6

Chapter 6

Higher education, rest of the world

244 Branching out

246 American University

248 Azerbaijan State University of Economics

250 Islamic Science University of Malaysia

252 Khon Kaen University

254 Kokshe Academy

256 La Universidad San Francisco de Quito

258 North-West University

260 Petroleum Institute

262 Qatar University

264 Suranaree University of Technology

266 Tecnolgico de Monterrey

270 Universidad Adventista de Chile

272 Universidad de la Integracin de las Amricas

274 Universidad Tcnica Particular de Loja

276 Universidade Federal de Lavras

278 Universidade Tiradentes

280 Universidade Veiga de Almeida

282 Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman

284 University of Iringa

285 Yerevan State Medical University

after Mkhitar Heratsi

286 University of Nizwa

Student mobility and the ongoing push to raise standards is encouraging academic diversity and depth across the globe. This chapter features higher education providers from beyond Europe that are delivering outstanding results on a local, national or international scale

244

245

Branching outOur rising glObal pOpulatiOn brings with it greater demand

fOr higher educatiOn, and universities thrOughOut the wOrld

are respOnding with innOvative and accessible prOgrammes

sir david attenborough recently described population growth as out of control.

he had a point. the number of people on planet earth has more than doubled

in the past 50 years, hitting the seven billion mark in 2011. and according to

the latest united nations figures, this figure is set to climb to almost 11 billion

by 2100. the impact on higher education will be huge; more people bring greater

demand and traditional campus-based university study simply wont meet it.

consequently, educators are embracing rapid growth, new technologies

and exciting initiatives. a major shift has been internationalisation, which offers

a broader range of accessible on- and off-line courses. in this brave new world,

greater numbers of students can gain a respected education from a university

in almost any location, given the right technology and access.

Branch campuses

the 2013 british council report the shape of things to come tracks the evolution

of so-called transnational education (tne), which enables students to gain a foreign

qualification without leaving their home country. Opportunities include those offered

by more than 200 branch campuses worldwide, whereby respected institutions

set up shop in other parts of the world to reach local audiences who are seeking

a high-quality international education. the paris sorbonne universitys campus in

abu dhabi, the university of nottinghams campuses in malaysia and china, and

cornell universitys campus in Qatar are all good examples not least because the

middle and far east are particularly popular regions for overseas outreach. a 2012

study by the Observatory on borderless higher education found the countries

hosting the most international branch campuses were the uae, china, singapore,

malaysia and Qatar.

then there are the online programmes. while the uKs Open university and

canadas university of british columbia are broadly considered the pioneers in this

area, online and distance learning are now commonplace. massive Open Online

courses, or mOOcs, are set to change the face of formal education. launched in

america in 2008 but gaining momentum since 2012, these were initially not-for-

credit courses, designed by universities and made available to anyone, anywhere,

for free hence their eponymous massive audiences. the model is developing

rapidly and, today, its remit is broadening. for example, the us-based mOOc

provider coursera now runs paid-for courses, and another us-based mOOc

provider, udacity, has a masters in computing science with georgia

tech that both selects students and charges fees. universities also

are seeing the value of mOOcs as a branding tool. in January 2014,

the dutch minister of education, culture and science committed

1 million a year to developing open education resources, saying

they are the business cards of dutch universities.

meanwhile, a spokesman for the uKs mOOc provider,

futurelearn, comments: Our partners see themselves as global

universities, and an mOOc is a huge opportunity to show the high

quality of their courses. mOOcs are reaching people who otherwise

wouldnt have the opportunity. they bring fascinating discussions,

with people all over the world learning together.

Overseas education

a more familiar means of internationalising higher education occurs

when students travel from their home nation to a university elsewhere,

either for their entire degree or for part of their course. this remains

popular as proven in January 2014, when the us secretary of state

invested $1 million in student exchange programmes between us,

latin american and caribbean universities. meanwhile, there are huge

benefits to be reaped from taking an entire university course overseas.

higher education is now one of the uKs most successful and rapidly

growing export sectors, said nicola dandridge, chief executive of

universities uK. it is not only about economic benefits. international

students, researchers and staff also make an enormous contribution

to academic and cultural life.

through this expanding range of platforms and models,

access to university education is increasing and expertise is shared

worldwide. by embracing groundbreaking technologies, exciting

opportunities are opening up for the growing global student

community of the future.

These courses are reaching people who otherwise wouldnt have the opportunity

246

Get engagedA regulAr stop for some of the worlds most prominent

leAders, AmericAn university in wAshington dc Also AttrActs

mAny of the most enquiring student minds

located in washington dc, American university (Au) is near the heart of the us

seat of government. its perhaps unsurprising, then, that the institution regularly tops

the princeton reviews list of universities with the most politically active students.

washington is a living laboratory for our students, and we work very hard to ensure

they take full advantage, says neil Kerwin, the universitys president. students often

undertake internships at the countrys top companies, in congress, in the supreme

court or even in the white house, or they could be posted with renowned

organisations such as National Geographic or The Washington Post.

Au is also a frequent stop for visiting dignitaries and officials. guests who

have spoken on campus include president obama; former us presidents John f

Kennedy, Jimmy carter and Bill clinton; the dalai lama; mikhail gorbachev; and

Benazir Bhutto. the university operates in an environment that is actively engaged

with the great issues of our time, attracting students who are interested in creating

a better world.

A private research university, Au has more than 13,000 students enrolled

across its seven schools and colleges, encompassing the fields of arts and

sciences, business, communications, international service, law, professional and

extended studies, and public affairs. this range of expertise serves students well.

for example, 89 per cent of undergraduates and 92 per cent of masters students

who completed their degrees in 2012 either work in their chosen field or attend

graduate or professional school.

International studies and research focus

committed to delivering a high-impact learning experience, Au invests an

enormous amount of energy in its study-abroad programme. Across the campus,

more than 72.4 per cent of students have participated in the programme, and

within the school of international service that number rises to over 85 per cent.

while we have an entire school and faculty dedicated to international studies,

international experiences are woven into all our schools and colleges, explains

president Kerwin, so all students have the same opportunities.

www.american.edu 247

the universitys undergraduate programme in international studies

is the largest of its kind in the usA. were facing a growing number of

challenges that transcend national boundaries, and for sovereign states

to make decisions on issues such as climate, water, energy and internet

governance is increasingly difficult, says president Kerwin. this is

an area of research in which we excel and to which we are devoting

more resources.

Au is, however, careful to strike a balance between its dual roles

of educating the next generation and discovering new knowledge as a

doctorate-granting institution. our research focus extends to undergraduate

programmes, explains president Kerwin. first-year students often benefit

from the universitys research opportunities.

Interdisciplinary approach

one of the universitys key strengths is in interdisciplinary research, and Au

has created talented teams of undergraduates who engage in problem-

based studies across an array of disciplines. the questions that we face

today go beyond the category of any one discipline and we want to develop

a curriculum that takes that into account, says Au provost, scott A Bass.

in one project, for instance, students of communications, public policy

and science worked collaboratively to develop a 10-year management plan

for a rainforest in nicaragua, which they then visited to see how their ideas

worked in the real world. A similar approach is being used to develop Aus

new inquiry-based honours programme, commencing in autumn 2014,

which is designed for a select group of very high-achieving students.

staff from different disciplines will work with students on an important

question, and develop that as the modality for approaching the field.

Based in a city where large-scale issues are addressed every day,

Au is an internationally focused centre of learning where students relish

the opportunity to tackle big challenges with an open mind.

