Advanced Continuing Education (ACE)

The key to the development of any nation is the availability of highly qualified human resources. Projects conducted within this initiative involve the adaptation, design and enhancement of curricula, professional development, accreditation, on-site training, web-based distance learning, and double-degree programs. Of particular interest is the development of materials that incorporate the latest technology in state-of–the-art textbooks, online resources, distance learning programs, and laboratory materials. This initiative seeks to employ the most current technology platforms to develop superior systems for the educational process.

Join the discussion here:

• ISTEC ACE Initiative eDoorways Discussion Channel

• Sample Projects:

• Double degree inter-university programs (MS, PhD): contact Dr. Ramiro Jordan at rjordan@istec.or

• Morgan-Claypool e-books project (coming soon!)

• Professional development distance learning courses (on-going). Check-out course offerings via CECi (Center for Continuing Ed)

• GRANA self-evaluation (Accreditation) process

News Brief Source: Istec News Bulletin July 30th, 2009

ISTEC presents first Ph.D. graduate from Double Degree Graduate Program

Renato A. Borges received his double Ph.D. degree last June, becoming the first graduate to obtain a double degree through the ISTEC Double Degree Graduate Program (*DDGP*). The idea of an international double degree program for Ibero-America has been developed and actively promoted by ISTEC in recent years. The original concept was proposed by Dr. Ramiro Jordan, Executive Vice-President of ISTEC, and has now become a program showing its first results.

The University of New Mexico (UNM) and the University of Campinas (UNICAMP), through their Electrical and Computer Engineering Departments: ECE at UNM and FEEC at UNICAMP, were the first universities to establish an agreement to implement the Double Degree Graduate Program, and both have granted the first double degree on 2009.

Both universities are core founder members of ISTEC and are pioneers in this area. This cooperation opens a new era on academic international cooperation for Ibero-America, and has proven to be a very rewarding experience for the student. According to Renato Borges “the final outcome of this experience goes far beyond the degrees I received, impacting forever my views on Research, Technology and Academia. Also,my period at UNM was a time of huge personal and professional growth, where I learned how to ask the right questions, as well as the tools to seek the answers…. We are living in a time with many global challenges that demand global solutions, which can only be obtained through global networks. In this sense, the ECE/UNM and FEEC/UNICAMP cooperation represents an important achievement, and I hope I can continue to contribute to the improvement of the University of New Mexico, University of Campinas and the Ibero American Science & Technology Education Consortium”. Read the full quote here

The purpose of the ISTEC Double Degree Graduate Program is to encourage collaborative research and intellectual interaction between academic institutions that partner to grant simultaneous degrees; and in this way enrich the education experience of graduate students exposing them to a globalized world and challenges. The DDGP creates synergy sharing strengths and resources available at each partner institution.

For more information about the Double Degree Graduate Program (DDGP) contact the ISTEC Executive Office at info@istec.org.