Knowledge Communities 
International Alumni Programs: Texas A&M University
The International Aggie Network in Latin America began to develop in an organized fashion approximately 12 years ago. The idea of this program was to organize the Aggies by country and to work with them to identify areas of priority, consistent with local interest, within their own cities or countries. Once these priorities were identified, Texas A&M University and the groups of former students, which had now organized themselves into “Aggie Clubs”, were able to work together to address the issue.
After the initial organization was complete, a public conference was held to address the problem, and to bring together faculty members of Texas A&M University, international specialists, and members of the local community. The purpose of these conferences were multiple: to create awareness of the issue, ensure the participation of key people, involve international funding agencies, and to establish a financial structure for funding. Such financial structure would be in the form of a non-profit organization as part of the Aggie club and directed by this club under the regulations of the host country.
Texas A&M also stands to gain much from this relationship. First, by structuring this International Aggie Network we gain access to all kinds of institutions with which former students are affiliated. This facilitates the creation of special networks for Texas A&M faculty members for the development of study abroad programs and for the offering of internships and field trips for our students in those countries.
Second, thanks to that network, top-level dignitaries of these countries have visited Texas A&M University as a result of the Aggie Club activities in their home countries. Among the many distinguished visitors that have come are the President of Panama (twice), the President of Costa Rica, the President of Bolivia, the President of Nicaragua, the President of El Salvador, and the Vice-Presidents of these countries, as well as several Secretaries of State and top business and academic leaders.
Under this network Texas A&M University supports its alumni and the alumni in turn support the international mission of the University. Three model examples of collaboration can be sited:
After the initial organization was complete, a public conference was held to address the problem, and to bring together faculty members of Texas A&M University, international specialists, and members of the local community. The purpose of these conferences were multiple: to create awareness of the issue, ensure the participation of key people, involve international funding agencies, and to establish a financial structure for funding. Such financial structure would be in the form of a non-profit organization as part of the Aggie club and directed by this club under the regulations of the host country.
Texas A&M also stands to gain much from this relationship. First, by structuring this International Aggie Network we gain access to all kinds of institutions with which former students are affiliated. This facilitates the creation of special networks for Texas A&M faculty members for the development of study abroad programs and for the offering of internships and field trips for our students in those countries.
Second, thanks to that network, top-level dignitaries of these countries have visited Texas A&M University as a result of the Aggie Club activities in their home countries. Among the many distinguished visitors that have come are the President of Panama (twice), the President of Costa Rica, the President of Bolivia, the President of Nicaragua, the President of El Salvador, and the Vice-Presidents of these countries, as well as several Secretaries of State and top business and academic leaders.
Under this network Texas A&M University supports its alumni and the alumni in turn support the international mission of the University. Three model examples of collaboration can be sited:
- The establishment of the Texas A&M University Center in Mexico City. The Center is now celebrating its tenth anniversary, enhancing the ties that Texas A&M University has throughout Mexico.
- Aqueduca is a program for the preservation of the water resources of El Salvador.
- TAMU Foundation in Costa Rica, a program for solid waste management that has implemented programs in several municipalities in Costa Rica.
We are also currently working on the establishment of a TAMU Foundation in Ecuador to address issues related to forestry in the country.
A database of Aggies, as well as the presidents of alumni chapters, exists at the web page of Latin American Programs.
