Strengthening Polish-Mexican Academic Cooperation: Present and Future Perspectives

Abstract

Science and higher education have always been intensely internationalized areas of human activity. Especially in the era of globalization, higher education systems around the world face the challenge of internationalization. Internationalization not only strengthens opportunities for development, but is seen as an inevitable necessity in the globalizing and strongly competitive world. Although there is a long-standing tradition of academic cooperation between Poland and Mexico, the changing reality enforces increased efforts to build a more conscious, comprehensive relationship with measurable, long-lasting results. Since ad hoc contacts between individual researchers are not sufficient any longer, a complex, realistic vision of such cooperation is needed. Universities in Poland and Mexico start to see the opportunity to intensify cooperation, which – effectively explored – can significantly contribute to a nation’s economic competitiveness in general and to understanding the nature of trends and challenges in international higher education. The author discusses current activities within the framework of academic cooperation between the two countries and the most important initiatives that may bring closer cooperation in the future. A special focus will be put on the challenges faced by both countries in higher education cooperation schemes, as seen from the Polish perspective.