The president of Southeast Missouri State University was part of a delegation from the Show Me State that traveled to Cuba recently on a trade mission.
Carlos Vargas met with Cuban officials to pursue higher education partnerships related to academic and research projects.
Vargas says he wants to have a small group of faculty travel to Cuba to find ways to interact with educators there. He says agriculture would seem to be an attractive partnership.
"Certainly agriculture is a major industry in our region, in our state. That is something that is also of interest to them. So, that I see as a natural one to explore ways of interacting and communicating and sharing knowledge and ideas."
Vargas says other collaborations could involve education; in fact he'd like SEMO students to visit Cuba in the near future. Vargas says it would also be enlightening for school officials to learn more about Cuba's business and health care systems.
He says Cubans are very intrigued by the potential to develop more relationships with the U.S. But, he doesn't expect things to happen overnight.
"They are excited. We are excited too. We recognize things may not move too fast. Some of these conversations and visits will move slowly perhaps."
Vargas says Cuba is just one of the nations he wants his university to collaborate with in the future. In fact, he says Southeast has joined an American Council on Education Initiative called the Internationalization Laboratory.
Vargas says the goal is to internationalize the Cape Girardeau campus, including the curriculum.
"And to be more receptive and friendly to the students who may come here from other countries and also to develop our study abroad programs to help our students benefit from trips to other countries too."
To help in this effort, Southeast Missouri State recently hired Kevin Timlin as executive director of International Education and Services. He'll begin his new role on July 5th.
Timlin says he would like to see Southeast win a Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization from the Association of International Educators.