Washington is a living laboratory for our students, and we work very hard to ensure they take full advantage

248

Firm potentialAzerbAijAn StAte UniverSity of economicS offerS firSt-rAte

cAreer proSpectS to itS grAdUAteS, which enAble them to

excel both At home And AbroAd

www.aseu.edu.az 249

foreign companies that have braved the sometimes

turbulent waters of life in the former Soviet Union

know that a little local know-how can go a very long

way. businesses need to be aware of potential pitfalls,

and an in-depth knowledge of a regions commercial

environment is invaluable for those seeking to establish

a foothold. thats why overseas firms working in

Azerbaijan tend to employ graduates from Azerbaijan

State University of economics (ASUe).

Modern establishment

founded in 1930 and based in the countrys capital of

baku, ASUe offers a range of degrees and phds in the

fields of finance, business, economics and commerce.

the university has around 18,000 students and is

the most modern higher educational establishment

in Azerbaijan.

in fact, we are deemed one of the most prestigious

universities in the entire caucasus region, explains

professor Shamsaddin hajiyev, the universitys rector.

this is thanks in no small measure to the universitys

management, which showed considerable foresight

during the early years of Azerbaijani independence.

during the early 1990s, certain parts of the former Soviet

Union were always more likely to attract global attention

than others and, with its rich oil deposits, its location

at a crossroads between europe and the middle east,

and its close historic links to turkey, Azerbaijan was in

a strong position.

with this in mind, those in charge at ASUe

understood two crucial points early on. first, in order

to be taken seriously around the world, the institution

would have to provide a high-quality education.

And second, the ability to speak foreign languages

would open doors for its students.

many of them already speak at least two languages

Azeri and russian and its not unusual for students

to speak turkish, too, since the latter is related to Azeri.

but as a forward-looking university, ASUe also offers

courses in english, french, german and Arabic, which,

in todays globalised business environment, perfectly

complements its main focus of teaching.

for its most able students, ASUe takes this

emphasis on languages a step further by offering

classes in Special talented groups, wherein all

the teaching is carried out in english. the groups

are vehicles for leading international economists to

come and share their knowledge, and the students

often attend summer schools abroad.

the Special talented groups produce highly

skilled economists, many of whom find great jobs

with both local and foreign companies in Azerbaijan

or with Azeri firms abroad, says professor hajiyev.

in addition, a great number of ASUe alumni

work for Azerbaijans central bank or are employed

in government ministries, including the ministry of

economic development, the ministry of finance

and the ministry of taxes.

International links

ASUe has also developed close links with international

organisations, such as the world bank, the world

trade organization (wto) and the world intellectual

property organization. the latters depository library

is based at ASUe, whose students have access to it,

as well as to the wtos reference centre, which is

also based at the university.

the universitys global reach is further illustrated

by its membership of several prestigious international

groups, such as the european University Association,

the international Association of Universities, the

federation of Universities of the islamic world and

the eurasian Association of Universities. in addition,

it is part of the bologna process, whose participants

have helped create the european higher education

Area, based on international cooperation and

academic exchange.

these international collaborations perfectly reflect

ASUes ethos, as it produces graduates who can help

overseas companies prosper in Azerbaijan and also

make good use of their expertise around the world.

The Special Talented Groups produce highly skilled economists, many of whom find great jobs with companies in Azerbaijan or with Azeri firms abroad

250

International integrity

The highly regarded Islamic Science University of Malaysia (USIM)

offers students a fresh perspective by bringing together religious

and scientific learning in bilingual courses. Providing high-quality

teaching based on the values of respect, tolerance and integrity,

the relatively young institution, located just outside Kuala Lumpur, is

particularly renowned for its medical and finance programmes, but

has earned recognition across its full range of educational offerings.

Malaysias national academic rating system, for instance, has

given it five out of six stars on a par with the countrys more

established universities while USIM also received European

Business Assembly awards for Best Regional University and Best

Manager of the Year in the field of science education in 2013.

Bilingual programmes

Having become a fully fledged university in 2007, USIM now boasts

eight faculties, which offer more than 60 academic programmes

across the fields of science, business, Islamic studies, languages and

law. The universitys most popular courses include finance, Islamic

banking, medicine, dentistry and halal food biotechnology, and its

programmes are taught in English and Arabic to encourage fluency

in both languages.

In Islam, there are two kinds of knowledge, says USIMs

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato Asma Ismail. Revealed knowledge

comes from the Quran, whereas rational knowledge, such as science

and mathematics, comes from mankind. By integrating both, we can

give our students a comprehensive understanding of todays problems

and an alternative approach to solving them.

As a result, the university which is open to people of all

faiths is growing fast. Its current student population of more

than 11,000 represents a tenfold increase over seven years,

THE ISLAMIC SCIEnCE UnIVERSITY of MALAYSIA HAS EnjoYED A PERIoD of

RAPID GRowTH oVER THE LAST SEVEn YEARS, ALonG wITH A BURGEonInG

GLoBAL REPUTATIon

www.usim.edu.my 251

We want our graduates to be effective in their professions and make a difference to society

while most of USIMs 1,100 postgraduates are international students

from one of 36 countries around the world.

The universitys main campus, located not far from Kuala Lumpur

International Airport, has beautiful sprawling grounds with ample

space for further expansion. A second campus, in the centre of

Malaysias capital, currently houses USIMs medical and dental faculty

and has use of a government hospital. There are plans, however, to

move the faculty to the main campus in the near future, following

the construction of a health hub and teaching hospital.

In-demand graduates

In keeping with its philosophy, the university aims to give its students

the professional skills they need to compete in a global employment

market, coupled with a strong social conscience. As a result, the

universitys graduates are in great demand.

our medical and dental graduates, for instance, are highly

sought after not only for their professional expertise, but also for

their ability to advise patients on medical issues relating to Islamic

law, explains Professor Ismail. Similarly, monetary gain is not the

only focus of our finance and banking programmes. Ethics play an

important role in them because we want our graduates to be both

effective in their professions and willing to contribute and make a

difference to society. In other words, we strive to put strong values

into everything we do.

Professor Ismail intends to further develop the universitys

reputation with a view to becoming a world leader in Islamic science

teaching and research. It is not enough to be relevant locally or

nationally we have to be relevant globally as well, she says. If you

dont dream, you dont achieve, and I hope that one day we will

have a Muslim nobel laureate coming from USIM.

252

Celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout 2014,

Khon Kaen University (KKU) has grown in size and

stature to become the largest education centre in

northeast Thailand. Boasting state-of the-art facilities,

beautiful grounds and a huge selection of courses, it

is no wonder there are now around 40,000 students

studying at the Thai university.

KKU sits on a hill overlooking the industrial city

of Khon Kaen, and has an impressive campus and

facilities. Spread over 900 hectares, this includes

a huge agricultural research centre, software park,

sciences and technology park, 25 research centres

of excellence and four hospitals.

Our campus is like the central park and lung

of Khon Kaen city, says Professor Dr Kittichai

Triratanasirichai, the universitys President. Parts of

it are even being opened up to the public to enable

them to take advantage of the facilities.

Research-based learning

KKU consists of 26 faculties and colleges, which

offer a diverse range of undergraduate, graduate and

postgraduate courses, including 43 international

programmes taught in English. The universitys focus

is on research-based teaching and learning, which

is split into four main groups: science and technology;

health science; agriculture and functional food; and

humanities and social sciences. Research subjects

undertaken at KKUs different centres have included:

holistic river basin management and biodiversity of the

Mekong River basin; Thai herbal and health products;

and public health and tropical medicine.

