Spanier signs agreement with Mexican university

By MATT WUNSCHE
Collegian Staff Writer

Education and agriculture are among Gov. Tom Ridge's top priorities while on a trade mission trip to Mexico this week. In conjunction, Penn State participated yesterday by signing an agreement that will facilitate engineering and business projects between the university and a Mexican academic institute.

Penn State President Graham Spanier participated in a video teleconference with Gov. Tom Ridge and Institute of Technology and Advanced Studies of Monterrey President Ramon de la Pena Manrique.

The school officials and the governor held the high-tech meeting so Spanier and Pena both could sign a memorandum of understanding.

The memorandum continues an understanding between the two institutions, Spanier said. In the future, he said he expects the schools to collaborate on engineering and business projects.

"To be competitive, we will need a strategy between all the key universities," Pena said in his address.

Pena also pointed out the Monterrey Institute already has agreements with several Pennsylvania colleges, including Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh.

After the signing, Spanier said Penn State also has several dozen other such agreements with other universities -- what happens with such agreements largely depends on the faculty of the schools involved.

"Some get involved very extensively, and others do not," Spanier said.

In addition to the conversation between the two universities, another priority for Ridge's trip is the discussion of agricultural trade with Mexico, said Ridge press secretary Steve Aaron.

Bob Bunty, press secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, said there was a $10 million increase in agricultural trade between Pennsylvania and Mexico between 1997 and 1998.

Aaron said Mexico is Pennsylvania's third-largest agricultural trade partner, behind only Canada and Japan.

"Since (the North American Free Trade Agreement), the market is really opening up," Aaron said. "It is a chance to show what we have to offer. We're talking about selling more of our products to outside buyers."

SOURCE: Steve Aaron, governors press secretary
GRAPHIC: Chris McNelis