Arturo Treviño Villarreal
Arturo Treviño Villarreal, (Laws LLM, 2008), coordinates the activities of the Mexico Chapter. He explains why he feels the chapter is important.
Why did you decide to get involved with the Mexico Chapter?
There are a number of reasons for being involved. If it were not for QMUL, I would have fewer options than I do today. Personally, I think it is a way to show my school pride. Staying in touch with my alma mater is an essential part of continuing that valuable education which I received from QMUL.
The Chapter will be an excellent opportunity to help current or prospective students, e.g. promoting scholarship donations, activity support or awards, etc. I am convinced that this can bring about a whole lot of good for students who are now in the position I once occupied (and I appreciated the help I got back then too!).
I feel now confident, eager, and looking forward to the future to face more professional challenges. I am positive that getting involved with the Mexico Chapter will allow me to join others who feel the same way, and also support those who are still working to get there.
What do you think the importance of the CCLS Mexico Chapter is?
It is clear that the UK government’s policy of re-engagement with the Latin American region has Mexico central to the strategy. The UK and Mexico are very well placed to influence the changing relationship between Europe and the Americas.
As a matter of fact, Mexico remains one of the largest Latin American markets for education, and is second only to Brazil in terms of the size of its population and economy. Despite continuing fluctuations in the rate of inflation within Mexico, and similar ups and downs in the exchange rate between the Mexican peso and other major world currencies, the economic outlook is for relative stability and continued growth in demand for study abroad.
The UK is compelling for Mexican graduate students because, for example, it offers shorter master’s programmes in comparison with the US or Canada, and this often crystallises into more affordability too. I noticed that the UK is reacting quickly to capitalise on graduate interest from Mexico, e.g., the signature in 2015 of the Mutual Accreditation and Recognition of Awards Agreement. Such an agreement has the potential to allow up to 150,000 Mexican students to consider study in the UK. Additionally, the agreement is meant to lead to a dramatic expansion of educational partnerships between the UK and Mexico such as transnational education development, dual awards, in-course mobility, etc. It will also offer the opportunity for remote campus agreements and partnership delivery.
Moreover, the UK is already the largest overseas destination for Mexican Government-funded scholarships, and many of whose recipients return to Mexico to leadership positions.
The CCLS Mexico Chapter will be an additional key element to reinforce and consolidate relations and exchanges by and between QMUL and Mexican students, alumni, and the local community in general.
How do you hope the Chapter will benefit alumni who join?
Career opportunities and networking events are two great reasons to be an alumni member. Additionally, joining our Chapter will certainly bring and amplify benefits and advantages to those who decide to do so, such as:
(i) Developing connections: to have the opportunity to build a network of other graduates and postgraduates, thus increasing their potential to expand professional connections and meet new people.
(ii) Giving back: it is a way to give back to QMUL by supporting different social and academic initiatives and projects. For example, the financial support of alumni donations will undoubtedly have a positive effect on new undergraduate and graduate facilities, research, etc.
(iii) Staying informed: it is always useful to stay in the know and alumni members are always in the loop. Alumni magazines and newsletters usually include news regarding university rankings, new research, athletics, campus developments, among others.
(iv) Expanding their skills: by accessing the career services area one may attend workshops, webinars, review professional job databases as well as benefit from career coaching.
(v) Showing pride: supporting QMUL will show pride in their education, e.g., being proud of having graduated, the diploma signifies their feelings for QMUL, etc. Alumni support is essential for keeping such pride alive.
(vi) Increasing their degree value: as alumni engagement is one of several qualities used to rank universities, then joining the Chapter helps to increase QMUL’s reputation. In its turn, this makes their degree even more valuable.
Useful links:
- Join the Mexico Chapter on the Queen Mary Network.
- Find out more about CCLS Mexico Chapter.
- Join LatAm alumni on LinkedIn.
Would you like your story featured or establish a new Alumni Chapter? Contact ccls-alumni@qmul.ac.uk.
Back to CCLS Alumni Chapters