The university encourages students to think and

work for themselves to prepare for industry, including

conducting their own experiments in the science

Growing gainsKhOn KaEn UnivERSiTy in ThailanD haS flOURiShED OvER ThE

PaST half a CEnTURy wiTh iTS Mix Of CUTTing-EDgE RESEaRCh,

faCiliTiES anD inTERnaTiOnal PROgRaMMES

www.kku.ac.th/eng 253

laboratories and using KKUs e-learning resources to solve problems. They can also

work with major software companies in the universitys E-Sarn software park, which

is fast becoming what KKU describes as an information technology metropolis.

all students are required to attain a high standard of iT skills, and all undergraduates

perform two- to four-month internships at businesses relevant to their field.

a great deal of the research undertaken at KKU meets the needs of industry.

we work closely with major food company Betagro on research and development,

says Professor Triratanasirichai. in addition, our faculty of engineering works

closely with the sugar cane industry, and the beauty-treatment industry is heavily

involved in our local herb research.

Student success

The universitys list of student achievements is impressive. for example, in november

2012, two students won the 2012 e-iCOn (e-learning international Contest of

Outstanding new ages) world Contest, held in Korea. They took the prize for their

work on a mobile app called idea Plus a social media site that allows people to set

up projects together. Then there is the group of KKU nursing students that won the

12th Thailand innovation Project award for their research into developing innovative

kits to slow down the rate of dementia among the elderly.

academia aside, the university also places great importance on extracurricular

activities, offering a variety of sports from basketball to aerobics arts and

cultural activities, and community projects. KKU even hosted the Thailand national

inter-varsity Debate Championship between universities and high schools in 2012

the first time the event took place outside Bangkok.

KKU staff and students also do a lot of work to help with community concerns

in Thailand, such as designing small water reservoirs for rural areas, especially in

the northeast of Thailand, to help with agricultural productivity.

looking ahead, to boost local employment and encourage entrepreneurs on

campus, the Thai government has given $100 million to KKU to expand and improve

its northeastern Sciences and Technology Park. its a significant investment that will

make the park a hub for students and industry experts alike an appropriate prospect

for a university that is celebrating half a century of educational achievement.

Our campus is like the citys central park. Parts are even open to the public to enable them to take advantage of the facilities

254

A positive outlookKoKshe AcAdemys driven Attitude And high stAndArds

Are mAKing A reAl difference to KAzAKhstAns AcAdemic,

economic And sociAl prospects

www.koksheacademy.kz 255

oxbridge in the Kazakh steppe: thats the dream of all at Kokshe Academy.

staff and students alike are working hard to create the most progressive

teaching, research and academic institution in Kazakhstan in the beautiful city

of Kokshetau in the north of the country. As the academys vice-rector for

international relations, diana ismailova, explains: When i visited cambridge

and oxford, i realised that top-flight higher education institutes dont have

to be situated in capital cities. so i thought: Why cant Kokshe Academy be

the leading academy in Kazakhstan?

unlike many modern educational establishments, Kokshe Academy operates

on the small-is-beautiful principle. Around 3,200 registered undergraduate and

postgraduate students are in attendance a figure that includes those in day

classes, evening classes or on correspondence courses. the academy offers

programmes in practical subjects in particular pedagogy and psychology, civil

defence, ecological issues, economics, accounting, design and technology,

jurisprudence, education, tourism and physical education.

A new endeavour

As with many organisations and institutions in the former soviet union, Kokshe

Academy is relatively new. founded in 1993, it came into being just as Kazakhstan

was coming to terms with its newfound independence an undertaking that

brought with it its own challenges, as the rector, professor zhanat Kassym,

recognises. it is always more difficult to plant a tree and nurture it than to look

after a long-established orchard, he says.

the key to Kokshe Academys impressive progress can be summed up in one

word: innovation. the academy has already established a reputation both at home

and abroad for its creative attitude towards teaching and research. its an approach

that sits well with Kazakhstans plans for development. in december 2012, president

nursultan nazarbayev published the Kazakhstan 2050 strategy, a bold initiative that

aims to make Kazakhstan one of the worlds 30 most developed countries by the

middle of this century. through its courses and research projects, Kokshe Academy

aims to play a key part in making this a reality.

to this end, the academys emphasis on ecological issues it offers both

a bachelors and a masters degree in ecology, and programmes in the study of

alternative energy sources is crucial for the countrys development. Kazakhstan is

actively encouraging its population, particularly institutions and businesses, to take

practical steps in this direction. the governments green Bridge programme, for

instance, has been specifically designed to drive sustainable development. And in

2017, the countrys capital, Astana, will play host to eXpo 2017, the theme of which

is future energy. the conference will be the biggest international event that

Kazakhstan has hosted, and Kokshe Academy is well placed to play a vital role.

Multilingual approach

Another forward-looking policy being actively pursued by the countrys leadership,

and which Kokshe Academys approach reinforces, is the plan to make trilingualism

the norm in Kazakhstan. the aim is to have as many citizens as possible speaking

Kazakh, russian and english. Kokshe Academy already teaches in Kazakh and

russian, and visiting academics from abroad usually deliver their lectures in english.

these overseas lecturers are visiting in ever-increasing numbers. Kokshe Academy

has already signed agreements with higher education establishments in 32 countries

throughout europe, the far east and central Asia. it is also a member of the Bologna

process, which is designed to encourage international cooperation and academic

exchange, and ensure consistency in the standards of higher education qualifications.

the academys link with the Archaeology department of exeter university, for

instance, led to a breakthrough discovery about the first tamed horses in human

history coming from the region of Kokshetau.

the approach to education at Kokshe Academy not only meets the needs

of modern Kazakhstan, but also challenges its students to adhere to the highest

international standards. As professor zhanat Kassym puts it: Kokshe Academy is not

simply an institute which is looking to the future; it is an institute of the future.

It is always more difficult to plant a tree and nurture it than to look after a long-established orchard

256

Top of the classBy employing more phD holDers than any other university in

ecuaDor, la universiDaD san Francisco De Quito oFFers superB

research opportunities anD rich natural resources

more than a decade ago, la universidad san

Francisco de Quito (usFQ) in ecuador began

an annual series of lectures open to the general

public on topics as diverse as evolution, physics,

religion, philosophy and literature. the first of these

millennium lectures was given by professor santiago

gangotena, Founder and president of the university,

who had to repeat his lecture four times that day

so inundated was the university with people wanting

to attend.

We had only anticipated 400 coming to the

lectures, explains Jorge gmez tejada, Director for

institutional Development. But people were standing

in line for three hours waiting to hear him, and the

same happened to our other lecturers, too. it is a

measure of the hunger for learning in this country

that has not yet been satisfied.

it is this hunger for learning that led professor

gangotena to set up the university in 1988. at the

time, there was a lack of good privately funded

education that would follow an international model,

explains Jorge. a quarter of a century later, the

university has such a reputation for academic

excellence that people want to hear our scholars

speak, even if it means standing in line for hours.

Research partnerships

the range of topics discussed at the lectures follows

the major fields of research at the university, which

www.usfq.edu.ec 257

are often conducted in partnership with world-class

institutions. notable research centres include a

campus in the galpagos islands, built in collaboration

with the university of north carolina, to conduct

research into the conservation and sustainable

development of the islands. there, the university

is developing a drone for the surveillance of the

galpagos islands together with embry-riddle,

an aeronautical university in the usa.

We have a real problem with illicit fishing,

and this scheme will help us monitor the situation,

says Jorge. regular drones can easily handle the

constantly varying conditions in the galpagos and

carry out essential surveillance. the university also

has a research station in the amazon rainforest,

built in partnership with Boston university. this has

proved to be extremely important to date, more

than 2,000 new species have been identified by

scientists working at the station.

Sector leader

usFQ is ecuadors first private university and ranks

as the first university in the country. it was founded

in 1988 using the american liberal arts system as

a model, so electives such as art, history, sciences,

sports and economics are given the same weight

as a main field of study.

