August 19, 2019 | UHCL Staff
Representatives from Magister, the largest teacher-training enterprise in Madrid, spent three days at University of Houston-Clear Lake meeting with Assistant Vice President of Global Learning and Strategy Gigi Do and the deans of all four university colleges to collaborate on a potential study-abroad, student-exchange program.
Magister designs, develops and teaches new undergraduate and graduate programs for five universities in Spain. Representatives proposed numerous collaborative degree options, including creating a joint dual master’s program with UH-Clear Lake in the Master of Science in Multicultural Studies with Bilingual or ESL Specializations and Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with Core Subjects EC-6 with Bilingual Supplemental Certification, both offered through UHCL’s College of Education.
“We think our master’s in bilingual education and teaching Spanish as a second language could be especially interesting to UHCL students, as they are accredited by the Ministry of Education in Spain and can be taken online from any location,” said Ana Maria Gonzalez Martin, Magister’s executive director of global initiatives and operations.
Applications for students studying art and design, sociology, museum studies, anthropology, cross-cultural and global studies, history and other disciplines on the undergraduate and graduate level in the College of Human Sciences and Humanities abound as well in this framework, said Rick Short, HSH dean.
Gonzalez said Magister is prepared to provide classroom and office space within a centrally-located building near the Museo del Prado and other internationally renowned museums.
Opportunities could be created for internships for students across all disciplines, and UHCL professors could become visiting researchers, scholars and lecturers in various Spanish universities, and vice-versa.
“I am grateful for the offering of the free use of the beautiful historic buildings in Madrid, particularly the ones directly across from the Museo de Prado, one of the world's finest art museums and within walking distance from the national palace and city center,” said Do. “I envision using the classrooms for our study abroad students and hosting our global events at these sites. In addition, having a potential UHCL international student recruitment center here would be a gateway for incoming international students from Spain and other European cities.”
Gonzalez and Rachid Berd Gomez, Magister’s consultant for engineering, management and business administration, also met with Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships Dwayne Busby, Associate Vice President of Strategic Information Initiatives and Technology Evelyn Miralles, and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost Steven Berberich.
