Two new research partnerships between UNT and the Mexican federal government will help UNT build on its reputation as a global partner.

In the first partnership of its kind with a U.S. university, Mexico's General Archives of the Nation -- the equivalent of the U.S. National Archives -- aims to establish a new Center of Excellence in Research for Archives with the help of UNT's College of Information.

As the keeper of Mexico's government and historical documents, the General Archives of the Nation is considered one of the most important in the world. Funded by the National Council for Science and Technology (CONACYT), the archives will house the new center and provide researchers with worldwide access to its archival database.

An education fund for federal employees from the council will help the archives' students and technical staff pursue a graduate academic certificate in archival studies, leading to a master's degree in information science from UNT's College of Information. The first 15 students will arrive at UNT in September. Faculty from UNT's Department of Library and Information Sciences also will travel to Mexico to research and train with the Mexican staff.

"The new agreement speaks to the quality and relevance of the UNT archival studies program and will strengthen our relationship with Mexico," says Gabriel Carranza, assistant vice provost for global engagement at UNT.

Also this spring, a new partnership between UNT and the National Council for Science and Technology of the United Mexican States will allow 14 postdoctoral fellows from Mexico to conduct research at UNT.

The fellows, jointly funded by UNT and CONACYT, will work with UNT faculty researchers. The council's total contribution to UNT is $350,000 in research support.