UTEP Joins International Road Federation
January 05 2009
The College of Engineering at The University of Texas at El Paso has joined the International Road Federation (IRF), a nongovernmental, not-for-profit organization with the mission to encourage and promote development and maintenance of better, safer and more sustainable roads and road networks.
Ever since its establishment in 1948, the IRF has been active in the advocacy of all issues relevant to the road industry, from financing to technology and from development to safety. It serves as a catalyst for public and private partnership to organize, promote and develop international road programs.
IRF University Members can assign IRF Fellows to attend their graduate programs, nominate an international graduate transportation student for the IRF Executive Leadership Workshop, participate in the IRF essay competitions, and send students to the IRF Road Scholar Career Fair. IRF is also launching a new Research Fellowship program where students and professors at IRF Member Universities can apply for a fellowship to complete a research project during the course of the fellowship. IRF also provides students and professors opportunities to publish papers and research in the IRF Examiner. In addition, IRF is currently exploring a new Study Abroad Program.
“Being an IRF member will increase UTEP’s visibility in the U.S. and internationally,” said Carlos Chang, an assistant professor in UTEP’s Department of Engineering. “We now have access to the incredible IRF network of contacts in academia, the private sector and government officials. This should facilitate bringing more research funds to UTEP and attract top best qualified students to study at our Colleges”.
Luis Galicia, a Civil Engineering Ph.D. student at UTEP, will attend the IRF Executive Leadership Program in Washington DC, January 7 – 17, 2009.
“Without a doubt, this opportunity will enhance my professional networking since it will allow me to make contact with some future national and international leaders as well as top-level executives in the road and transportation engineering industry,” said Galicia. “I feel honored and very fortunate to represent UTEP in the 2009 IRF’s Fellowship program.”
The 10-day executive leadership program includes meetings with representatives at the World Bank, the Transportation Research Board, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the Institute of Transportation Engineers, plus other top private-sector firms.
“UTEP has consistently provided high-level training to engineering students and IRF is proud to welcome UTEP as part of the IRF organization,” said Pat Sankey, IRF Executive Director. “IRF looks forward to working with UTEP in continuing to expand our educational activities to provide more opportunities for more students.”
