Harvard University will support Lima-based San Marcos National University research initiatives and joint studies, announced Ned Strong, Executive Director of the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies situated in Cambridge, United States.
Strong visited San Marcos' campus to strengthen the inter-institutional ties commenced in December last year, when 20 deans and two vice-presidents headed to Harvard to do a five-day internship.
The aim, Strong explained, was to deepen relations with San Marcos (UNMSM) and back changes undertaken by Orestes Cachay administration to improve the Peruvian university's academic quality.
Strong referred to San Marcos' Visiting Professor Program and educational exchange schemes for undergraduate students, as well as Harvard's research projects funds, which he defined as important mechanisms.
"Strengthening our bonds with San Marcos is highly important to us, that's why we want to make our 54 PhD programs available for its professors and students, and promote joint investigations, because we have the funds for doing so," he was quoted as saying by Andina news agency.
Harvard University is known as the epicenter of research that contributes to political, social, economic reality of several countries around the globe. Strong stressed 14,000 of his 20,000 students are pursuing postgraduate studies.
The university academic announced that David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies plans to invite Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski for a visit between September and October.
"We have various research projects, on public health and medicine, with other Peruvian universities. We have a longstanding relationship [with Peru]," he stated.
"In fact, the first Harvard scientist who worked in Latin America came to Peru back in 1874 to establish an observatory in El Misti [a snow-capped volcano] in Arequipa," he continued.
Thanks to the agreement between UNMSM and Harvard University, 142 students —the first and second places in San Marcos 65 schools— were able to join the entrepreneurship, leadership and research internship program offered by the U.S. high-level educational institution.
Two groups have completed the program already, and the third one will do so in June.
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Published: 4/29/2017