The USC Marshall School of Business IBEAR (International Business Education and Research) MBA co-hosted an event with the USC Alumni Club of Mexico on March 4 in Mexico City.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Larry Harris, Fred V. Keenan Chair in Finance and professor of finance and business economics, were the headline speakers at the meeting, which focused on the importance of fostering business ties between LA and Mexico.
During the event, the mayor announced the partnership between USC and the Bank of Mexico and the creation of a joint merit-based scholarships for Mexican students applying to the IBEAR MBA and other graduate programs at USC.
Garcetti explained his mission to increase economic and cultural ties between Los Angeles and Mexico City, emphasizing that the two metros share “the most important bilateral trading relationship between two cities.”
Through the graduate loan/scholarship agreement, students accepted by one of five USC schools, including the Marshall School of Business, apply to the Bank of Mexico Fund for Development of Human Resources for merit-based subsidized loans, while also applying for merit-based scholarships from the school.
“This joint scholarship will further strengthen the Marshall School’s relationship with the Mexican business community,” said Harris, a former chief economist of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission who presented a talk on high frequency trading at the Mexico City event.
“The opportunity for Mexican students to study shoulder to shoulder with our other students, whether domestic or international, will help give every student broader perspectives on international business practices and the cultural differences that make doing business in foreign locations interesting, challenging and rewarding,” he added.
USC has operated an office in Mexico since 2005. Angela McCracken, director of the USC Mexico office, said, “This new venture is part of an initiative to build a long-term and substantive partnership with Mexico. We were fortunate to join with the mayor in this event because his mission is definitely in line with our vision for collaboration.”