UNIVERSITY OF COLIMA
Mission statement
The mission of the University of Colima, as a social, public, and autonomous organization, is to contribute to the transformation of society through the comprehensive education of high school students, professionals, scientists, and creators of excellence, and to actively promote the creation, application, preservation, and dissemination of scientific knowledge, technological development, and the manifestations of the fine arts and culture, within a framework of institutional transparency and timely accountability.
Vision statement towards 2030
In 2030, the University of Colima is an institution that is globally recognized as one of the best universities in the country as a result of its quality and relevance, which fulfills its social responsibility by systematically and creatively contributing to the equal, democratic, and sustainable development of the state, the nation, and the world.
Institutional values
The values and principles that give meaning to our institutional life are freedom, equality, critical and cooperative attitude, humanistic and democratic spirit, tolerance, responsibility, respect, honesty, and ethics.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
The University of Colima was founded in 1940. It has an academic population of 27, 005 students (13,814 high school, 12, 670 bachelor and 521 postgraduate) and 2,186 professors (745 high schools, 1, 441 bachelor and postgraduate). It offers 66 undergraduate programs and 37 graduate programs. The Secretariat of Education of the Government of Mexico, known as SEP, certifies the high quality of the programs of the University of Colima annually.
Internationalization policy
At present, the University works with a quality institutional plan. Its internationalization policy is aimed at being committed to the preparation of its professors and students in order to understand, work, contribute, and coexist successfully in the society of knowledge, as well as in multicultural settings. The University is a member of organizations whose main objective is academic cooperation and that promote international, intercultural, and global competencies which give us the opportunity to help students enhance their professional profiles. That is why, the University of Colima is a member of the National Association of Universities and Higher-Education Institutions (ANUIES), the Mexican Association for International Education (AMPEI), the Consortium for North American Higher Education Collaboration (CONAHEC), the Inter-American University Organization (OUI), the International Association of Universities (IAU), University Mobility in Asia and the Pacific (UMAP), the Union of Universities of Latin America and the Caribbean (UDUAL), the Higher Education Common Space (ECOES), the Ibero-American University Association for Graduate Studies (AUIP), Conférence des Recteurs et des Principaux des Universités du Québec (CREPUQ), the Network of Universities with business sector- Latin America, Caribbean and Europe (REDUE-ALCUE).
Agreements
We have signed 434 academic and scientific-collaboration agreements with various higher-education institutions, aside from those linked with our institutional peers in networks. Our partner institutions are place in 36 countries: Argentine Republic, Austria, Bulgaria, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Norway, Panama, People's Republic of China, Peru, Plurinational State of Bolivia, Puerto Rico, Republic of Colombia, Republic of Costa Rica, Republic of Cuba, Republic of Ecuador, Republic of El Salvador, Republic of India, Republic of Korea, Rumania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, and Uruguay.
Foreign language programs
Our foreign language programs are open to local and foreign students who may be involved in a multicultural classroom in the same way they would find their natural environment during their career, once they graduate. Our language program allows students to practice, listen, speak, and write in a student environment that resembles the scene of a school abroad. The courses are English, French, German, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, Náhuatl, and Korean.
Products of international collaboration
Teaching methods Academic-collaboration has enabled us to innovate education, at least in the fields of health science and architecture. Since 1999, the University started transferring from a traditional education towards a student-centered approach by implementing Project-Based Learning, Problem-Based Learning (PBL) and Small-Group Learning (SGL), which has also been implemented in some other study areas within our institution. These efforts have supported the autonomous learning development, the use of ICT, problem-solving skills, and collaboration through teamwork, besides the second language learning. Double-degree programs The University of Colima currently offers 17 double-degree programs, as options of international education in undergraduate and graduate levels. Fields of these programs are: Economics, Tourism, Marketing, International Business, Foreign Trade, Public Relations, Ocean Engineering, Industrial Design, Law, Psychology, Computer Science, and Chemical Science with the partner institutions that are located in France, Thailand, United States, Panama, Chile, Colombia, Germany, Spain, and Italy. Academic Networks and international joint projects in cooperation Faculty members undertake joint activities with Academic Networks and International Cooperation Projects with their colleagues in more than 126 institutions based in 46 countries. We have 52 research projects of international collaboration and work in 64 international academic networks. The processes and outcomes resulting from these endeavors are jointly published in international journals. Courses taught in English The Bachelor's Degree in International Business and a bilingual preparatory school are currently the two English program options for international students. Besides that, 69 other courses taught in English are being offered within 10 regular academic programs in the fields of Marketing, Foreign Languages, Economy, Tourism, Science, and Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. Candidates may ask about these courses before sending the application form. The University of Colima is in the State of Colima, on Mexico’s west coast, facing the Pacific Ocean. Colima’s most distinctive landmarks are its volcanoes: the Fire Volcano and the Nevado Volcano (snow-capped), which harmonize with Colima’s countryside. Colima is also the name of the capital city. Colima’s capital is home to the largest share of the population of the state, and it is well known for its customs, preserved and transformed throughout time. Some of these customs are the production of local sweets and typical beverages, such as tuba, tejuino, ponche, and tepache.