We have had more than 13,000 graduates so

far, many of whom are now in leading positions

in the country, says Jorge. the university lays

claim to the highest number of phDs in ecuador,

a number set to increase over coming years, and

it has agreements with more than 200 universities

worldwide; not just for exchange students, but also

for faculty exchange and research collaboration.

it awards einstein and maxwell scholarships to

physics students in high schools, and runs a diversity

programme that awards scholarships to students

from indigenous communities, which means that

at any one time there are around 250 indigenous

students at the university.

usFQ began with a modest 120 students and

20 professors; it now caters for around 6,000 students

and has some 700 professors. ecuador is one of the

most biodiverse countries in the world, which gives

us the strength to lead studies in life sciences, says

Jorge. our founder has instilled a love for this

institution in students and staff alike.

it is a devotion that has paid off. usFQ graduates

are notable for their level of professionalism, their

cosmopolitan awareness and their understanding

and appreciation of their chosen field of study.

change is visible, and it is in no small part thanks

to the pioneering work of professor gangotena.

Ecuador is one of most biodiverse countries in the world, which gives us the strength to lead studies in life sciences

258

Smart choiceA nAtionAl leAder in AcAdemic, reseArch And sporting excellence,

north-West University serves soUth AfricAs diverse commUnities,

With stUdents tAUght in english, AfrikAAns And setsWAnA

www.nwu.ac.za 259

With three rural campuses, multiple research centres and world-class sports facilities,

north-West University (nWU) is one of south Africas top providers of tertiary

education. renowned for its applied science, health and business degrees, it is the

countrys only multilingual university, teaching in english, Afrikaans and setswana,

and offers an impressive choice of courses at 15 faculties and more than 50 schools.

As a result, it now has more than 60,000 students 36,000 on campus and

26,000 following distance-learning courses making it south Africas second

largest university. nationally, we are ranked among the top three universities for

teaching and learning, the top six for research and the top four for sport, says

vice-chancellor dr theuns eloff.

Employment prospects

many of the courses delivered on nWUs three sites potchefstroom campus and

mafikeng campus in the north West province, and vaal triangle campus in gauteng

focus on areas where south Africa has a skills shortage. this enables the university

to not only contribute to the countrys economic growth, but also ensure that its

graduates have better employment prospects than those of other institutions.

it is, for example, the only south African university to offer a Bsc in Animal

health, graduates of which are in great demand in the rural farming economy.

And in response to a critical skills deficit in logistics, nWU created its flagship

department of transport, economics and logistics management. it is also the

only south African university to offer a masters degree in nuclear engineering,

while its school of pharmacy is the biggest in the country, producing around

40 per cent of south Africas pharmacists.

nWU also has numerous centres of research excellence in fields such as

nutrition, pharmacy and space research. the impressive reputation of its nutrition

research centre was confirmed recently when it won a 1.5 million rand (90,000)

contract with Unicef to help companies comply with international codes for

marketing breast-milk substitutes.

in a country famed for its sporting achievements, it is not surprising that nWU

rates sport highly, too. the universitys potchefstroom campus boasts a rugby

institute and a hockey academy, mafikeng campus has a soccer institute, and

several nWU sports teams including the karate, athletics and womens hockey

teams were the University sports of south Africa champions in 2012.

the universitys world-class facilities include the high performance institute

of sport one of the best-equipped gyms in Africa, which attracts elite athletes

from around the world. nWU also has a four-star sports village, which hosted the

spanish football team when it won the 2010 fifA World cup. englands rugby

team and several British county cricket teams have also stayed in the village.

Student diversity

nWU also works hard to represent the diverse communities it serves. it has an

independently chaired human rights committee, and actively reaches out to different

language groups through its multilingual approach. Were recognised as one of the

best-run universities in south Africa and have won a pricewaterhousecoopers Award

for excellence in governance for five years in a row, says dr eloff. these accolades

are also reward for nWUs decentralised attitude to education, which includes having

a rector and management team in situ on each campus.

looking to the future, nWU aims to raise its international profile still further and

maintain its high academic, research and sporting standards, while embracing the

latest technology. south Africas national development plan has set the target of

increasing the countrys university population from 900,000 to 1.6 million by 2030,

says dr eloff. in response, we are investing in online and interactive technology

to run even more quality courses off-campus, while offering the best possible

experience for all our students.

We are ranked among the top three universities for teaching and learning, the top six for research and the top four for sport

260

Tapping talentBoasting impressive oil industry connections and first-class

facilities, aBu dhaBis petroleum institute provides students

with the perfect preparation for working life

in the heart of the worlds oil industry, the petroleum

institute (pi) offers an excellent education for those

seeking to enter the perennially booming energy

sector. established in 2000 and based in the uaes

capital of abu dhabi, the university has more than

1,300 students, 34 per cent of whom are female.

they are instructed by over 200 faculty members,

resulting in an impressive student-to-teacher ratio

that brings out the best in each student.

five of the pis undergraduate programmes

chemical engineering, electrical engineering,

mechanical engineering, petroleum engineering

and petroleum geosciences are accredited by the

accredited Board for engineering and technology

(aBet) in the usa.

Simulated oil well

one of the reasons the pis courses are highly

regarded is the fact that it boasts cutting-edge

facilities, laboratories and equipment. these include

ultra-modern resources, such as a life-sized simulated

oil well, studio physics labs, a stratigraphy and

palaeontology lab, and many more, which are

all located on the universitys campus in the sas

al nakhl area of dubai.

the pi is a very exciting place to study, says dr

ismail tag, acting president and provost. our students

conduct research using the best equipment you can

find today, whether its the drilling well, which is like

being on a real oil rig, or our 3d computer systems

for the interactive visualisation of reservoirs. to propel

research within the emirates oil and gas industry, the pi

founded the abu dhabi petroleum institute research

center in 2006 and the gas research center in 2010,

both of which are dedicated to addressing current and

future challenges in the gas industry.

sponsored by the abu dhabi national oil

company (adnoc), as well as global oil giants shell,

Bp, total and Japan oil development, the pi also

offers its students and graduates a foot in the door

at some of the worlds leading oil and gas companies.

indeed, the universitys affiliation with adnoc

delivers immeasurable opportunities to its students.

for instance, emirati students have their educational

expenses paid by the company, and are guaranteed

employment on completion of their degree.

the transition from university to workplace is

usually smooth because adnoc provides excellent

in-house training to bring students and graduates up

to the required professional level, explains dr tag.

and since our courses are geared towards the

industry, students will already have completed

internships before they start work.

in fact, internships are an integral part of the

pis curriculum. they take place over a summer at

a variety of global companies, including adnoc,

and are very hands-on, with students managing

projects and providing on-site solutions.

www.pi.ac.ae 261

this desire to involve students in real-world

projects is typical of the pi. its department of

electrical engineering, for instance, is developing

and building unmanned robot prototypes in

collaboration with the colorado school of mines.

designed to improve workers safety, these robots

will be used for inspection and maintenance work

at toxic oil and gas sites.

Vital research

meanwhile, researchers in the pis department of

chemical engineering are looking at how date pits

a very common waste material in the uae can

be used to clean natural gas and industrial waste-

water, and as a means of improving hydrogen

storage. this last application could ultimately prove

vital for people around the world in the future

hydrogen-powered vehicles may become much

more commonplace.

five years from now, the pi will be the

university of choice for students aspiring to be

engineers in the uaes energy sector, concludes

dr tag. the campus will be a showpiece in the

uae, and the universitys research center will

become not only regionally recognised, but also

world-renowned.

Students conduct research using the best equipment you can find today

262

Engine of growthWith a firm focus on contributing to a knoWledge-based economy

and the advancement of the Wider society, Qatar university has

become a leader of academic excellence

over the last four decades, Qatar has experienced growth and

development that have transformed its society on every front.

its rapid progress is mirrored by one of the countrys leading centres

of learning Qatar university (Qu) in the capital city of doha.

