By Robert B. Stein
On Thursday, Nov. 19, the Missouri Department of Higher Education entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with an agency of the government of Panama to encourage the educational and cultural exchange between our students and institutions of higher learning. The agreement enriches all our citizens and formalizes an association with Panama that has existed for almost 100 years.
The occasion was the Panama International College Fair this week in Panama City, where I was fortunate enough to be invited to give the keynote address (see attachment C). Missouri was well represented at the fair, with delegations from 10 state institutions
For a small country, Panama has big potential and plans. In 2008-09, Panama sent 1,133 students to the U.S. to study, and more than 100 are here in Missouri, spread out among public and private, 2-year and 4-year institutions. Several colleges and universities in Missouri have individual agreements with Panama to pave the way for their students to take advantage of our state’s excellent academic programs.
In the early part of the last century, Missouri and Panama were engaged in major construction projects. Missouri was digging the Headwaters Diversion Channel that drained the swamps in the southeastern part of the state, and Panama was constructing their famous canal. Missourians called on experts in Panama for advice on the drainage district, and it began a long and productive relationship between Southeast Missouri State University and the Central American country.
Students from Panama’s Santiago Normal School were welcomed at what was then the Southeast Missouri Teachers College, and the relationship has continued over decades. Lindenwood, Truman, MU, the Missouri Academy of Math and Science, and other Missouri institutions have similar educational exchange programs with Panama
We spoke with three students from Panama who are studying in Missouri: Digna Garcia, Yuritza Oliver and Florencio Castillo
Digna Garcia enrolled in St. Charles Community College to be near her sister, a graduate of Lindenwood University. Digna is studying early childhood education because she “really, really loves working with young children.” She hopes to go on to obtain a bachelor’s degree from Lindenwood.
Yuritza Oliver is studying industrial engineering at MU because of a colleague, Dr. Humberto Alvarez, who graduated from MU and encouraged her to explore its engineering program. She hopes to put her degree to use improving industrial efficiency in Panama.
Florencio Castillo is studying chemical engineering at the Missouri Academy of Math and Science, a program of Northwest Missouri State University that allows high school age students to do college-level work. Florencio, age 17, says, “It may seem kind of nerdy, but for me chemical engineering is the perfect combination of math and applied science."
The route between Missouri and Panama runs both ways, and many Missouri students have traveled to Panama to study tropical ecology and improve Spanish language skills. The exchanges illustrate how knowledge has become an international commodity in today’s global economy.
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