Birkbeck welcomes Minnesota State Government’s Higher Education Delegation
On Monday, 15 November 2021, Senior Leaders from the College met with First Lady Gwen Walz and her delegation to discuss collaboration opportunities.
Birkbeck was delighted to welcome Gwen Walz, the First Lady of Minnesota State, and her delegation of Higher Education leaders from the US mid-western State of Minnesota to discuss opportunities for cross-Atlantic collaboration. The visit was part of the Minnesota State Governor’s trade mission to the UK facilitated by the Department for International Trade.
The Minnesota State HE delegation included Robyn R. Wacker, President, St. Cloud State University, Kimberly Craig, Vice President of Enrolment Management, Concordia University, St. Paul, Rachel Limon, Regional Trade Manager and Protocol Officer at Minnesota Trade Office, as well as other senior leaders from the University of Minnesota, Minnesota State University, Mankato, St Cloud State University, and the University of St Thomas.
As a former teacher, Gwen Walz is passionate about education and through the delegation hopes to strengthen the links between US and UK institutions to ensure greater access for students.
Birkbeck has a global reputation for teaching and research and hosts a diverse student body, as well as a thriving alumni community. This meeting forms part of the College’s commitment to advancing Birkbeck’s international standing and making flexible and world-class education accessible to all.
During the visit the group was welcomed at Birkbeck’s new world-class facility, the ToddlerLab, and heard opening remarks from the College’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor David Latchman CBE.
This was followed by a discussion on collaboration arrangements to support student recruitment, international mobility and research.
Professor Kevin Ibeh, Pro Vice-Chancellor (International), who organised the visit said:
"Given the USA’s status as the home country of a substantial percentage of Birkbeck’s international students, this visit from the First Lady and senior HE leaders from Minnesota State offers a great opportunity to further strengthen Birkbeck’s profile in the US, and to extend the College’s recent international recruitment success. Developing new international collaborations to support student recruitment is a key aspect of Birkbeck’s International Strategy and the opportunity offered by this visit to explore such arrangements with the visiting American universities is highly appreciated."