[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 99 (Tuesday, July 26, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 26, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
   UNIVERSITY OF MOBILE--LATIN AMERICAN CAMPUS SAN MARCOS, NICARAGUA

                                 ______


                       HON. ROBERT G. TORRICELLI

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 26, 1994

  Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. Speaker, along with my distinguished colleague 
from North Carolina, Cass Ballenger, I recently visited an American 
educational institution in Nicaragua and was very impressed with what 
the university has accomplished in just 3 years.
  The University of Mobile in Nicaragua is the only 4-year accredited 
United States university of its kind in that region of the world and 
its programs have been very well received. Since the primary need of 
Nicaragua and the Latin American region at this time is economic 
development, the university has structured its curriculum to offer a 
variety of courses on business management, computer science, banking/
finance, etc. While a number of other institutions from the United 
States have minor operations in Latin America, the University of Mobile 
has the only full campus with a wide variety of baccalaureate course 
offerings.
  During the last several years, the University of Mobile has played a 
major role in the development of Nicaragua through campus-based 
research, training programs for management personnel, and consultation 
with the central and local governments on issues such as elementary and 
secondary education and health care. The University of Mobile in 
Nicaragua has also opened opportunities for cultural interchange 
between the United States and Central America.
  Nicaragua and other countries in the region have long been in 
desperate need of a quality educational organization to sponsor a 
variety of educational programs. This year's freshman class at the 
Nicaraguan campus has grown to 150 students and next year's enrollment 
is projected to be even greater.
  I strongly urge the Agency of International Development to support 
this program. The University of Mobile needs assistance in providing 
scholarships to indigent Nicaraguans and in the building of new 
facilities. The U.S. Government should use this project as a model for 
other higher education efforts in this region of the world.

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