UTEQ president visits SCC

By Tiffany Thompson, Staff Writer

Tuesday, May 6, 2008 May 06, 2008 01:47 pm

— Stanly Community College (SCC) held a luncheon Thursday for Rector (President) Raul Noriega and Academic Secretary Hector Ramirez Julian Vazquez of the Universidad Tecnologia de Queretaro (UTEQ), a college about 150 miles north of Mexico City, Mexico in the state of Queretaro.
Noriega and Vazquez were visiting SCC as part of a phase in establishing a sister college relationship between SCC and UTEQ.
SCC President Dr. Michael Taylor, Executive Vice President Robin McCree and Global Education Team Chair and Spanish Instructor Patricia Horner recently visited UTEQ.
During their visit to UTEQ, Taylor provided information about SCC, so during Noriega and Vazquez’s visit, they provided information about UTEQ.
Approximately 3,000 hours of instruction are provided to a student during a two-year period, which is divided into six four-month periods.
UTEQ officials constantly modify programs so they continue to meet the needs of the changing industry standards, which is the area UTEQ focuses on since industry is growing around Queretaro.
Students at UTEQ can continue their education with a bachelor’s degree or they are equipped with the tools to create their own business.
“We have two guiding axis for instruction at UTEQ. There is the 70-30 ratio, which translates into 70 percent praxis and 30 percent theory. The other is 80-20, which means 80 percent general knowledge of industry, and 20 percent specific area training,” Vazquez said.
Students are also offered an internship, during which they are provided with an enterprise and an academic tutor. They also learn English and French.
Approximately 40 percent of the students attend with a scholarship and many are the first generation to achieve a higher education.
There are about 3,000 students enrolled in the college’s eight majors and about 1,500 that attend just for English courses.
Taylor added that UTEQ was very proficient in musical arts and sports, as the college has won several trophies.
Prior to the luncheon, Noriega and Vazquez toured the school and learned about the various programs and technology that SCC has to offer.
“They showed a great interest in our solar powered trucks, which would work well in Queretaro since they see a lot of sunshine,” Taylor said.
Noriega confirmed his interest in the solar powered vehicles as well as in the usefulness they would be at UTEQ.
He also said he believed the academic exchange between the two colleges would be beneficial for both institutions.
Hopes for the sister college relationship include being able to exchange faculty and students between the two colleges as well as to plan future visits by administration of both institutions.
Noriega would also like to see a joint research group that would be focused on alternative energy sources.
For more information about UTEQ, visit its Web site at www.uteq.edu.mx/

Contact Tiffany Thompson at (704) 982-2121 ext. 24 or snaponline24@carolina.rr.com.

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