Tabasco, and enhance our alliance as part of the World Energy Cities Partnership."