UCL strengthens links with Mexico

His Excellency Juan Jose Bremer CVO, the Mexican Ambassador to the United Kingdom, visited UCL on 7 December 2004.

The Ambassador, who was joined by Ignacio Durán Loera, the Cultural Attaché and by Ms Aida Velasco, Education and Science Attaché, met with UCL's President and Provost, Professor Malcolm Grant and Professor Michael Worton, Vice Provost International.

After meeting with the Provost to discuss strengthening UCL's links with leading Mexican institutions, the Ambassador was taken on a tour of the Wolfson Institute for Biochemical Research and the Department of Biochemical Engineering, where five postgraduate students from Mexico are currently studying.

The Ambassador is also keen to develop collaborative cultural links with UCL, Señor Loera explained: "We are planning to bring in Mexican practitioners from different arts disciplines such as dancers, poets and artists, establishing venues in London for them to perform and exhibit. We hope that UCL staff and students will be involved in this exciting cultural exchange."

The visit ended with an informal lunch, attended by many of UCL's 30 Mexican graduate students. Señor Bremer said: "I'm very happy and honoured to be at such a prestigious institution and to be in contact with UCL's Mexican community. It is very clear to me that one of the most important dimensions of my work is fostering intellectual and cultural exchange. I look forward to being in contact with UCL in the future."

UCL already enjoys several links with Mexico and has attended the British Council Exhibition in Mexico every year since its inception in 1999. UCL's Department of Spanish and Latin American Studies operate an exchange with the University of the Americans in Puebla; sending up to four students to Mexico for a semester each year.

Image: The Ambassador meets members of the UCL community.

For more information about the Mexican Embassy's programme of cultural events use the link below.

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Link: Mexican Embassy events