OVERVIEW OF THE UNIVERSITY

The Universidad del Mayab, founded in 1984, is a private, Catholic institution which belongs to the prestigious Anahuac network with sister universities throughout Mexico, one in both Europe and South America and very soon, one in New York. Although each institution operates independently, we all share the same mission. Through personalized education and academic excellence, our faculty insures that preparation goes beyond the application of technical knowledge and theories.Above all, our alumni are individuals who are prepared to act decisively in the most diverse circumstances.The essence of our education is the formation of true leaders who will respond to the demands of the future. Ethical and moral values, personal and professional integrity and leadership skills form an integral part of our programs.

Our Mission
To prepare integral human beings with leadership qualities who will be capable of responding to the needs of contemporary society and who will gear civilization to greater future heights through their commitment to ethical and moral values, truth in science, personal and professional integrity, and positive actions for the benefit of mankind.

Our Philosophy
“Vince in Bono Malum” (Conquer evil with good) is the synthesis of our philosophy. It is a concept which repudiates negative attitudes through a program of positive action in order to overcome the evil of ignorance with the wisdom of science; the evil of improvisation with skillful professionalism supported by modern technology; the evil of rash materialism with the benevolence of humanism which recognizes the spiritual nature of the person; the evil of social antagonisms with the righteousness of peace and harmony; the evil of injustice with the virtue of charity and the evil of audacity with the merit of enlightenment and faith in God.

SCHOOL FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

The Universidad del Mayab, located in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, is the ideal setting for international students to immerse themselves in the Spanish language and Mexican culture. The University is located about ten miles from the center of Merida, the capital of Yucatan and the most important city in the Mexican southeast. It has the distinction of being the first city on the American continent to have been named Cultural Capital by an international committee, a distinction celebrated with innumerable cultural events throughout the year 2000.

Admissions guidelines
Programs for International students are open to high school graduates, university students, graduates or businessmen interested in special programs. For high school and university students, a minimum Grade Point Average of 3.0 is required for admission to the programs. Upon arrival, students present a placement exam to determine their level of Spanish. Registration is accepted for the Fall or Spring semesters, or the six week Summer Session. Students may also register for the full academic year.

Student life
Students find many activities in and around Merida to do on their own. In the city, students can visit the museums, colonial churches and government buildings, as well as visit the many beautiful beaches along the northern gulf coast half and hour away by bus. They can also spend a weekend in Cancun, a four hour drive from Merida.

Orientation
On the first day of the semester students will have a chance to learn more about course offerings, be introduced to local life and culture and find out how to settle into the university community. Students have access to all university facilities and are given E-mail accounts shortly after arrival. Students can play tennis, swim or practice a variety of sports in our nearby sports club.

Housing and meals
Students in Merida have a unique opportunity to learn Spanish and integrate with the locals, traditionally hospitable and friendly to foreigners. They may live in homes carefully chosen by staff and have three meals a day with their Mexican families.

The programs
All our programs can be streamlined to the specific needs of each particular group. Excursions, which may include visits to local ruin sites, haciendas, beaches, colonial cities, towns etc., are an integral part of all the programs. During their stay, students usually find time to spend a weekend in Cancun and/or to travel to Belize, Guatemala and even Cuba.

S1 Spanish through Total Immersion

Objective: To improve the use of the Spanish language and increase knowledge of Latin American Culture.

Course offerings:

Credits

S2 Spanish for Spanish Language Majors

Objective: This course is designed for university students whose major or minor area of studies is Spanish..

Course offerings:

Credits

S3 International Business in Mexico

Objective: To learn about the business world and the way business is done in Mexico, and to increase the knowledge of the Spanish language.

Course offerings:

Credits

Credits
Each course (except Spanish language) meets three hours a week for a total of forty-five hours per semester or three college credits. Spanish language classes meet six hours a week for a total of ninety hours per semester or six college credits. The Universidad del Mayab issues official transcripts to the home university. A copy is sent to the students.

Programming
Each semester has a duration of fifteen weeks. Students are required to take fifteen credit hours per semester. Spanish language is an obligatory course. This means that students will register for the intensive Spanish language course and three other courses. All of these courses will be offered in Spanish for a total immersion experience. Courses are opened upon demand. Minimum group: 5 persons.

