News release Public Information Office   SLU 10880   Hammond, LA 70402   phone: 985-549-2341   fax: 985-549-2061 publicinfo@selu.edu     www.selu.edu/news Contact: Rene Abadie Date: 7/18/03   SOUTHEASTERN ESTABLISHES COOPERATIVE PROGRAM WITH TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY OF HONDURAS        HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University has established a cooperative program with the Technological University of Honduras (UTH) to provide business studies and a dual degree program for up to 25 Honduran students a year, the university announced today.       The program – which has been approved by Southeastern’s governing board, the University of Louisiana System – calls for Southeastern’s College of Business and Technology to develop six courses that will be offered via the Internet or on-site to students at UTH. In addition, UTH has adopted Southeastern’s entire general business curriculum to use as its basic instructional model. Under the agreement, UTH students will complete the final 33 hours of the degree program in residence at Southeastern. They will then earn a dual bachelor of arts degree in general business with a concentration in international business from Southeastern and UTH.       “This partnership expands Southeastern’s growing international program, allowing us to share resources and expertise with our Latin American neighbors and further our mission in educational, cultural and economic development,” explained university President Randy Moffett.       He said the agreement allows Southeastern to provide a seamless admission into the university for selected Honduran students who meet the admission standards for the College of Business and Technology.       “This represents the first English language dual degree program in Honduras and one of very few in all of Latin America,” said Michael Budden, dean of Southeastern’s College of Business and Technology. “The quality and promise of the program already have resulted in a large number of applications at UTH. This will ensure that only highly qualified students are selected to participate.”       Danilo Levi, interim director of Southeastern’s International Initiatives Office – which coordinates the university’s international program – said UTH is also interested in developing similar cooperative programs in the areas of education, social sciences, English as a second language, and as a study-abroad opportunity for Southeastern students.       UTH is a fast-growing institution located in the city of San Pedro Sula in northwest Honduras. Founded in 1987 with a primary focus on business and engineering studies, the university has grown from 2,000 students in 2000 to its current enrollment of more than 6,000. UTH also operates four satellite campuses in other parts of the nation with additional satellite campuses being planned.       “Our international programs have grown significantly in recent years,” Moffett said. “We are now offering training and degree programs for international students and cooperative educational and economic development opportunities with foreign nations, universities, trade and business organizations.”       Most recently the university signed an agreement with the University of Cundinamarca, the largest university in the Republic of Colombia, pledging the two institutions to work cooperatively on research, educational programs and other activities. The agreement serves as a precursor to the development of student and faculty exchanges in a variety of areas, including business, technology and criminal justice.       Southeastern has forged partnerships with the Inter-American Development Bank, the Organization of American States, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Louisiana Department of Economic Development and other entities that assist in developing seminars and other programs for Latin American governments and agencies. Return to News Releases