Beacon of excellence

the university has grown exponentially, becoming a beacon

of academic excellence and a leader in research. its academic

programmes and research initiatives are designed to address the

needs of the wider community a mission that is closely linked

to Qatars aim to become a knowledge-based society.

founded in 1973 with only one college, the university now

has more than 15,000 students and comprises seven colleges: arts

and sciences; business and economics; education; engineering;

law; Pharmacy; and sharia and islamic studies. its vast range of

undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes produces

professionals with skills and competences to succeed in the labour

market at home and abroad.

since 2012, Qu has expanded its efforts to promote a culture of

research, both internally and through various high-school outreach

programmes. it also recently established a dedicated research complex

and seven research centres of excellence, which are linked to its

five-year road map. out of these will emerge interdisciplinary research

projects in four areas: energy, environment and resource sustainability;

social change and identity; population, health and wellness; and ict.

the road map sets out strategic areas of excellence and enables

faculty, students and partner organisations to focus their efforts in

line with these priorities, explains Qus vice President for research,

dr hassan al-derham.

the university also puts great emphasis on collaboration

with other academic institutions and industry to produce solutions

www.qu.edu.qa 263

that will serve the advancement of society. this has engendered

memoranda of understanding, agreements and professional chair

positions to support Qus academic and research efforts to advance

the aspirations of the wider society.

Serving the community

like research, community service is at the heart of Qus mission

and vision. the university is committed to ensuring that its campus

is an enriching environment that fosters academic excellence,

volunteerism, civic responsibility and leadership. the institutions

focus on community service is illustrated by initiatives such as

professional development programmes for community members;

consultancy services for the government, business and industry

sectors; provision of library resources and facilities; alumni

engagement with the community; and charitable and community-

awareness activities organised by students.

the combination of academic excellence, research leadership

and dedicated community service underlines Qus efforts to produce

graduates who are well equipped to contribute fully to the ever-

changing labour market and community life. as a result, its graduates

are highly sought after by employers across the public and private

sectors. the university regularly surveys employers, who, in turn, provide

both informal and official feedback. thanks to this ongoing dialogue,

Qu graduates have a thorough understanding of the local industry

and are therefore often chosen over graduates from other universities.

a recent survey showed that 92 per cent of Qu alumni would

recommend the university to family and friends. our graduates have

continued to demonstrate the personal and professional quality and

excellence that were nurtured at the university during their years of

study, and we are proud of their success, concludes Qu President

Professor sheikha abdulla al-misnad.

Our graduates continue to demonstrate the quality and excellence that were nurtured at the university during their years of study

264 http://web.sut.ac.th/sutnew/sut_en

Impressive resultsA nAtionAl leAder of reseArch And educAtion in thAilAnd,

surAnAree university of technology hAs grown to become

A key member of the globAl science community

suranaree university of technology (sut) in nakhon ratchasima, thailand, was

founded in 1990 as the countrys first public, autonomous university. this means

that, unlike those institutions run by thailands civil service, it is empowered

to govern its own overall administration, receiving regular budget allocations

from the government.

Around 13,000 students attend the university, which is organised around

six academic institutes specialising in science, engineering, medicine, nursing,

agricultural technology and social technology, respectively. courses are

normally taught in thai, says Assistant Professor dr siwatt thaiudom, director

of the universitys centre for international Affairs. but classes with many

overseas students are often delivered in english.

sut was also the first university in thailand to establish its very own work-

orientated learning programme. under the title of cooperative education, this

gives students the opportunity to gain practical experience in the workplace

during their time at the university.

National leader

in 2009, sut was ranked first among public universities in thailand and second

in the country overall, and its schools of physics and chemistry have both been

individually recognised as outstanding in national reviews. thanks to its glowing

reputation for education and research, sut was granted national research

university status in 2010.

these institutions are the focus for government-funded projects that genuinely

benefit thailands development in areas related to industry and agriculture, says

dr thaiudom. the resulting investment has helped to enhance the valuable research

that sut produces. it works well with the universitys target-based research approach,

in which research projects are grouped into key areas, he adds. these include

advanced materials, fundamental and theoretical sciences, advanced alternative

energy development and agro-technology.

the universitys research efforts are producing exciting results. researchers

at sut have contributed to advances in cloning and stem-cell technology, the

development of an ethanol fuel generator and a biomass power plant, and the

enhancement of crop yield for cassava. And, thanks to the fact

that sut has its own science park, it is well placed to make the

most of these and other scientific and technological breakthroughs.

Global outlook

in addition to its focus on research, an international outlook has

always been key to the universitys success. the vision of the

university is to create knowledge and to provide a moral ethos

for the development of a happy and sustainable society, says

dr thaiudom. in todays interconnected world, this can only be

done in an international context, learning and contributing through

a series of mutually beneficial interactions.

making international connections has been one of our key areas

of success since our inception, adds sut rector, Professor dr Prasart

suebka. And we will continue to push forward with internationalisation.

to this end, the university has forged numerous global

partnerships. in 2013, an appraisal found that sut had undertaken

joint projects with more than 70 different institutions in some

20 countries. these include collaborations with the university of

california in the usA, the university of tbingen in germany, tokyo

university of Agriculture and technology and tohoku university

in Japan, and Postech in korea. the university also plays an

important role in a number of international academic associations.

Although still a relatively young university, sut is breaking new

ground in thailand and has already made important contributions

to the international science and technology community. its a track

record that the autonomous organisation is committed to enhancing

yet further through its high-quality teaching, excellence in research

and key international partnerships.

Making international connections has been one of our key areas of success since our inception

265

266

Spirit of endeavour

Students looking for a global experience are attracted to high-quality institutions

that boast a progressive outlook. Tecnolgico de Monterrey in Mexico understands

this and therefore blends traditions of excellence and entrepreneurship with

a forward-thinking, international approach thats relevant for the 21st century.

The institution is ranked as the top private university in Mexico and came

seventh overall in the 2013 QS Latin American university rankings. Its graduates

do exceptionally well in the job market, too, being rated first in the country for

employability. These successes are, in no small part, down to Tecnolgico de

Monterreys three-pillar vision for education. We have always moved forward,

says Joaqun Guerra Achem, Associate Vice President Internationalization.

We want to educate entrepreneurial leaders who are internationally competitive

and who also have a high regard for human, ethical citizenship. These are the

three components of our vision.

Entrepreneurial DNA

Tecnolgico de Monterrey has been built on solid foundations. Established by

local businessmen in 1943 as a private, not-for-profit university, it originally aimed

to produce highly skilled, technical professionals for the newly created industry

in the region. Our DNA is entrepreneurial, says Joaqun. We were founded by

entrepreneurs and have always nurtured entrepreneurship.

By 1985, the university had gone even further, making it mandatory for all

students to take an entrepreneurship course, regardless of their major. Some 17

years later it introduced an additional optional certificate in entrepreneurship

and a major in the subject.

Around the same time we decided that simply teaching entrepreneurship

wasnt enough, says Arturo Torres, Associate Vice President Entrepreneurship.

Tecnolgico de Monterrey therefore opened a pilot business incubator where

students could develop business ideas with help from a mentor and, on occasion,

specialist consultants. The students liked the process, Arturo continues, so we

started to put business incubators on each campus and open them up to alumni

and community members, too.

Today, Tecnolgico de Monterreys 100,000 students

15,000 of whom are based in Monterrey, with the rest spread

across 30 additional campuses throughout Mexico and at sites

overseas have use of an astounding 106 business incubators.

