Queen Mary University of London is deepening links with Latin America, after hosting a delegation of seven top Colombian universities to discuss research partnership opportunities.
The two-day visit was organised by the UK Department for International Trade (DIT) and Universities UK International (UUKi), in partnership with the Embassy of Colombia in London.
Professor Colin Grant, Vice-Principal (International) at Queen Mary, attended a reception at the Colombian Embassy with the seven universities on 1 October, before inviting them to Queen Mary’s Mile End campus the following day.
During the meeting, Professor Grant said: “We are privileged to welcome this delegation from Colombia. Together, we can mobilise our institutions and help to build resilience. Commitment to impact transcends everything Queen Mary does. Our emerging Global Policy Institute aims to translate science into real-world impact, and our international outlook pervades all areas of the University. Our new Global Engagement Strategy holds a beacon to diversity and is key to sustaining excellence.”
Vivienne Stern, Director of UUKi, added: "We already know that the UK and Colombia share a strong bilateral relationship in higher education and that we perform better when we work together - from producing stronger research outputs to enabling a more confident and skilled student body.
"I hope that this visit serves as a valuable opportunity for our universities to learn yet a little bit more about each other and to build new and exciting relationships for greater cooperation in research and staff and student exchange."
The delegation included Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, one of Colombia’s oldest private-sector higher education institutions, and the Universidad de los Andes, which is ranked eighth in the QS Latin America University Rankings 2018.
Professor Stefan Priebe from Queen Mary’s Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine is currently working with Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, as part of a global project to improve mental health interventions. Queen Mary also offers study abroad opportunities with the Universidad de los Andes.
Queen Mary has longstanding links in Colombia – and Latin America more widely. In April 2018, its School of Law led a trip to Latin America to discuss partnership opportunities. The following month, the University extended its partnership with COLFUTURO, one of the largest scholarships providers in Colombia.
Dr Sam Halvorsen from Queen Mary’s School of Geography also recently established a UK-wide network for researchers interested in Latin American geographies. His research specialises in grassroots politics in Buenos Aires.
Queen Mary is ranked 8th in the Russell Group for its number of Colombian students. There are currently 32 Colombian students enrolled at the University, the majority of whom are undertaking Postgraduate Taught courses at its Centre for Commercial Law Studies.
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