MEETING MINUTES SIXTH WORKING SESSION MARCH 26, 2007 Ing. Jose Antonio González Treviño, Rector of the Universidad AUTÓNOMA de Nuevo León, welcomes the members of the International Advisory Board and the special guests to the Sixth Ordinary Session of the International Advisory Board of the Universidad AUTÓNOMA de Nuevo León. The Rector states that in accordance with the proposal made during the Fifth Meeting of the International Advisory Board Mr. Yuji Nakamura, Director of the Japan Foundation in Mexico, was invited to the Meeting in order to incorporate a representation of Asian countries to the Board. Meeting attendants: Board members: 1. Ing. Jose Antonio González Treviño, Rector of the U.A.N.L. 2. Dr. Thomas Fox, CCI Vice-President 3. Dr. Manuel Antonio Sepulveda Stuardo, CCI Executive Secretary 4. Dr. David Strangway, President, Sea to Sky University 5. Dr. Francisco J. Piñon 6. Dr. Luis Riveros, Dean of the University of Chile. 7. Dr. Francisco Vieira, a Specialist of the Division of Information Technology for Development, Inter-American Development Bank 8. Dr. Luis Cabero I. Roura, Professor of the Universidad AUTÓNOMA de Barcelona. 9. Dr. Hector Altuve, a representative of Dr. Edmund Schweitzer, President Schweitzer, Engineering Laboratories. 10. Dr. Gonzalo Junoy, a representative of Dr. Alejandro Tiana, Spanish Vice-Minister of Education. 11. Dr. Juan Miguel Sanchez, Vice-President of Research, University of Texas at Austin. 12. Lic. Margarita Poggi, a representative of Dr. Ana Luiza Machado, a UNESCO regional specialist, Paris. 13. Dr. Yuji Nakamura, Director of the Japan Foundation in Mexico Remote Participants: 1. Dr. Edmund O. Schweitzer, President Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. 2. Dr. Ana Luiza Machado, UNESCO, Paris 3. Dr. Alejandro Tiana, Spanish Vice-Minister of Education Guests: 1. Dr. Jesus Ancer Rodriguez, Secretary General, UANL
2. Dr. Ubaldo Ortiz Mendez, Academic Secretary, UANL 3. Dr. Carlos Medina, International Relations Director, UANL 4. Dr. Donato Saldivar, Dean of the School of Medicine and University Hospital, UANL 5. Dr. Rogelio Garza, Dean of the School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, UANL 6. Dr. Pedro Villezca, Director of the Center for Asian Studies, UANL 7. Dr. Enrique Godines Arredondo, International Water Center Coordinator, UANL Dr. Thomas Fox, CCI Vice-president introduces the Minute of the 5 th Meeting of the International Advisory Board and the Agenda for their approval. These were approved. Dr. Manuel Antonio Sepúlveda Stuardo, CCI Executive Secretary, welcomes Dr. Edmund O. Schweitzer, who participates via videoconference. Dr. Edmund O. Schweitzer, President Schweitzer, Engineering Laboratories, talks about the Agreement between Washington State University and FIME regarding the National Association of Engineers (ANFEI). A visit and a conference are scheduled. Dr. Thomas Fox, CCI Vice-president, requests a progress of the projects to the board members. PROJECTS PROGRESS 1. International Cycle of School Participation via Videoconference Dr. Gonzalo Junoy, a representative of Dr. Alejandro Tiana, Spanish Vice-minister of Education, informs that the activities of the First International Cycle of Videoconferences between Universidad AUTÓNOMA de Nuevo León and the Ministry of Education of Spain included subjects on school violence prevention. 2. Ibero-American Hospital Network. Dr. Luis Cabero I. Roura, a Professor of the Universidad AUTÓNOMA de Barcelona, mentions the opening of The University Hospitals Network in November 2006 (Hospitals in Chile, Barcelona and Monterrey), and listed their activities: November 2006: Multidisciplinary course: Vertical Transmission Infection March 25, 2007: International presentation of the book: Medicina Materno Fetal, under an agreement celebrated between the Universidad AUTÓNOMA de Nuevo León and the Universidad de Barcelona. April 24-26, 2007: Academic activities under the subject of Topics on Mother Mortality, in Havana, Cuba in collaboration with the Obstetrics and Gynecology Cuban Society.
