Pachuca de Soto, Hidalgo (Mexico). With the presence of over forty public and private universities, national and foreign, Humberto Veras Godoy, Rector of the Autonomous University of Hidalgo State (UAEH, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo) and President of the Consortium of Mexican Universities (CUMex, Consorcio de Universidades Mexicanas), inaugurated the GeT-In, Intensive Program of Professionalization for Linkage Managers from Higher Education Institutions in Mexico.

This program has the objective of reducing the existent technological gap between the institutions and their economic and social environments, through exchange with experts from other countries and the knowledge of best practices in Germany; and, this way, benefits the units of linkage, knowledge and technology transfer, as well as research, internationalization areas from Mexican higher education institutions.

In his message, Veras Godoy thanked by their presence to the representatives of different national universities, as well as to those from Germany, Spain, Costa Rica and Venezuela: “… it is an honor that all of you are here participating in an effort that provides a sample of what the linkage and the sum of wills mean”.

He recognized the work that Lydia Raesfeld, Director of the Scientific and Technological Park of the maximum house of studies, has made for this project, which at the beginning started with the University of Münster, in Germany, the starting point for this series of projects.

The Rector of the UAEH thanked the support of different organizations, such as the National Council of Science and Technology (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología), the National Association of Universities and Higher Education Institutions (Asociación Nacional de Universidades e Instituciones de Educación Superior), the CUMex and the German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst), which fund this project: “GeT-In has benefited many public and private institutions from the country and abroad, and today we have the evaluation of the first group of projects, which were presented last year, as well as those I have just known, and in everyone I can perceive the emotion, passion with which they have been constructed”.

He alluded the program’s success and also his wish that in this second phase excellent results may be obtained: “During two days will be shared a series of experiences and agreements that will benefit its institutions and students”. He exhorted those present so they give their best effort as a part of the GeT-In, and to work with their characteristic quality, respect and vision.

At her intervention, the Director of the Scientific and Technological Park of the UAEH, Lydia Raesfeld, expressed her pleasure by observing the first group of 25 specialists that participated in GeT-In, who will present the book edited by the UAEH GeT-In 2014: Experiences of an Intensive Program of Professionalization for Linkage Managers from Higher Education Institutions (GeT-In 2014: experiencias de un programa intensivo de profesionalización de gestores de vinculación de instituciones de educación superior).

She appreciated the joint effort of the UAEH, the Kassel University and the Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences to carry the activities out: “Many tasks wait for us today, creating bonds and sharing experience, setting the basis for a technology transfer network”.

In her turn, the researcher from Kassel University Rosalba Badillo Vega pointed out that GeT-In is a professionalization program so the experts on linkage within the universities may specialize in a better way through phases like: Evaluation Meeting of GeT-In 1 and GeT-In 2’s Kick-off; Coaching Online, a general introduction to participants and the first round of individual training online; Attendance Course, which is realized during ten days in Germany; Coaching Online, a second round of training online and the general evaluation of the attendance phase; by last, the Evaluation Meeting of GeT-In 2 and Thematic Network.

She emphasized that the labor of each one of those present is the leading thread of GeT-In and their projects will be the means to impulse thematic networks among participants, experts and involved institutions, so within the international frame can be strengthened discussion groups interested in developing more effective linkage mechanisms between higher education institutions and productive sectors. “Thanks for trusting that we can make something so technological transfer can improve in your universities”.

During today and tomorrow, at the Business Center, located in the University Extension Center, will be held presentations, workshops and working groups with topics as: The German Innovation System and its Knowledge Networks, imparted by Bettina Burger-Menzel from Brandenburg University; workshop University-Enterprise Relations: Challenges and Opportunities, in charge of the researcher from the University of Münster Victoria Galán; workshop Intellectual Property, by Angélica Silis from the Mexican Institute of Intellectual Property; workshop Thinking-Out and Innovation, given by the researcher Luis Jiménez from the University of Costa Rica; among other activities.

Source: Department of Communications UAEH. http://www.uaeh.edu.mx/comunicacionsocial/noti.php?noboletin=1880. Translated by Belem ruiz (Edition and Communication, PIT-UAS).