Serving around 2,500 businesses a year, some 800 of which go on

to become operating companies, these include technology-based

incubators and traditional incubators. The latter support people

who are economically disadvantaged, with student entrepreneurs

becoming their mentors, explains Arturo. In addition, Tecnolgico

de Monterreys business accelerators provide mentoring and

coaching to help existing businesses grow.

Making a difference

In autumn 2013, the university pushed its entrepreneurial remit further

still. Previously, we taught entrepreneurship as a class in its own right,

says Arturo. Now, were weaving an entrepreneurial spirit into our

classes across the curriculum.

Central to this is the idea of ethical purpose. Students are

expected to seek creative solutions to global problems by developing

business ideas that will not only benefit themselves, but also make

a positive difference to the wider community.

Our students make a real difference, says Arturo. For example,

some of our students went to a local old peoples home and found

that the residents wanted a bus and ramps so they could move

around the city, and visit museums and parks. The students

established a board of patrons from the business community and

raised money. They also started selling things that the old people

made. As a result, the home became economically self-sustaining

and the system was changed forever.

Another enterprising team of students set up a company that

brings telephone services to rural communities in areas where

TECNOLGICO DE MONTErrEy IN MExICO hAS A ThrEE-POINT

APPrOACh TO EDuCATION ThAT PrODuCES ENTrEPrENEurIAL

AND INTErNATIONALLy MINDED INDIVIDuALS

267

We have a presence throughout the world via link offices in the USA, Canada, Europe, Asia and Latin America

268

269

people previously had to travel great distances to

buy credit for their mobile phones. These guys

developed technology that looks like a telephone

booth, Arturo says. you put coins in it, and that

rings credit through to your mobile. There are now

thousands of these booths all over Mexico.

International vision

Tecnolgico de Monterreys focus on entrepreneurship

is complemented by its international vision. We have

a presence throughout the world via link offices in

the uSA, Canada, Europe, Asia and Latin America,

explains Joaqun. In fact, in addition to its network

of campuses across Mexico, the institution has 480

agreements with universities in around 50 countries.

This means that students from across the world can

take its courses online and also travel to Mexico to

attend courses or complete internships if they wish.

Meanwhile, an impressive 43 per cent of the

universitys Mexico-based students currently gain

international experience. Its a figure that the ambitious

institution hopes to increase to 75 per cent by 2016.

We encourage our students to take advantage of

global opportunities, says Joaqun, stressing that

students gain credits that count towards their

qualification as they do so. Sometimes, our students

travel overseas to learn with a professor in another

country, and sometimes our teaching staff travel with

them and teach in that environment. The experience

is not just academic; its about experiencing a new

environment, mixing with local people, learning about

the culture and coping with the language barriers.

Languages are key to internationalisation, which is

why Tecnolgico de Monterrey students are required

to study English and are also encouraged to take

additional language courses. And both international

and domestic students can also take programmes

taught entirely in English.

Confident leaders

Tecnolgico de Monterreys three-pronged approach

has helped to make it the forward-thinking institution it

is today. Students learn to think creatively, analytically

and innovatively, developing a global vision with high

ethical standards. They also work collaboratively in

teams. We understand the competences our students

need for tomorrows world, says Joaqun. When our

students start their professional career, they are leaders

who arent afraid to get stuck in.

To maintain this high standard, Tecnolgico de

Monterrey has set itself challenging but crucial aims

that its new educational model, Tec 21, will help it to

achieve. Generally, todays students are digital natives

who are taught by professors from the 20th century

via an educational model that was created centuries

ago, adds Joaqun. Tecnolgico de Monterrey turns

this around by offering a learning model that puts

technology in the classrooms, places great emphasis

on problem-based and project-based learning, and

develops a structure where students and teachers

work together.

In this way, weve established ourselves as a truly

21st-century institution, says Joaqun. Indeed, while

many universities seek a global audience, by offering

a quality education backed up by international,

entrepreneurial vision and a forward-thinking approach,

Tecnolgico de Monterrey stands head and shoulders

above the crowd.

www.itesm.edu

270

www.unach.cl 271

A mission to teachThe Universidad advenTisTa de Chile Combines ChrisTian valUes,

sUCh as serviCe in The CommUniTy, wiTh aCademiC aChievemenT

and sTrong inTernaTional Ties

The Universidad adventista de Chile (UnaCh) is widely recognised as one of the

best professional-training universities in Chile. in 2013, it was placed second in

the national ranking of professional-training universities compiled by UniversiTas,

a group of advanced studies in higher education.

based near the city of Chillan, midway up the long latin american country,

the universitys origins date back to 1906, when the seventh day adventist Church

founded an educational institution whose purpose was to prepare ministers and

primary school teachers to serve the local community of believers. UnaCh still

performs this function through its theology programme and training courses;

however, today its reach extends further to include the study of education, social

sciences, health sciences, engineering, business and music.

Serving community needs

open to students from all backgrounds, UnaChs courses all have a strong slant

towards Christian values and teachings. The university also maintains an annual

programme of events, coordinated and promoted by the student affairs department

and the university chaplain, which focus on, and respond to, the social, spiritual and

environmental needs of the community. There is a very high student participation

rate in these events, despite the fact that they are voluntary, explains dr ricardo

gonzalez, President of UnaCh. This is just one way in which the university promotes

the development of soft skills, such as teamwork, initiative, a can-do attitude and

an inclination towards serving the needs of the community.

UnaCh is part of a network of 112 adventist universities worldwide, and

in recent years has sought to strengthen its relationships with a diverse set of

educational institutions within this network. its longest-running partnership is with

andrews University in the Usa, which collaborates with the Chilean university on

its masters in science in administration. more recent alliances include student

and faculty exchanges with the Universidad de montemorelos in mexico,

Fadminas (Faculdade adventista de minas gerais) in brazil and a partnership

with the adventist international institute of advanced studies on a masters

in religious education. Further cooperation agreements with institutions from

the global network of adventist universities have allowed UnaCh to widen its

international ties with universities in Central america, the Caribbean and the

asia-Pacific region.

The university also welcomes visiting professors from the music faculty at

la sierra University in California, which has developed a series of programmes for

both students and lecturers. in January 2012, UnaChs chamber choir was invited

to record the adventist composition Pilares de la Fe (or Pillars of Faith) in spanish

at the studios of channel 3abn in the Usa. it gave international recognition to

the vocal and interpretive quality of the group, says dr gonzalez.

Expansion plans

UnaCh is currently home to over 1,500 students who work in the universitys

20 undergraduate programmes, and around 150 postgraduate students who

attend the universitys three masters courses. however, it has big plans for further

expansion, particularly in the area of health. This was heralded by the opening of a

dentistry department in 2015, and a bachelors degree in nursing has also recently

joined the universitys list of accredited courses. in addition, the expansion of its

academic offering has led to imminent plans for the construction of new halls

of residence for the growing student body.

There is a common thread running through all our programmes, which

emphasises the personal responsibility each person has for the people around

them and for their environment, from a Christian perspective, dr gonzalez

says. The university develops an inclination towards service in its students, in

particular, community service, in accordance with our mission: in the service

of god and humanity.

The university promotes the development of soft skills, such as teamwork, initiative, a can-do attitude and an inclination towards serving the needs of the community

272

Leading edgeUniversidad de la integracin de las amricas in ParagUay is

broadening its ambitions and investing in the latest technology

to helP nUrtUre the nations fUtUre leaders

www.unida.edu.py 273

Universidad de la integracin de las amricas (Unida) is not only

one of the few international universities in Paraguay, but also one of

south americas leading research-based institutions. its defining aim

is to nurture well-rounded professionals with the expertise and social

awareness to make a positive contribution to Paraguayan society.

the sleek, modern campus in the capital city of asuncin was

founded in 2003 and is home to over 4,000 students. comprising

faculties of health, engineering, law and management, Unida

has attracted national and international acclaim for its academic

excellence. however, as the universitys rector leila rachid lichi

explains: this is not meant to be a professional factory. no company

wants graduates who are more of the same. We want to train men

and women who believe they have a mission in the country and

the wider world.

