In his government role in Mexico, Ismael Cr么tte-脕vila (M.A. 鈥�17, International Higher Education) leads efforts to enhance academic cooperation and internationalization for higher education institutions throughout Jalisco, a state of 7.35 million people. It鈥檚 a a demanding job.
Cr么tte-脕vila is also a student at 艾可直播 College, pursuing his master鈥檚 degree in international higher education part-time at the Lynch School of Education and Human Development. He was on campus for the fall semester and back in Mexico for the spring, during which he enrolled in online courses. 聽
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great arrangement,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 watch pre-recorded lectures or short films, comment on reading assignments online, and join classes remotely from Guadalajara with the 艾可直播 cohort, who attend a special classroom with equipment to broadcast live. There is even one class where the professor is in Minnesota and the students are in 艾可直播鈥攁nd myself in Mexico.鈥澛�
Cr么tte-脕vila is a seasoned professional with nearly 20 years of hands-on experience in international higher education at the University of Guadalajara and with Jalisco鈥檚 State Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology. He had considered a graduate degree before but held off for the right program. When he learned that Hans de Wit, Ph.D., whom he has known for years through professional networking, had co-founded this one at 艾可直播 College, 鈥淚 immediately signed up. Hans is a guru in international higher education; I knew no one else would offer such a dynamic and relevant program.鈥�
His goals? To deepen his understanding of key concepts and issues, enhance his skills as a reflective practitioner, and gain the academic credentials for career advancement.
On an unpaid leave from work, Cr么tte-脕vila took four courses in fall 2016 that included 鈥淗igher Education in American Society鈥� and 鈥淚nternationalization of Higher Education.鈥� He says the curriculum allowed students to understand trends like massification (growing access to higher education) through an enriching balance of theory and practice, using case scenarios about current issues. 鈥淚n this field you need to keep up with events like elections, the European Union, higher education in Africa and Korea, etc.,鈥� he notes. 鈥淵ou have to be on your toes.鈥�
Cr么tte-脕vila is excited to apply this knowledge in Mexico, where he leads initiatives for private, public, and technological institutions. His 鈥渇ield experience鈥� for the master鈥檚 degree will involve helping Jalisco鈥檚 newly created technological institute develop closer ties with industry and universities around the world.
In his opinion, it鈥檚 critical to educate experts in international higher education so they can help institutions reshape their curricula, negotiate globally, and take advantage of the international resources of students and professors. 鈥淚nternationalization is a positive response to the negative effects of globalization,鈥� Cr么tte-脕vila says. 鈥淲e need to erase the irrational fear of the other. It is our duty to make sure new generations have this knowledge and a comfort working with others. We are needed in every single university more than ever.鈥