University of Ulster - Professor fosters Latin links

A professor's continuing links with his previous institution in South America are giving undergraduates at the University of Ulster a chance to spend up to a year studying in Venezuela. The university recently announced an exchange programme with Simon Bolivar University. Students will be recruited this year to join the scheme, with a view to beginning their year abroad in September 2009. Omar Escalona, director of Ulster's advanced cardiovascular research centre, was on the staff of Simon Bolivar University for 12 years. He initiated collaborative research between the two institutions in 1994, which resulted in doctoral training links. Professor Escalona said the new scheme would be of particular interest to students in tourism, business or Spanish, but should appeal "to anyone with a spirit of adventure".