North Bay, ON, Thursday, February 16, 2006 — Nipissing University has signed a two year student exchange agreement with Mexico’s Instituto Technológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM) campus in Tampico that will see Nipissing host a contingent of ITESM students for five weeks in the summer.

The agreement renews and expands on the recently expired two year agreement the two institutions shared. 

The new agreement will see between 25 – 44 ITESM third-year business students coming to Nipissing University from June 26 – July 31, 2006, and again in the summer of 2007.  As well, two faculty members from ITESM will accompany the students, providing assistance in their studies, overseeing residence life and joining them on excursions.  The Nipissing International office will arrange Canadian cultural activities and off-campus trips.

As part of the new agreement, Nipissing business students will participate in classes alongside the ITESM students.  The collaboration will present unique opportunities for the students to network and discuss international business practices and opportunities.  As well, Nipissing is looking at the possibility of faculty exchanges and non-academic exchanges, possibly involving varsity sports teams traveling to Tampico for competition.

The signing took place on February 8, 2006, when Nipissing’s president, Dr. Dennis Mock, met with ITESM president, Hector Núñez de Cáceres Lopez, in Tampico to officially sign the agreement. 

“This is a terrific opportunity for Nipissings students and ITESM students to enhance their knowledge of global business as well as culture,” said Mock.  “Nipissing is committed to enhancing our international programs and profile and this signing underlines that commitment. The involvement of the community and the City of North Bay is also a big part of this exchange.  The ITESM students are ambassadors for their country and this presents a tremendous opportunity for economic development as the city can demonstrate its value to Mexico’s future business leaders.”

Nipissing is planning to use the agreement with ITESM as a model for future growth in international programming that would see groups of students coming to Nipissing from all over the world for a larger international summer program.