The University of Aberdeen and the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Mexico City, has this week signed a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate collaboration in research projects and academic exchanges of students and staff members in areas related to Energy and the Environment.
The MoU was signed at a ceremony in Aberdeen by Steve Cannon, the University Secretary, attended by Dr Renán Báez Cantellano, responsible for external relationships at UAM.
The MoU is a further step by the University in forging strategic links with other universities in Mexico and elsewhere in Latin America engaged in the energy industries and in line with the University of Aberdeen's strategy to increase its international profile.
Mark Critchley, Assistant College Registrar in the College of Physical Sciences said: "We are delighted to formalise our relationship with UAM, one of the most important universities in Mexico, in support of the petroleum industry in Mexico. The relative strengths of the two universities complement one another in a manner such that together we can promote a range of services to the benefit of the petroleum industry in particular, offering quality in education and training and excellence in research."
Dr Báez stressed the potential benefits of the relationship in facilitating the transfer of the wider experience of the petroleum industry in the North Sea to share knowledge with the industry in Mexico, especially in the context of new technology and the implications of new developments. He said: "This is the start of a positive and mutually beneficial relationship in a wide range of areas linked to the energy sector."
The two universities will now proceed to jointly develop projects and promote services in several niche areas.