Dr. Donato Saldivar, Dean of the School of Medicine and University Hospital of the UANL, comments that the Master in Mother-Fetus Medicine is under way in conjunction with the Universidad de Barcelona, the Universidad AUTÓNOMA de Nuevo León, and probabily the Instituo Nacional de Perinatología. He mentioned the visit of a Delegation of teachers from the School of Medicine, accompanied by the Rector to the University of Chile and the University of Concepcion, from January 13 to 19, 2007. During that visit, they agreed to sign an agreement in order to incorporate the Universidad de Concepción to the University Hospitals Network during the academic activities of this Meeting. Dr. Francisco Vieira, a Specialist of the Division of Information Technology for Development, Inter-American Bank for Development, proposes to the Board to extend congratulations to the exponents of the Book: Medicina Materno Fetal in the Minute of this Meeting. 3. Support to Aeronautical Programs and Business Incubators Projects. Dr. Francisco Vieira, a Specialist of the Division of Information Technology for Development, Inter American Bank for Development, explains the Aeronautical Project as an exchange of teachers and researchers with the Aeronautical Technological Institute of Brazil, in order to understand the pedagogic and organizational model that runs the Institution. A visit is to be scheduled. The Business Incubators Project works with subjects about The role of the Incubator in economic regional development. In 2006, as part of this project, a delegation of the Universidad AUTÓNOMA de Nuevo León and the Rector visited. Brazil, and a visit is planned to the Business Incubator and to the Brazilian Support Service to Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SEBRAE) for 2007. 4. Asian-Latin American Project and Projects with Faculties of the UANL. Dr. Luis Riveros, Dean of the University of Chile, explains that the Asian-Latin American Center consists of seven institutions (three Latin American Institutions and four institutions from Asia). Its objectives are: 1) to spread the Asian-Pacific reality; 2) to provide cross training to Asian executives coming to Latin America and vice versa; 3) to research and disseminate the investment regulations in different countries. The electronic page of the center, www.fen.uchile.cl/centros, shows the information about the activities currently underway. The purpose of the page is to link with the pages of Universidad AUTÓNOMA de Nuevo León and the Center for Asian Studies. The Asia-Latin America Center plans a Master in Business Administration together with the Faculty of Public Accounting and Administration of the Universidad AUTÓNOMA de Nuevo León, the University of Fudan and the University of Chile. Two new projects were proposed within the Academic Activities of the Sixth Session which are as follows: 1) to develop a Seminar together with the Center for Asian Studies on business opportunities in Asia aimed to businessmen; 2) a discussion with the Faculty of Economics to carry out a comparative study of the investment decisions in Mexico that may affect investment decisions.
Dr. Pedro Villezca, Director of the Center for Asian Studies, UANL, mentions that the Center for Asian Studies is working together with the World Trade Center and the Foreign Trade Bank in order to celebrate an Agreement and create Diploma courses with the intention to form UANL professionals and train them as instructors in the How to do business with countries such as: China, Japan, Korea and India Seminars. He also mentioned the research projects currently underway: the Exporting Dynamics of Mexico in Japan, Direct Foreign Investment in the Software Industry in Mexico and India, and Food Industry Export. Dr. Thomas Fox, CCI Vice-president thanks each and every one of the board members for their participation and announces a 15 minute recess. ------------- B R E A K E -------------- Dr. Thomas Fox, CCI Vice-president invites the board members to continue with the report of their corresponding Projects. 5. International Water Center. Dr. Enrique Godines Arredondo, Coordinator of the International Water Center, UANL, explains that the International Water Center is focused on the following areas: a) academic area, to cooperate with the Faculties of the Universidad AUTÓNOMA de Nuevo León; b) research area, certain lines have been identified, such as climatic change, participation, it corresponds to the academic area, science, culture, business and international area. In six months, the center intends to open a Master of Administration and Hydrology in conjunction with the University of Texas A&M, according to the agreement authorized by Ing. Jose Antonio González Treviño. Dr. Francisco Piñón asks for an official confirmation in the Minute of his congratulation to Dr. Enrique Godines for meeting the goals of the Project. The Universidad AUTÓNOMA de Nuevo León is invited to Expo Zaragoza, Spain, in 2008, whose main theme will be Water. 6. Ibero-American Space of Knowledge Dr. Francisco Piñon proposes a seminar on The Responsibility of Universities and Research Centers as part of the activities of the International Forum of Cultures, which will be carried out from September to November 2007, in the City of Monterrey, Nuevo León.
Dr. Jesus Ancer Rodriguez, Secretary General of the UANL, approves the viability of the Project, since the University is an important participant in the Forum. He suggests scheduling dates. Dr. Ubaldo Ortiz Mendez, Academic Secretary of the UANL, adds that the University count with enough space, the technology and time to carry out the Seminar. 7. Academic Institutions with Canada Dr. David Strangway, President, Sea to Sky University, mentions the links established with Canadian Institutions, such as the project with the Research Hospital in British Columbia. He suggests the scheduling of a visit. Dr. Jeus Ancer Rodriguez, Secretary General of the UANL, declares that the Universidad AUTÓNOMA de Nuevo León celebrated an agreement with the University of Sherbrooke, Canada, which formalized the Quebec Lecture, through an agreement signed by the governments ob both States. The purpose of this lecture is to present it during the International Forum of Cultures. 8. Participation of Board Member about Projects with the UANL Dr. Ubaldo Ortiz, Academic Secretary of the UANL, mentions that Dr. Juan Miguel Sanchez has supported the construction and design of the Engineering and Technology Research Center of the Universidad AUTÓNOMA de Nuevo León. Dr. Juan Miguel Sanchez, Vice-president of Research, University of Texas at Austin, introduces the participating support centers from the University of Texas and the State of Nuevo León: CONACYT (Science and Technology National Board of Mexico) which is an International Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials center. INVITE, Regional Technological Development Program which includes the State of Nuevo León, Coahuila and Tamaulipas together with Texas in order to exchange technologies. The creation of a Center of the University of Texas in Monterrey, in the form of a Global Innovation Center with the participation of academic institutions of Nuevo León. Dr. Hector Altuve, a representative of Dr. Edmund Schweitzer, President of Schweitzer, Engineering Laboratories, states that Schweitzer Laboratories, Inc. is currently working with the Faculty of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, where he and Dr. Edmund O. Schweitzer have participated as instructors in short courses.
