City University of Seattle has the answer
Luis Morris, President of the U.S.–Mexico Chamber of Commerce Pacific Northwest Chapter and CEO of ABC World Wide Supplier L.L.C. (ABCWWSCORP), of ABCWWSCORP had the opportunity to meet with City University of Seattle’s assistant provost for international education, Antonio Esqueda Flores, M.Ed., to discuss CityU’s innovative and accessible educational degree programs in Mexico. These programs allow students to earn a U.S. accredited bachelor’s degree in Mexico while earning a Mexican bachelor or engineering degree.
Q:Could you tell us a bit about City University of Seattle?
A: Well, first I would like to thank Alliance for its interest in City University of Seattle. The University has a rich history in the United States and abroad.
Let me start with who we are: City University of Seattle is a non-profit, regionally accredited university based in Seattle, Washington. We have 28 locations across three continents North America, Asia, and Europe. The mission of the university is to offer high-quality, relevant education to anyone with a desire to learn.
CityU offers programs in technology, education, business, psychology, among other areas. The university offers associate, bachelor, master, and doctorate degrees.
Q: Why is City University of Seattle a member of the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce?
A: CityU decided to join the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce Pacific Northwest Chapter due to the university’s six campuses in Mexico. We felt it was necessary to not only educate future leaders, but to inform companies on both sides of the border that there are uniquely qualified future employees that have earned or are in the process of earning a double degree: one from Mexico and one from the United States. These students are, in some cases, not only bilingual, but multilingual with a global vision next to none.
A: CityU decided to join the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce Pacific Northwest Chapter due to the university’s six campuses in Mexico. We felt it was necessary to not only educate future leaders, but to inform companies on both sides of the border that there are uniquely qualified future employees that have earned or are in the process of earning a double degree: one from Mexico and one from the United States. These students are, in some cases, not only bilingual, but multilingual with a global vision next to none.
In addition, according to the Institute for International Education Opens Doors Report, 16,733 Mexican students studied in the United States in 2016. Thus, joining the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce PNW Chapter was a natural fit.
Q: Where in Mexico do you have campuses?
A: As a non-profit university, we were unable to build our own campuses, thus we have academic agreements with well-established universities in Mexico that allow us to use their classrooms for our faculty to teach. These universities are: CETYS Universidad with campuses in Mexicali, Ensenada, and Tijuana; Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Nuevo León, in Monterrey; Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, in San Luis Potosi; and UPAEP Universidad, in Puebla. Furthermore, CityU and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) have an agreement that continues to expand.
Q: You mentioned double degree programs, what are they and how do they work?
A: A double degree program provide students the opportunity to earn two bachelor degrees in the same time it takes to earn one. For example, we have students studying to become engineers in Mexico and simultaneously earning a Bachelor of Arts in Management from CityU.
How does it work? Well, essentially, students enroll in courses at both universities during the same term. CityU courses can be offered either hybrid (face-to-face and online) or fully online.
How does it work? Well, essentially, students enroll in courses at both universities during the same term. CityU courses can be offered either hybrid (face-to-face and online) or fully online.
Q: How long does the student need to travel to Seattle to be able to earn a CityU degree?
A: I’m glad you asked. Normally double- degree programs have an international component in that students are required to study x amount of years at one institution and transfer to another institution for a predetermined set of time. The move, as you can imagine, is financially inaccessible to the majority of students.
On the other hand, CityU allows students three international experiences. First, students can opt into moving to a CityU location for a term and return home. Second, students can study abroad during the summer months in either Seattle or Prague, Czech Republic. Third, students may transfer from one location to another permanently.
Q: The program sounds interesting, but what benefits does it provide to a student and a prospective employer?
A: There are multiple benefits to both future alumni and prospective employers.
A graduate of the double-degree program with City University of Seattle has a higher critical and multicultural understanding, is a global citizen, tends to have higher academic aspirations, and has an entrepreneurial spirit. Finally, CityU language of instruction is English, graduates emerge fully bilingual in English and Spanish.
A graduate of the double-degree program with City University of Seattle has a higher critical and multicultural understanding, is a global citizen, tends to have higher academic aspirations, and has an entrepreneurial spirit. Finally, CityU language of instruction is English, graduates emerge fully bilingual in English and Spanish.
For employers, consider the following: Imagine you are going to hire someone and your top two candidates are from the same university, same class, same G.P.A., but one of those candidates has a degree from a foreign university. Who would be your top candidate?
Q: Finally, I would like to know if City University of Seattle plans to expand in Mexico and do you offer other programs?
A: Yes. CityU is continuously looking for strategic partners. Those interested can go to our website, www.cityu.edu and click on locations for further information.
CityU offers an array of educational programs in Mexico from undergraduate certificates to a Doctor of Education in Leadership that is fully online.
Thank you for this wonderful opportunity to discuss City University of Seattle programs.