S4 How to Profit from Your Business Opportunity in Yucatan (Seminar)

Objective: To acquire an overview of the cultural, financial and legal aspects involved in doing business in Mexico, especially in Yucatan, in order to improve the process of investing in Mexico.

Course offerings:

Hours

The classes may be taught in English or English translation may be offered.

Programming
This seminar is taught in ten days, six hours of classes per day. Groups are opened upon demand. Minimum group: 10 candidates.

Career Shadowing

According to Paris and Mason (1995) job shadowing is “a work experience option where students learn about the job by walking through the work day as a shadow to a competent worker. The job shadowing work experience is a temporary, unpaid exposure to the workplace in an occupational area of interest to the student. Students witness firsthand the work environment, employability and occupational skills in practice, the value of professional training and potential career options. Job shadowing is designed to increase career awareness, help model student behavior through examples and reinforce in the student the link between classroom learning and work requirements. Almost any workplace is a potential job shadowing site.” (Paris, K., & Mason, S. (1995). Planning and implementing youth apprenticeship and work-bases learning. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin, Center on Education and Work, p. 47)

The Project

The student/professional visit can include:

• A tour of the workplace/organization
• Introduction to colleagues and other professionals
• Organizational meetings, if appropriate
• Informational interviews related to the profession, work setting, knowledge and skill requirements and current trends in the field, etc.
• Insights and information from both parties regarding the organization, etc.
• A project that has been completed including the steps that went into the completion of that project.

IIdeally, each student will be able to spend a half or whole day with at least three different professionals in the field of interest in three or four days of the stay in Mérida. Students are expected to behave and dress professionally.
In addition, the student will have the opportunity to experience the culture of the Yucatan peninsula through some cultural events. The program might include short presentations on issues such as education, business, economy, rural development, social and political issues, etc. of the Yucatan area, possibly done by people from Mérida. Also a visit to the university and its student services department might be appropriate.

Student qualifications for participation in this project.

• Proficiency in Spanish language.
• Good academic achievement.
• High level of knowledge in their major course of study.
  
  

Reciprocity of the proposal.

We are looking at this undertaking as a reciprocal project. These opportunities can take the form of practical work experience directly related to the student’s major; mentoring relations between students and professionals who are willing to help students in getting started on their career path; or working in short term projects for a company or non-profit organization.

Benefits and outcome of this project:

• Exchanges between students
• Networking channels for future economic, cultural, and political developments and exchanges. Today’s students are tomorrow’s professionals and leaders
• Current understanding and professional relationships might bring future economic adventures and gains for both areas
• Creation opportunities that will facilitate diversity
• Development of future exchange of information and expansion of business
• Personal development and growth through exposure to a different culture

An Overview of Job Shadowing and Informational Interviewing

Job shadowing and informational interviewing are two career development activities that connect students with occupations of interest and move them beyond printed or other media-based career information and into the actual work setting.

Informational interviewing
Generally involves meeting with a professional in a field of interest to ask questions about the field. Students come prepared with specific questions they would like to ask. You might set up opportunities for students, either individually or a group, to meet with selected personnel from your staff so that they can ask questions they have developed about your industry or organization. Informational interviews with selected professionals might be par of the activities you determine would be useful for the students´ time inside your organization.

Job Shadowing
Goes beyond informational interviewing by providing students with opportunity to observe activities within an organization. Shadowing can provide the student with opportunity to observe physical work setting(s), clients/customers, co-workers and other contact people inside and outside of the organization, applications of policies and/or procedures, and in general begin to appreciate the interrelated activities, goals, and concerns that make up a given organization.

The list below provides some possible shadowing and informational interviewing activities for student visits to your organization:

• A tour of the workplace/organization.
• Informational interviews related to the profession, work setting, knowledge and skill requirements, current trends in the field, marketplace, etc.
• Observation of practicing professionals while they are carrying out the duties of the job.
• Opportunity to see a project that has been completed and discuss the steps that went into the completion of that project.
• Introduction to colleagues and other professionals.
• Attendance at an organizational meeting if appropriate.
• Discussion of practices, policies, challenges, goals, etc.