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ConTex Office created to aid research, academic partnership with Mexico

AUSTIN—The University of Texas System has established the ConTex office at UT San Antonio to administer, coordinate and foster efforts on behalf of UT institutions under the partnership formed with Mexico’s National Council of Science and Technology.

The UT System signed an official memorandum of understanding with the council – also known as CONACYT – last year to establish and enhance ties with Mexico and to work together to develop joint academic and research programs in STEM-related fields. This MOU was complemented by an official agreement of cooperation which was established and signed in June 2016.

“The CONACYT collaboration provides a unique opportunity on an unprecedented international scale that will ultimately enrich the academic experience of all UT System students,” said Steven Leslie, Ph.D., executive vice chancellor for academic affairs.

Rene Zenteno, Ph.D., vice provost for international initiatives and senior international officer at UT San Antonio, will act as executive director of the ConTex office and programs.

The ConTex office will help support new programs, including Mexican Ph.D. student educational opportunities at UT institutions, exchange of postdoctoral and faculty fellows, visiting students for research and academic partnerships and collaborative research projects. The programs are open to faculty, staff, students and postdoctoral researchers from all 14 UT System institutions.

Promotional efforts and a call for proposals will begin in fall 2016. The programs are set to start in September 2017.

The ConTex office name has special meaning beyond a conjunction of CONACYT and Texas. The term contex is a Latin verb meaning “to weave together.” 

Several UT System institutions currently have existing relationships with CONACYT for research collaboration and student funding. For example, UT El Paso and UT Dallas have well-established agreements for educational cooperation, and UT San Antonio has an agreement in place supporting post-doctoral fellows.

“What is new with this agreement is the timing during a period in which we wish to strengthen our ties with Mexico and its institutions, increase the numbers of students who will be supported and establish a cooperative research program,” said Randy Charbeneau, UT System’s associate vice chancellor for research.

Since 1982, 530 students from Mexico have been supported through individual agreements with CONACYT. The new agreement will significantly increase collaboration by adding Mexican Ph.D. students to the program each year to receive their education at a UT System institution.

“These are some of the best and brightest students coming from Mexico and many will return to work in the highest levels of government, industry and academia,” Charbeneau said. “Their developed knowledge of our institutions, state and culture cannot help but foster great relations between neighbors.”

About The University of Texas System

Educating students, providing care for patients, conducting groundbreaking basic, applied and clinical research, and serving the needs of Texans and the nation for more than 130 years, The University of Texas System is one of the largest public university systems in the United States. With 14 institutions and an enrollment of more than 221,000, the UT System confers more than one-third of the state’s undergraduate degrees, educates almost two-thirds of the state’s health care professionals annually and accounts for almost 70 percent of all research funds awarded to public institutions in Texas. The UT System has an annual operating budget of $17.9 billion (FY 2017) including $3 billion in sponsored programs funded by federal, state, local and private sources. With more than 20,000 faculty – including Nobel laureates – and nearly 80,000 health care professionals, researchers, student advisors and support staff, the UT System is one of the largest employers in the state.

News Contact Information

Jenny LaCoste-Caputo: jcaputo@utsystem.edu  • 512-499-4361(direct) • 512-574-5777 (cell) 
Melanie Thompson: mthompson@utsystem.edu • 512-499-4487 (direct) • 832-724-1024 (cell)