[T]he University of Cumbria has signed an agreement with the University of Texas in Dallas which could see project management students from Cumbria travel across the Atlantic to study.
The memorandum of understanding between Cumbria and the Naveen Jindal School of Management, part of the University of Texas in Dallas, is the latest in a series of arrangements which it’s hoped will benefit students.
“I have previous experience of arranging exchange and collaboration programmes between universities in the UK and US and know there are real benefits for both sides,” Prof Andy Gale, the University of Cumbria’s director of industrial strategy, said. “This development is exciting because it will promote interest in teaching and research activities of the respective institutions. Not only this but it will deepen the understanding of the economic, cultural and social issues that affect the respective institutions.”
The University of Cumbria already has similar agreements in place with institutions in Singapore and Switzerland but this is the first time a link has been established with a U.S. organisation.
”We take our project management students to European universities every year as part of their programme, for cross-cultural awareness and to broaden their understanding of the application of project management in a global context,” Prof Jim Szot Director, Executive Education Project Management Programme at Naveen Jindal School of Management said. “These students are all practising managers studying at master level. Our two previous visits to the UK, with Prof Gale, have been a great success.”
The first students could enjoy collaborations in the current academic term and it’s hoped further tie-ups with other U.S. universities will be developed in the future.
”I have been working with the University of Texas for some time and I think that their approach really lifts the quality of reflection in their students,” Professor Gale said. “Given the global challenges we face today, I believe strongly in international collaboration. The US group will have the benefit of visiting our two UNESCO World Heritage based campuses. Cumbria also has significant US connections in both Whitehaven and Ambleside.”