The Master Plan

around two thirds of Paraguays population is under 30, which

means that there is intense competition for the best jobs within the

countrys thriving economy. to maximise its graduates prospects,

Unida is undergoing an ambitious expansion programme called the

master Plan, which has been developed with expert academic advice

from canada, the Usa and leading south american institutions.

initially, 20 new regional faculties are being established in Paraguay

focusing on business, law and computer science.

the first of these to open was in the regional department

of canindey, where students are taking business administration,

international business and accounting. We are seizing the initiative

with this innovative academic model and infrastructure to attract

top-level students, says leila. the course structure at the new

satellite faculties will allow students to pursue graduate studies

in brazil, or further afield in europe. as well as establishing

international links that allow graduates to study abroad, Unida boasts an

acclaimed postgraduate medical school of its own, with some 400 students.

Agents of change

Phases two and three of the master Plan will see Unida continue to enhance its

computer facilities, working in tandem with its strategic partners ibm and microsoft

to establish the most advanced computer science centre in Paraguay. students at

Unida are considered to be agents of change. as such, Unidas forward-thinking

educational model, state-of-the-art technology and international business alliances

are vital to its efforts to equip its students for the fast-changing demands that are

placed on todays professionals.

in tandem with its nationwide educational advances, Unida is forging links with

prominent universities in the americas and across europe, encouraging the cross-

pollination of ideas between visiting students and teachers. its international trade and

marketing course, for example, takes in students from the University of sonora in

mexico. Unida has also been chosen to host the international executive mba course

of the University of montreal, canada.

this dynamic approach to broadening educational borders led to Unida being

named the World trade organizations south american headquarters for its training

programme in 2014. the resulting academic exchanges, full scholarship programme,

and national and overseas internships will only serve as further incentives for the

brightest graduates hoping to gain international experience.

in our classrooms and research laboratories, we are helping students to

find the meaning behind their chosen career, and to be committed to using their

knowledge for the benefit of others, says leila. With significant investment in

technology and people, and international and national partnerships, Unida is

providing its graduates with the tools to take on key roles in the development

and enrichment of Paraguay.

We want to train men and women who believe they have a mission in the country and the wider world

274

Peak performanceSituated at the baSe of the cordillera mountain range in

ecuador, the univerSidad tcnica Particular de loja boaStS a

wealth of ecological richeS and a growing global outlook

the universidad tcnica Particular de loja (utPl) is

special. true, it has a head start on most universities,

thanks to its stunning location at the foot of the

cordillera mountains in southern ecuador, but its also

an institution with a unique ethos. based on christian

humanist values, a desire to nurture and protect

permeates every aspect of teaching and learning.

founded in 1971, the utPl has around 40,000

students, although only 5,000 of these are based at

the 44-acre loja campus. Some 23 undergraduate

programmes are offered on site in subjects including

natural and biological sciences, engineering, business

studies and the humanities. in addition to these

degrees, a further 19 undergraduate courses, as well

as several postgraduate programmes, are available by

distance learning to students from other parts of latin

american, the uSa and europe. to this end, the utPl

has regional centres in 19 of ecuadors 23 provinces and

at international sites in madrid, rome and new York.

International ambition

certain courses, such as tourism, are taught entirely in

english. and our curriculum is going to become even

more international in the near future, says eduardo

eguiguren luzuriaga, the universitys director of

innovation. we aim to be teaching at least two core

subjects in the students final semester completely

in english within the next two years.

the utPl also has a distinctive approach to

education, which has emerged from the needs and

demands of local industry. our founding aim was

www.utpl.edu.ec 275

to satisfy development needs in the southern region

of ecuador, so we have always been strongly geared

towards serving society, eduardo explains. the focus

of the university is to provide high-class teaching and

professional development.

today, this sees the university working closely

with innovative local businesses to create on-site

entrepreneurial centres. we proposed a model whereby

small businesses provide at a very low cost services

that help our student entrepreneurs start up their own

businesses, says eduardo. Participant businesses offer

everything from desk space to computers, use of call

centres, and advice in accounting, financial, technical

and business matters. in return, entrepreneurs

encourage their mentors to incorporate new ideas

into their businesses, embracing technological,

agricultural and manufacturing developments.

this collaboration helps both emerging and

established businesses adapt to regional changes.

for example, we are currently working to solve

environmental conflicts caused by the gold- and

copper-mining activity in the amazon region, adds

eduardo. this is an important opportunity for the

utPl to establish a chain of sustainable services.

the university has, in this way, managed to convert

potential weaknesses into opportunities and strengths.

the ranking web of universities consequently places

the institution fifth in ecuador. this motivates us to

form collaborative partnerships with other universities

especially those that view us as a potentially strong

institute with whom they can do pertinent, high-impact

research, says eduardo.

Regional biodiversity

theres also that amazing location, of course. based in

an urban centre with around 200,000 inhabitants, the

utPl sits at the foot of the cordillera mountain range,

just an hours drive from the amazon. its also close

to the Podocarpus-el condor biosphere reserve

one of the worlds greatest biodiversity hot spots,

dedicated to protecting and promoting the sustainable

development of 2.6 million acres of tropical forests.

the reserve is home to some 600 bird species, rare

mountain tapirs and spectacled bears. and the utPls

extracurricular activity programmes make good use

of this location, with students benefiting from cultural

and environmental projects, an international institute

for peace and a uneSco observatory for academic

and scientific mobility.

Perhaps because of this awe-inspiring geography,

fauna and wildlife, loja has historically protected its

people and surroundings. the cordillera mountain

range is an ever-present reminder to preserve our

environment, says eduardo. our natural surroundings

reflect an unmatched beauty something we consider

emblematic of our university.

We have always been strongly geared towards serving society. The focus of the university is to provide high-class teaching and professional development

276

Centre of attentionAn increAsed emphAsis on internAtionAl pArtnerships And

progress is eArning BrAzils UniversidAde FederAl de lAvrAs

A good deAl oF gloBAl recognition

www.ufla.br 277

As the eyes of the world turn towards Brazil the host nation of the 2014 FiFA

World cup and the olympic games two years later it is important to bear in

mind that the countrys rapid progress goes far beyond its achievements in the

sporting arena. Brazil is making great strides in education, and Universidade

Federal de lavras (UFlA) in southern minas gerais state embodies its spirit

of energy, development and change in two principal respects: diversification

and internationalisation.

Agricultural expertise

UFlA originated as an agricultural college and went on to establish itself as a

trailblazer in wider aspects of agrarian and veterinary sciences, and cutting-edge

research. in recent years, the university has become pre-eminent in disciplines

such as geoprocessing, plant physiology, biotechnology and plant nutrition.

currently standing second in the rankings of Brazils universities, as assessed by

the national institute for educational studies and research, UFlA is rapidly gaining

worldwide renown for excellence in specialised fields of agriculture and forestry.

And our global standing is soaring in other areas of scientific endeavour,

says dr Jos roberto scolforo, the universitys rector. For example, new courses

are being established in civil engineering, mechanical engineering, material

engineering, chemical engineering and medicine. Additionally, postgraduate

courses are being offered in subjects ranging from environmental technology

to physics and education.

UFlA caters for a thriving student community of around 11,000, some 2,000

of whom are postgraduates. its campus is also home to a technological park

where domestic and international companies are involved in environmental

and agribusiness projects, such as developing nanotechnology and animal and

vegetable biotechnologies.

