The University of the Incarnate Word: A Model for Developing Higher

The University of the Incarnate Word:
A Model for Developing Higher
Education Initiatives in Mexico
Dr. Lou Agnese, President
CIC Presidents Institute
January 6, 2016
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Internationalization is the Foundation
Part of our Mission is to provide students, many of
whom are first-generation and economically
disadvantaged, with first-hand opportunities to:
• Learn about other cultures
• Develop professional networks
The following are internationalization milestones at
UIW, which was founded in 1881 by the Sisters of
Charity Of the Incarnate Word.
Graduation Procession at UIW
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Antonia Mendoza became
the 1st Incarnate Word
graduate in 1909. She was
from Durango, Mexico.
The first international sister school agreement
for reciprocal education was signed in 1987
with Kumamoto Gakuen University in Japan.
Incarnate Word College transitioned to
University of the Incarnate Word in 1996.
The name change aided internationalization
efforts in Latin America, where the word
“college” often refers to high school.
Dr. Agnese places the
final brick into the new
corner wall signifying
the name change from
Incarnate Word College
to University of the
Incarnate Word.
China Incarnate Word opened in Guangzhou in
2000. UIW was the first American university to
offer dual-accredited degrees in China.
Dr. Agnese at the
opening of China
Incarnate Word.
FYI: By 2000, UIW
had 56 sister school
agreements in 16
countries.
International Affairs was established
as a separate administrative division
headed by a vice president in 2003.
Marcos Fragoso has been VP for International Affairs since 2010.
He was previously the director of the UIW campus in Mexico City.
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Centro Universitario-Incarnate Word opened
in Mexico City in 2003. Students earn double
degrees accredited in Mexico and the USA.
Started with 4 students. There are now nearly 1,200.
The European Study Center in Heidelberg,
Germany opened in 2012.
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Universidad Incarnate Word-Campus Bajio
opened in Irapuato, Mexico in 2015.
UIW is the only American university with two campuses in Mexico.
2016/2017 at Irapuato
• Ten Bachelor’s Degrees will be added, including
Management, Marketing, Nutrition and Psychology
• Also Four Master’s Degrees including an MBA
• Dormitories, Chemistry, Biology and Nutrition Labs
• Athletics Facilities including a Soccer/Football Field with
Track, Tennis and Volleyball Courts
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UIW Today
• Global enrollment: 10,984 (1,296 in 1985)
• 3rd largest private university in Texas (19th in 1985)
• 12 sites in Texas, including 10 in San Antonio
• Global locations in Irapuato, Mexico City, and Heidelberg
> (1 domestic/global location in 1985)
• 850 FT and PT faculty (240 in 1985)
• 80 majors, including the Ph.D., DBA, 4 professional
health doctoral degrees (56 majors in 1985, 0 doctoral
programs)
• School of Medicine will open in 2017
• 141 sister schools in 44 countries (including 15 in Mexico)
• 35,000 alumni worldwide (8k in 1985, mostly in the USA)
• 27% percent of students are international (1% in 1985)
• Students represent 69 countries
Dr. Agnese hosted Dr. Hage
Geingob, President of
Namibia, at the UIW campus
in San Antonio last fall.
UIW is No.1 nationally in the
conferring of bachelor’s degrees
to Hispanics among private, notfor-profit universities.
FYI: UIW is the
largest private
Hispanic Serving
Institution in
Texas.
Why Mexico?
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Long-term dream of our founding congregation to
offer affordable, American-style higher education
to Mexico’s middle class.
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Other Factors:
• San Antonio’s proximity to Mexico
• Mexico: largest Spanish-speaking population in
Latin America
• San Antonio: 7th largest Mexican-American
population among U.S. cities
• Texas: 2nd largest number of Hispanics among the
states as well as the 2nd highest percentage of
Hispanics in its overall population (40%)
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With internationalization as a foundation, the
next steps were as follows:
Dr. Agnese with Miguel Marquez,
Governor of the State of Guanajuato, at
the opening gala in Irapuato last August
for the new campus.
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• Market evaluation
> For ex.: Irapuato is center of car industry in Latin America
• Establish local connections
• Assess budget for endeavor
• Have buy-in from faculty
• Develop network with the local community schools, clergy, business community
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• Strong leadership from the U.S. campus to
supervise the campus in Mexico
• Strong local administrator who knows the
culture and understands the market
• Leadership in the U.S. and Mexico must be
steeped in both cultures
• Maintain strong lines of communications with
educational authorities in both countries
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