U.S. - Mexico: University Partnerships for Prosperity

Speech by the Governor of Jalisco, Francisco Ramírez Acuña, during the opening of the Mexico-U.S. University Partnership for Prosperity Conference
Hotel Presidente Intercontinental
Zapopan, Jalisco

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Welcome to Jalisco, the cradle of the most Mexican values. For the people of Jalisco, it is an honor that you have selected our State, and more specifically Guadalajara, to serve as the site of this important bilateral meeting.

The Mexico-U.S. University Partnership for Prosperity conference is a forum which permits the establishment of linkages between Mexican and U.S. universities towards promoting the mutual development of our nations.

The relationship that we have shared for centuries – Mexico and the United States – reached a definitive turning point in 1994 with the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

During the past 11 years, our countries have generated a dynamic which goes beyond commercial or productive investment; we have deepened our cultural, political, and social ties with mutual challenges and opportunities.

In 2001, through the initiative of Presidents George Bush and Vicente Fox, the Partnership for Prosperity was established as a strategy for strengthening the ties between our nations and collaboratively promoting economic growth and the improvement of the standard of life in our communities.

Without a doubt, one of the fundamental areas for achieving these objectives is education. The process of globalization is orienting itself toward the establishment of regional development strategies, sustained by the forming of societies of knowledge.

These societies must have the capacity to produce, obtain, systematize, and use knowledge – created or acquired – to address their development needs and, at the same time, wish to convert their knowledge into a tool for the benefit of the community.

University partnerships are one key strategy for shaping societies of knowledge. Accordingly, the government of Jalisco recognizes the interest in strengthening and expanding training programs, professional visits, exchanges, and bilateral scholarships between our universities through such partnerships.

There are currently 37 Mexico-U.S. university partnerships (until just a few minutes ago) within the framework of the Partnership for Prosperity, among which three are with universities in Jalisco: two with the University of Guadalajara and one with the Autonomous University of Guadalajara.

These partnerships, focusing on the development of small- and medium-size enterprises, such as the construction of an environmental agenda for sustainable development, are not concentrated in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara. This allows all regions of our State to have the possibility of receiving these programs, thereby facilitating the development of the entire State and not just the capital or capitals.

Given our changing demographics, by 2011, Mexico will record its highest population of young people in history. According to projections by the National Council on Population, within six years, there will be 21.5 million Mexicans between the ages of 15 and 24 years, compared to the 20.9 million currently – an advantage we can mutually capitalize on, taking into account that by those dates, the ties which bind our nations will be more solid.

We, the government of Jalisco, are interested in seeing that this exchange reaches more places of study. Jalisco has 14 higher education technological institutes, 10 prestigious national and international universities, among which is the University of Guadalajara, the second largest public institution in Mexico.

These universities educate and prepare more than 373,000 young people in 525 fields, 321 concentrations, masters and doctorate programs. As a result, we are certain that we have the necessary educational infrastructure and people so that Jalisco is one of the major players in this initiative.

We know that the goal for the coming years is to reach 50 partnerships and to award at least 550 scholarships. We thereby affirm our interest in seeing this initiative be extended to other institutions of study in the State of Jalisco.

Mr. Ambassador:

As you know, Jalisco has one of the largest migrant communities in the United States. Thus, convinced that geographic borders do not limit integration and cultural and economic ties, we have dedicated ourselves to maintaining, permanently, ties with our fellow countrymen, by promoting development programs for their home communities, investment opportunities, and jobs which will allow them to return, as well as family integration projects.

We, therefore, believe that the theme of education cannot be ignored when a migration agreement is being established which we in Jalisco believe must happen some day because there are many, many young, undocumented Mexicans who have arrived in the U.S. to reunite with their parents and have completed their secondary studies but do not have access to the universities.

This is about young people who have been educated in the U.S. culture and system, including those who, in many cases, speak English better than Spanish, know the history of the U.S. better than the history of Mexico. They are people who have been successful with the actions and deeds they have contributed to both countries.

We believe that within the framework of the law, through bilateral negotiations, we have to find solutions because we cannot, we must not shut the path to the future of the bright young people who can contribute much to our societies.

Jalisco heads the Migration Commission of CONAGO, the National Conference of Governors, and is prepared to unify the efforts of the Mexican States to support the federal governments in search of ways which will ensure that these students who want to complete their studies in the U.S. can do so.

The short-, medium-, and long-term challenges for our countries are very diverse, but so are the opportunities to build a better world for the present generation and generations to come.

We know that one of President Bush’s concerns has been the integration of families. We in Jalisco strongly promote the family as the strength of the people of Jalisco, and there is no doubt that education is the best means of solidifying the family structure.

Today we are laying the foundation for what can be a common and promising future for our nations.

Thank you very much for being in Jalisco. I hope we can have more exchanges such as today’s which brings us together, which provides better conditions for all.

The people of Jalisco are prepared to receive more concrete projects which strengthen the current understanding between our peoples.

Welcome, Mr. Ambassador.

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