NMSU college of ACES expands global recruitment efforts to draw more international students
New Mexico State University's College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) is broadening its global outreach in a bid to attract more international students to its programs. The recent initiatives saw representatives travel across Mexico, India, China, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, and various Latin American countries.
Among the team was planning officer Erika De La O, who visited agricultural expos in the Chihuahua state of Mexico, meeting hundreds of potential students alongside her colleagues Patricia Cabrales, Efren Delgado, Heber Lara, and Yesenia Palma.
Their mission was to highlight the opportunities NMSU has to offer, presenting a wealth of resources and scholarship options for international students. According to De La O, their visit to Mexico alone succeeded in recruiting five new students.
Among the successful recruits was Omar Sigala from Chihuahua City, who was inspired to pursue animal science studies in preparation for veterinary school after meeting De La O. He enthusiastically vouched for NMSU, encouraging other international students to consider studying at the university, even despite the perceived challenges.
Further collaborations were initiated with the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, AgrÃcolas y Pecuarias, a Mexican agriculture research center. According to post-doctoral researcher Cabrales, plans are underway to develop joint research initiatives while identifying undergraduate students who may wish to complete their graduate education at NMSU.
In addition to individual recruitment, ACES Global Initiatives Program hosted numerous visits from Mexican high school and college students, resulting in several applications for undergraduate and graduate programs in Animal and Range Sciences, and Plant and Environmental Sciences departments.
ACES is also working on a Ph.D. program for college educators in Mexico and has partnered with Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic, in a European Union mobility program to facilitate student exchanges.
College of ACES Dean, Rolando A. Flores Galarza, underscored the importance of the university's global efforts. He believes increasing international enrollment not only benefits NMSU but also contributes to addressing global scientific challenges and fostering international trade
