Guanajuato, Gto., February 26, 2018.- University authorities gave a medal to Marie and Hervé Lugand, as an expression of gratitude for the work they have done for more than 20 years to facilitate the academic exchange between the university and French institutions.

This is an act that expresses gratitude, brotherhood and friendship with Mr. & Mrs. Lugand, and with which the moral commitment is fulfilled to recognize those who have preceded us, said UG's President, Dr. Luis Felipe Guerrero Agripino, who thanked the presence in the event of former collaborators of the institution who promoted mobility programs and worked hand-in-handed with the honorees.

Mr. Hervé Lugand thanked the distinction and emphasized that his goal was to create or facilitate academic exchanges between Mexico and France for students, academic and administrative staff. A project that would not have lasted without the support of the authorities of the University of Guanajuato, he said.

Previously, the director of high school Guanajuato, Psychologist Juana Silvina Galván Rocha, gave a count of the relationship of the UG with French institutions, dating from 1995.

In this regard, she recalled that it was an initiative of the French Embassy, and in its beginnings, it was focused on the higher level, in programs such as accounting, law and engineering.

It was until 2016 when the collaboration bonds extended to the High School College, when there were approaches with the Director, Dr. J. Merced Rizo Carmona to concretize short stays that favour the cultural exchange, learning a second language and the realization of a joint academic project.

In his speech, Dr. Rizo Carmona emphasized that UG is characterized as a humanist institution, "which means that their work is dominated by the training processes based on dialogue, to which they contribute these kinds of exchange experiences, which contribute to enrich the world view of French and Mexican professors and students.

The event was also attended by Eng. Víctor Ramírez Herrera, the first official of the UG who contacted Mr. Lugand, and active promoter of the internationalization of the students.

In addition, as special guests, attended by the students of the Lycée Sainte Marguerite de Chambray Les Tours, as well as three professors who are making a short stay in the CNMS of the University of Guanajuato.

Lugand's daughters also attended, unipersonal authorities of UG and CNMS; As well as M. Flor Janet Hernández Vargas, representing the Secretary of Innovation, Science and Higher Education (SICES), Dr. Arturo Lara López.

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