The University has been reaching out far beyond Delaware in recent months, with President Patrick Harker making several trips to develop and extend international partnerships and cooperative agreements with other institutions of higher education.

In September, he traveled with Delaware’s Gov. Ruth Ann Minner and other officials in a trade delegation to Sweden, where he met with business executives and with officials from the University of Kalmar.

In October, Harker visited Chile as part of another state trade delegation and signed a comprehensive agreement with the Universidad de Mayor, which is one of the major private universities in Chile, with about 15,000 students. The agreement provides for student exchanges and faculty research exchanges designed to benefit both institutions.

The Chilean university’s motto is “with a spirit of entrepreneurship,” and Harker says that spirit is exhibited in all of its programs.

“UD is proud to be their partner, and I believe that Mayor will be a significant destination for our students and faculty,” he says. “Santiago is a vibrant city, with numerous cultural activities and a rich history. With our partnership with Universidad Mayor, I hope that our students and faculty will find a strong academic partner to explore this region of the world.”

From Chile, Harker traveled to Chengdu, China, to explore potential cooperation with major universities there. He visited the Southwest University of Finance and Economics (SWUFE), with whom UD signed a major cooperative agreement in August. The visit, Harker says, strengthened the ties between the two universities and explored ways they can work together.

“Students and faculty will find SWUFE to be an intellectually exciting university and Chengdu a marvelous city,” he says. While there, Harker also chaired the International Advisory Board for SWUFE’s School of Business Administration to help the school attain more international recognition and to create closer ties between UD’s Lerner College of Business and Economics and the business community in China.

“Such ties are crucial,” Harker says. “China is one of the major economic forces in the world, as well as rich in culture and history. Our students and faculty must have the opportunity to travel to and learn from our Chinese colleagues if they are to understand the complexities of the 21st century. Our partnerships in China are vital to creating such opportunities for the entire UD community.”

Harker went on to visit Beijing Normal University, which also has signed a broad agreement with UD.