MGH has visited Mexico many times and toured a number of the ITESM campuses; both university and high school. Matthew Hornshaw took in meetings with staff in Puebla, Guadalajara, Monterrey and Mexico City to discuss potential links with academic and football partners in the UK.

In Puebla, Matthew met with senior academic and administrative staff and presented to them the potential links within the UK. It was apparent that the Puebla campus is very interested in links with universities and schools in the UK and these links would take many forms such as staff and student exchanges, research partnerships, joint programmes, short courses and summer schools. The Puebla campus is somewhat unique in that it also has a football academy and a health promotion initiative. With Brooke House College being a close partner of MGH, the football links were of great interest and it was proposed that both Brooke House and ITESM Puebla work together on football related initiatives. ITESM was very impressed with the standing of the Brooke House Football Academy and it won't be long before ITESM players are visiting the academy in Leicestershire.

ITESM Puebla have also asked MGH to source UK university partners for potential partnerships in areas already listed, and close MGH partners, the University of Derby and Glasgow Caledonian University, will surely benefit from these meetings.

Meetings, and campus tours were also held at campuses in Monterrey, Guadalajara and Mexico City with staff very much interested in all aspects of potential partnerships with Brooke House, the University of Derby and Glasgow Caledonian University among others. Summer Schools and short courses were high on the agenda with ITESM aiming to send at least 40% of their 26,000 high school students on international programmes at some time. The most in demand programmes are presently based in the USA and Canada but the UK is proving most popular now with parents and students both wanting that unique experience only associated with the UK.

Mexican institutions are turning more toward the UK as they see the UK education system and experience being extremely prestigeous and rewarding.

Overall the trip was a roaring success and plans are already in place for partnerships at a number of UK destinations with MGH exploring other potential partners.