{"id":9266,"date":"2017-05-30T21:23:51","date_gmt":"2017-05-30T21:23:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/?p=9266"},"modified":"2017-05-30T21:23:51","modified_gmt":"2017-05-30T21:23:51","slug":"the-us-and-mexico-education-and-understanding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/the-us-and-mexico-education-and-understanding\/","title":{"rendered":"The US and Mexico: Education and understanding"},"content":{"rendered":"

Earl Anthony Wayne<\/a>, Hamilton College<\/a><\/em> and Sergio M. Alcocer<\/a>, Universidad Nacional Aut\u00f3noma de M\u00e9xico (UNAM)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Last week, officials from the U.S. and Mexico revitalized their commitment to fight cross-border smuggling of drugs, arms and money. U.S. officials recognized America\u2019s demand for drugs as \u201cthe magnet<\/a>\u201d that feeds drug smuggling, and Mexico committed to tackle jointly the elements of the cartels\u2019 business model.<\/p>\n

While illegal immigration and drugs dominate much of the public discourse around U.S.-Mexico relations, the partnership between these countries is vital and dynamic in many other ways. <\/p>\n

The two neighbors<\/a> trade over US$1 million a minute, employ many millions in good jobs on both sides of the border, have over a million legal border crossings each day and have over 35 million citizens of shared heritage.<\/p>\n

We have devoted years of our professional lives (in government, academic and social sectors) to developing and implementing strategies for improving our countries\u2019 relationship. As such, we\u2019ve been taken aback by the sharply critical U.S. rhetoric about Mexico in recent months and the anti-American sentiment that quickly rekindled in Mexico.<\/p>\n

Our most recent work, however, shows that educational and research exchanges can bridge the widening divide, while also building workforces that can help the two nations thrive in the technological revolutions ahead.<\/p>\n

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\n Attendees of the Anaheim Convention Center rally in 2016 show support for then-presidential candidate Donald Trump.<\/span>
\n Mike Ledray\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Academic exchanges as long-term bridges<\/h2>\n

We have seen firsthand the impact of programs on young Mexicans who returned from U.S. stays with pride, enthusiasm and improved English. We\u2019ve also witnessed how American students interacting with their counterparts in Mexico enhance the appreciation and respect for each others\u2019 countries.<\/p>\n

Yet, student exchange numbers<\/a> are not encouraging. Mexico ranks 10th for the number of full-time students studying in the U.S., placing it far behind China and India, and also trailing Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Vietnam, and northern neighbor Canada. The story is worse in the other direction<\/a>: Only 4,712 U.S. students were studying in Mexico in 2014-15, 12th among destinations for U.S. students.<\/p>\n

There are many reasons for the low numbers, but here is the bottom line: Two such interconnected neighbors should be doing better.<\/p>\n