Modern Languages collaboration in Mexico goes from strength to strength
In late March four Modern Languages colleagues visited Mexico City to meet up with the first cohort of Mexican Distance PhD Students just completing their first year of study.
The 15 strong PhD cohort is fruit of many years of successful partnership and developing links between Modern Languages at Southampton with Mexico which led to the establishment of MeXsu, the Centre for Mexico-Southampton Collaboration, two years ago. The candidates are Mexican university language teachers, and many of them had previously taken the online MA in English Language Teaching developed by Modern Languages in collaboration with the British Council. Both the MA and the PhD scheme have financial support from the Mexican Ministry of Education.
As well as the experience of listening to the First Year PhD presentations, staff paid a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Education which resulted in a promise of funding for further cohorts of MA and PhD students. The week in Mexico also involved meetings with Modern Languages Year Abroad students based there (bursting with enthusiasm and stories!), as well as exploration of research opportunities and further education exchanges.
The members of Modern Languages who enjoyed the week in Mexico City were Clare Mar-Molinero (Director of MeXsu), Vicky Wright, Alasdair Archibald and Karin Zotzmann, who also found time to check out a few of Mexico City’s wonderful attractions, such as the ancient Aztec Pyramids and the Floating Gardens!
