International Newsletter

Texas Tech University Establishes Campus in Costa Rica

Upon approval of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools’ Commission on Colleges, the new campus in San Jose, Costa Rica, will offer students in Central America an opportunity to earn credits necessary for undergraduate or graduate degrees. With instruction in English, programs will be offered by the Rawls College of Business, the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering, the College of Arts & Sciences and the Department of Hospitality and Retail Management within the College of Human Sciences.

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Ethiopia, US keen to foster multisector partnerships

A workshop on enhancing the US-Ethiopia partnerships and particularly improving the agriculture sector, and thereby maximizing food security via higher education linkages, began on August 15, 2016 at the Hilton Hotel, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Co-organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, the U.S Embassy in Addis Ababa, and the Ministry of Education, the workshop was attended by State Minister of Agriculture and Natural resources of Ethiopia, Ato Wondirad Mandefro; U.S Ambassador to Ethiopia, Patricia M. Haslach; Honorary Consul General of Ethiopia in Texas, Ato Gezahegn Kebede; former U.S Ambassador to Ethiopia, Ambassador Tibor Nagy; high-level government officials; and diplomats as well as representatives of a number of higher learning institutions from both countries. Ambassador Patricia M. Haslach, also noted that Ethiopia and the US are forging exemplary bilateral cooperation, describing the current initiative to enhance the partnership in the area of higher-education as proof of that.

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Vice Provost Temporarily Heads U.S. Embassy in Nigeria

Tibor Nagy, vice provost for the Office of International Affairs at Texas Tech University, was selected by the U.S. Department of State to temporarily head the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria as Charge d’Affaires (interim ambassador) during the month of August.

Due to the retirement of the current U.S. ambassador and the wait required for Senate confirmation of the newly nominated ambassador, the U.S. State Department needed a representative to serve in the position until the new ambassador was finalized. Because of his extensive experience in African relations, Nagy was selected to temporarily fill this key position as sometimes the U.S. State Department asks retired diplomats to take temporary assignments to assist in certain situations.

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TTU announces its first partnership with Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad

This year, Texas Tech University signed an historic Letter of Intent with the Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad. IIT Hyderabad is one of fifteen prestigious institutes established by the Government of India and this is TTU first partnership with these elite higher education institutes. IIT Hyderabad opened from a temporary campus in August of 2008 and will be the first among the new institutions to build its own permanent campus in Kandi Village of Medak District.

Texas Tech University takes great pride in this new partnership with hopes to establish greater collaborations of research and education with one of India’s premier higher education institutions. IIT Hyderabad’s short history of successes in quickly achieving prestigious ranking among top scientific and defense research institutions dates back to only 2008.

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OIA’s Study Abroad Unit Hosts First International Partner Day

The Study Abroad unit in the Office of International Affairs hosted its first International Partner Day on Monday, June 06. Representatives from four of Texas Tech’s reciprocal exchange university partners toured campus and met with staff from Study Abroad, the College of Engineering, the Rawls College of Business, and the School of Law. The visit helped our partners at La Trobe University (Australia), University of New South Wales (Australia), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Norway) and the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia) learn more about program offerings and campus support for their students studying for a semester or academic year at Texas Tech.

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Annual summer photo exhibit attracts crowds

The galleries of Tech’s International Cultural Center (ICC) once again observed the dog days of summer with “Putting on the Dog: Dogs without Borders,” an exhibition of photographs showing dogs in all their geographical diversity. Although at first blush it might be hard to understand the international dimension of this exhibit, of the 150+ breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club, only a handful originated in the United States. The rest have international ancestors: Belgian Tervurens, English Setters, Irish Setters, French Poodles, German Shepherds, etc. Each of the seventy photographs included exhibit labels informing the viewer of the dog’s breed and country of origin.

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International Student Graduation Reception Draws Record Numbers

Over three hundred people attended the May 18 reception at the ICC that was hosted by Texas Tech’s Office of International Affairs for all graduating international students (graduate and undergraduate) and their visiting friends and family. Interim President John Opperman, Provost Lawrence Schovanec, Graduate Dean Mark Sheridan – in addition to Vice Provost Tibor Nagy and Associate Vice Provost Sukant Misra – made remarks congratulating the international Red Raiders on their well-deserved accomplishment. While successfully completing university is difficult enough for US students, internationals have the added challenge of operating in a “foreign” culture, environment, and language. Our international students bring tremendous benefits to our campus – not only by enriching academics with their intellect and research capabilities – but also by expanding our domestic students’ international awareness. This is especially important given today’s accelerating globalization where global competence and competitiveness are essential skills for all US graduates.

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Gilbert Tuhabonye, Genocide Survivor, addresses High School Students in ICC Auditorium on May 18

Gilbert Tuhabonye, author of This Voice in My Heart: A Genocide Survivor’s Story of Escape, Faith, and Forgiveness, spoke before high school students from Lubbock and Slaton on May 18, 2016. Students from Estacado High School, Monterrey High School, Slaton High School, and the Talkington School for Young Women Leaders, filled the ICC Auditorium to hear Tuhabonye recall the horrific massacre in the long Tutsi-Hutu war of Burundi during which he, as a high school student in 1993, endured unbearable torture, witnessed mass murder, and barely escaped his own fiery death. The only Tutsi to survive the massacre that day, he ran from that horror into a new life — a life of hope, joy, and forgiveness.

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International Week Concludes with Global Vision Awards Ceremony.

As Texas Tech University’s International Week concluded, the Office of International Affairs finished the weeklong celebration with its annual Global Vision Awards, where faculty and administrators are awarded for their efforts inspiring students to study and experience different cultures and encourage a better understanding of the world.

Ambassador and Vice Provost for International Affairs Tibor Nagy and Associate Vice Provost for International Programs Sukant Misra , along with Texas Tech Interim President John Opperman and Provost and Senior Vice President Lawrence Schovanec , awarded seven recipients Friday evening (April 8) at the International Cultural Center for their works with the international community and engagement.

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