SHSU, Costa Rican University Sign Agreement

Associate vice president for Academic Affairs Richard Eglsaer and educational leadership and counseling chair Beverly Irby look on as UNIBE vice president and provost Roberto Rodriguez signs the agreement that will allow the exchange of research, faculty and students between SHSU and the Costa Rican university.

Sam Houston State University faculty members and students will have the opportunity to study and do research in Costa Rica thanks to a cooperative agreement signed Wednesday (Dec. 5) afternoon.

Associate vice president for Academic Affairs Richard Eglsaer and Universidad de Iberoamerica vice president and provost Roberto Rodriguez signed the agreement that “will enhance the academic and scientific interchange between the two institutions,” the agreement said.

The program will allow for the matching of faculty members and students at both universities in order to do research, as well as the exchange of lecturers and teachers and other learning activities. UNIBE has a similar program with the University of Maryland.

“I look forward, as part of this agreement, to have this resource. For us, it would be a very good learning experience,” Rodriguez said. “It’s a way that we can mutually collaborate.”

From UNIBE’s end, Rodriguez said his professors are interested in such aspects as making observational visits to SHSU’s psychological and counseling clinics; and collaborating with the College of Education in the areas of childhood education, school bullying and leadership and administration, as well as in criminal justice and health issues, among others.

Rodriguez visited with various SHSU faculty members and deans throughout the week to discuss potential joint projects in some of those areas and others, said Beverly Irby, chair of the educational leadership and counseling department.

From SHSU’s end, UNIBE can be a great resource for studying Central America, and UNIBE will even provide Spanish-language tutors for non-fluent faculty members.

“The thing is that through our university, we can get into the other Central American countries,” Rodriguez said. “The study of violence in Central America is really an issue.”

The non-restrictive agreement will be in place for five years, after which the contract can be renewed.

It is coordinated through the Academic Affairs department, and professors or students who are interested in more information can call 936.294.1001 or contact Rodriguez at rrodriguez@unibe.ac.cr.

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SHSU Media Contact: Jennifer Gauntt
Dec. 7, 2007
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