Thompson Rivers University

TRU Strengthens Ties With Colombia

December 7, 2011

Photo of Colombian Flag from flickr.com. Photographer: benjaminhamilton

TRU President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Alan Shaver and Associate Vice-President, TRU World, Dr. Wesley J. Koczka traveled to Colombia this month to strengthen university partnerships with institutions in the Colombian cities of Medellin and Bogota.

Drs. Shaver and Koczka met with Universidad EAFIT President Juan Luis Mejía Arango in Medellin, Colombia to sign an agreement to offer a dual TRU/EAFIT bachelors degree in Computer Science & Systems Engineering.

Photo of Colombian Flag from flickr.com. Photographer: benjaminhamilton

Photo of Colombian Flag from flickr.com. Photographer: benjaminhamilton

The agreement will allow TRU and EAFIT students to earn a dual degree following three years of study at their home institution and one year of study at the partner institution. The partners signed an agreement to facilitate the exchange of students between the institutions as well.

While in Medellin, they also met with officials from Comfama, a social agency focused on facilitating access to services for training human capital, creating capacities and building equality.

University officials visit Bogota, Colombia
to enhance educational partnerships

A signing ceremony in Bogota formalized an agreement to strengthen educational links through a scholarship program with the Colombian Institute of Educational Credit and Technical Studies Abroad (ICETEX).

The agreement will see TRU provide three scholarships, funded from international sources, annually to Colombian students entering the university’s graduate programs while ICETEX will provide educational loans for Colombian students attending TRU, as well as opportunities for TRU faculty to participate in conferences, workshops and visiting professorships at Colombian universities.

Drs. Shaver and Koczka will also sign an agreement in Bogota with Universidad La Sabana to explore areas of cooperation. They will then meet with the Canadian Ambassador to Colombia, Mr. Tim Martin and the Trade Commissioner to Colombia and Ecuador, Ms. Claudia Gutierrez.

Backgrounder
Universidad EAFIT is a private, government-accredited institution based in Medellin, Colombia. The university offers undergraduate, graduate, and PhD programs and has a current enrollment of 11,500 students. EAFIT has an active international relations program with 116 international agreements, including dual degrees with American, French and German universities.

Confama is a private social agency, monitored by the Colombian state, focused on facilitating access to services for training human capital, creating capacities and building equality. It was created in 1954 via a voluntary agreement between entrepreneurs and unions.
www.comfama.com