By Latricia Boone
UNC Charlotte has received the University of
Cantabria (UniCan) Gold Medal award in recognition of the success of its
long-standing partnership with the university. The ceremony was held in Spain
on January 27, where the UNC Charlotte Provost Joan Lorden, along with a small
delegation, traveled to accept the award on behalf of the University.
“I would like to express our sincere appreciation
for this wonderful recognition,” said Provost Lorden. “Campus
internationalization and exchange partnerships contribute significantly to our
mission and to be recognized in this way from one of our oldest exchange
partners is a special honor.”
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| Provost Joan Lorden accepts a Gold Medal in Spain. |
The Gold Medal award is an honor of distinction,
which UniCan gives to only one group or individual annually, recognizing an entity
that has had an enormous impact on their campus. The award was presented by
Teresa Susinos Rada, Vice Rector for Internationalization of the University of
Cantabria. “The Gold Medal awarded
to the University of
North Carolina at Charlotte
is to show recognition
of the values of responsibility, solidarity and partnership in International Relations, allowing a fruitful
exchange between geographically and culturally distant institutions, but institutions which are close in their interests and objectives,”
said Rada. “This medal symbolizes these principles and it does so by embodying them in this institution, with which we have been maintaining
long and invaluable bilateral relations.”
Provost Lorden was joined by Robert Johnson, Dean
of the College of Engineering; Sheri Spaine Long, Language and Culture Studies;
and Joël Gallegos, Assistant Provost for International Programs. Gallegos, who
is very proud of the successful relationship that has been established between
UNC Charlotte and UniCan, says the partnership underscores the importance of
building strong international linkages. “Our international partnerships play
such a critical role in the comprehensive internationalization of UNC Charlotte,”
he said. “This special recognition highlights the value of our network abroad
as well as our institutional footprint.”
The University of Cantabria is one of UNC
Charlotte’s oldest exchange partners, with more than 25 years of collaboration
between the two institutions. Over the life of the partnership, more than 500
students from North Carolina have enjoyed the opportunity to study on the
campus of UniCan, while also exploring the rich cultural heritage of Spain.
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| The University of Cantabria is a long-standing exchange partner. |
Early on, the institutional exchange
focused primarily on the semester in Spain program, which enables
students at institutions across the UNC system to travel to Spain and study. Past
engagement has included a successful collaboration between UniCan and the UNC
Charlotte Colleges of Engineering and Arts + Architecture whereby students from
Civil Engineering and Architecture would spend a summer in Spain working on a
collaborative project. UNC Charlotte
faculty have also enjoyed the benefits of the Universities’ collaboration,
serving as resident directors and spending an academic year at UniCan.
Today, the partnership is celebrated through
bilateral exchanges between academic disciplines with a goal to proactively
pursue engagement and research in areas such as Business Administration, Civil Engineering, Education, and Languages and Culture Studies.
Currently, there are a total of 18 students from
six UNC system schools -- six from UNC Charlotte -- studying in Spain, as part
of the exchange. According to Gallegos, UNC Charlotte is in discussion with
UniCan about the possible expansion of the partnership.
Latricia Boone, a member of the Office of Public Relations, is communications director for the colleges of Education and Health and Human Services.