Ing. Rogelio Garza, Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, UANL, stresses the significance of the most important engineering event in the country organized by ANFEI, which gathers more than 220 universities in the country. He tanks Dr. Altuve the invitation to students to visit his company. PROJECT PRESENTATION Mr. Yuji Nakamura, Director of the Japan Foundation in Mexico, points out that the Japan Foundation in Mexico is a public organization founded in 1972 by the Japanese government to establish cultural exchanges between Japan and other countries. Its areas of work are: the promotion of Japanese methods, research of Japanese studies, and the culture of artistic exchange. Ing. Jose Antonio González Treviño, Rector of the UANL, points out that last year the Universidad AUTÓNOMA de Nuevo León opened the Foreign Languages Certification Center which is currently looking for teachers of Japanese who meet the demand. Mr. Yuji Nakamura, Director of the Japan Foundation in Mexico adds that the Mexico Japan Foundation counts with several programs directed to exchange experts and programs. Ing. Jose Antonio González Treviño, UANL Rector, thanks Mr. Yuji Nakamura, Director of the Japan Foundation in Mexico for his participation as member of the International Advisory Board. Ing. Jose Antonio González Treviño, Rector of the UANL, and Dr. Manuel Antonio Sepúlveda Stuardo, CCI Executive Secretary, welcomes Dr. Alejandro Tiana, Spain s Vice-minister of Education, who has linked via videoconference. Dr. Alejandro Tiana, Spain s Vice-Minister of Education, apologizes for not being in person at the Session. He points out that a UANL delegation will be soon visiting several educative centers in Spain in collaboration with Spain s Ministry of Education. Dr. Margarita Poggi, as a representative of Dr. Ana Luiza Machado, a Regional Specialist of UNESCO, Paris, states that the IIPE (Educative Planning Institute, Paris) has three areas of work: the formation of ministry officials at different levels of education in Latin America, a research line focused on the production of knowledge on the Latin American reality and an area of technical support for the subjects developed by the Institute. At the same time, he adds that Dr. Francisco Piñon is starting a project about Universities and MERCOSUR, therefore he promises to explore every line of interest and to make a presentation in the next session or before via electronic media.
PROGRESS OF UANL PROJECTS Ing. Jose Antonio González Treviño, Rector of the UANL, informs that the University Cultural Center was reopened on January 31, 2007. As for sports, he points out that by the end of April, the University will host the 2007 National University Games, the most important sport event in the country. A Developmental Program was also presented to carry out academic and research activities in conjunction with the Engineering Innovation, Research and Development Center, the Heath Sciences Research and Development Center, and International Business Center in order to be recognized as the most important Institution in the Northeastern Region in the area of Research and Technological Development. Ing. Jose Antonio González Treviño, Rector of the UANL, asks Dr. Jesús Ancer Rodríguez, Secretary General of the UANL, to present the progress of the Project in the Health area. Dr. Ancer explains that the project in the health area was presented as a proposal to the International Board two years ago, and that in November 2006 the construction of the project was began in the health sciences area. Its main function will be to act as a Multidisciplinary Center that will integrate different health areas and it will also serve as a space where researchers may share their projects in each of the areas. He mentions that under the agreement this Center and National Health Institutes will collaborate in clinical essays. He also mentions the agreement with the Neurovirology Institute of Dr. Robert Gallo, where subjects on AIDS and Neurosciences will be analyzed. Also, he adds that an agreement was made with Glaxo Clinic, Madrid, in order to counsel in the treatment of tuberculosis and malaria. Another agreement was formalized with Texas Human University to work on nutritional problems and chronic degenerative diseases; and finally, he mentioned the agreement celebrated with the Karolinska Institute, to receive counseling on the tumor cells bank, regarding new cancer treatment schemes. Dr. Ubaldo Ortiz Mendez, Academic Secretary of the UANL, mentions that the Engineering Innovation, Research and Development Center will be an integrating Multidisciplinary Center of the UANL that will cover areas on nanotechnology, mechatronics and information and software technologies. Before closing the Session, Dr. Thomas Fox, CCI Vice-President, reminds the member that the next Board Session will take place on October 29, 2007. He suggests that in the next visit the members arrive into the city on Saturday, October 27 in order to visit the installations of the Universidad AUTÓNOMA de Nuevo León. The meeting is closed at 13:00 hrs. EXECUTIVE SECRETARY INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD UNIVERSIDAD AUTÓNOMA DE NUEVO LEÓN