Along with all this diversification, a burgeoning internationalisation is taking

place. For many years, UFlA has attracted overseas students on full-time courses,

the majority of them from elsewhere in latin America and from the portuguese-

speaking countries of Africa, such as Angola and mozambique, dr scolforo

explains. now we are forming a host of exciting new partnerships with universities

in the english-speaking world, too.

in particular, a strong link has been established with the UKs lancaster University

through the development of a dual phd programme, whereby students from each

university undertake a significant portion of their studies at the other. similar ties

are currently being established with the universities of illinois, delaware and north

carolina in the UsA, and with the University of Alberta in canada and Katholieke

Universiteit leuven in Belgium.

growing numbers of part-time students also enrich the increasingly

cosmopolitan climate of the UFlA campus. students arrive from numerous

countries in the Americas, europe, Asia and Australasia. correspondingly, UFlA

students also study abroad. the university participates, for instance, in science

without Borders, a Brazilian Federal government scholarship programme that

sends Brazilian students to top universities around the world.

internationalisation of this kind means that english is becoming a second

language at UFlA. Accordingly, the university offers courses in english to its

portuguese-speaking students, as well courses in portuguese for speakers of other

languages. A few courses, such as remote sensing, are even taught in english.

International standards

the universitys myriad facilities also reflect international standards. new lecture

theatres, classrooms and research laboratories are being built on the universitys

campus as part of an ongoing development programme. And in another such

scheme, apartments and accommodation are under construction to house

international students and visiting professors. however, the universitys management

is also aware that life beyond the campus walls is integral to the student experience

at UFlA, and that the university has a part to play in the internationalisation of the

city of lavras. to this end, for instance, english courses are offered free of charge

to local taxi drivers, hotel staff and anybody else who wishes to learn the language.

more generally, lavras is a genial place to live and study, as international

students soon discover. indeed, just as Brazil is gaining plenty of international

attention, so too is UFlA flourishing under the international spotlight.

We are forming a host of exciting new partnerships with universities in the English-speaking world

278

A hands-on educationUniversidade TiradenTes in Brazil offers sTUdenTs invalUaBle pracTical

experience ThroUgh iTs acclaimed neTwork of specialisT services for

The local commUniTy

www.unit.br 279

Brazils Universidade Tiradentes (UniT) sits at the heart of the city of aracaju

in more ways than one. The capital of sergipe, the countrys smallest state,

this friendly city of more than 500,000 people is a jewel of Brazils north-east

region: an area of unspoilt, palm-lined beaches, year-round balmy temperatures,

vibrant culture and superb seafood. and the university, named after a prominent

18th-century revolutionary who sought an independent Brazil, has grown from

small beginnings to become an integral part of its surroundings. it now comprises

two campuses in aracaju one in the city centre, the other just a pebbles throw

from the beach three campuses around sergipe and a number of sites in

neighbouring states.

UniT became a college in 1962, and attained university status 30 years

later. Today, it has more than 32,000 students enrolled on 60 bachelors degrees

and technical courses, taught both on campus and at distance-learning sites.

Heart of the community

learning at UniT is truly a hands-on experience, and the university has long

committed itself to serving the local community through a network of widely

acclaimed specialist legal and medical centres. its state-of-the-art university

hospital and dental clinic give low-income patients an alternative to the

overstretched, underfunded local public system and prohibitively expensive

private hospitals, while also providing students with invaluable practical experience.

The services offered at the universitys psychology and physiotherapy clinics are

not available via the public system, and as such are in high demand. in addition,

a free legal-aid centre, run by the universitys law faculty, provides a range of

services, from advice to representation.

rector Jouberto Ucha de mendona has nurtured UniT since its inception,

and for him the universitys ongoing interaction with the community is a source

of great pride. it really cheers me that we can help underprivileged people, he

says. some of those weve assisted have later come to study at our university,

so our students really are from all backgrounds.

This diverse group of individuals has an ever-expanding choice of study

areas. The number of postgraduate and specialisation courses, including masters

degrees and doctorates, that the university offers is on the increase each year.

notable masters programmes in health and environment, human

rights law, and education; and doctorates in process engineering

and Biotechnologies, have made UniT a university of renown for

both the region and the country.

The gleaming new buildings of UniTs institute of Technology

and research hint at the universitys commitment to innovation and

research in areas such as the environment, biotechnologies and

energy. hundreds of students have already taken advantage of the

universitys cutting-edge equipment and generous funding, and

pride of place is afforded to its nUesc study centre for petroleum

technologies the result of a partnership with Brazils petrobras,

the worlds fourth-largest energy company.

International reach

recent efforts to forge ties with universities overseas have sparked

a variety of exchange programmes with european and latin

american universities, and grants to allow students to study in

europe, north america and australasia. we are working hard to

broaden our horizons and extend our international reach, says

Jouberto. we have cultivated connections with 17 universities

around the world and are launching a dedicated base in Boston,

massachusetts. as Brazils presence on the world stage grows,

UniT is convinced these international academic and cultural

exchanges will give a global showcase to the countrys largely

overlooked academic potential.

however, despite having set his sights on expanding, both in

Brazil and internationally, Jouberto is unwavering about UniTs

exceptional standards at home. we will not compromise on quality,

he says. we have big aspirations, of course, but we do not strive

to be the biggest just the best.

We are working hard to broaden our horizons and extend our international reach

280

Shared experienceCollaboration is CruCial to universidade veiga de almeida, whether

students are working aCross departments or gaining valuable skills

with one of brazils major Companies

spread across four campuses in the vibrant city of rio de janeiro, universidade

veiga de almeida (uva) is a hive of educational activity. the brazilian universitys

more than 24,000 students of various ages, and from all walks of life, produce

outstanding work in every field, from dental surgery to fashion design.

Multidisciplinary research

uva places great emphasis on collaboration between the undergraduate and

graduate students in their different fields of study. we encourage multidisciplinary

research, says arlindo Cardarett, the universitys rector. so, for example, an

engineering student might be constructing something relevant to the environment,

such as a water-saving device, which he wants to sell. he would then work with

other students on the engineering, environment and business programmes so

they could test its feasibility in the marketplace.

to help students make the most of this approach they are given first-hand

exposure to the marketplace. for example, students studying at the universitys

international school of business and technology on the Campus Centro in

downtown rio get to work directly with such major companies as petrobras,

ibm and santander bank.

we have workshops on the campus where staff from these companies

come to talk to our students about how business and technology works, and their

hr departments work with us to adapt our curriculum according to market needs,

explains arlindo. in return, all our students get the opportunity to do internships

at these companies and hundreds of others.

at uvas main campus in tijuca, in the north zone of the city, students benefit

from the world-class medical facilities of the health Centre. within this seven-storey

building, healthcare professionals in the fields of dental hygiene, physiotherapy,

nutrition, audiology and psychology provide treatment to people in the community,

while students get to observe and assist.

in the first semester of their course, students on the health programme watch

and learn from the professionals. but, by the last year of their studies, they are

working alongside them and treating people, says arlindo. indeed, one masters

student developed a hearing-aid device as part of his course for the audiology

clinic in the health Centre, which impressed local companies tecnofono and

www.uva.br 281

speech easy so much that they decided to work

with the student on the further development of

the product.

Proactive approach

this proactive approach is prevalent across all subject

areas. each campus has a range of labs where students

can experiment. graphic design students produce

their own animation films, explains arlindo, while the

fashion students at our barra campus in the west zone

of rio have the advantage of working with some of

the best local fashion companies on their designs.

they also participate heavily in rio fashion week.

its no wonder, then, that uva was among the top

ten private universities in brazil, as decided by the

ministry of education, in 2012. its civil engineering

programme was deemed the eighth best in the

country, and its business managem