Idaho State University Signs New MOU with Universidad de Ingeniería y Tecnología in Peru

Recently, representatives from Idaho State University signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding with Universidad de Ingeniería y Tecnología (UTEC), in Lima, Peru. Over the next five years, ISU and UTEC plan to advance research initiatives, including submission of joint proposals, faculty and student exchanges, joint research symposiums, co-supervision of undergraduate and graduate students, and more.

“UTEC is a renowned university in applied research and engineering,” said Mustafa Mashal, professor of civil engineering and special advisor in the office for research at ISU. “We look forward to continued collaboration with our colleagues and students of both institutions on pressing topics that are relevant to both Idaho and Peru, ranging from infrastructure resilience and affordable housing to environmental security to artificial intelligence and machine learning.”

"This agreement seeks to foster scientific research collaboration and academic exchange to tackle global challenges for more resilient and sustainable civil infrastructure,” said Dr. Luis Bedriñana, associate professor of civil engineering at UTEC. “For instance, the expertise of ISU’s researchers and faculty can definitely help our students and professional partners at UTEC to provide better solutions for the earthquake engineering challenges we face in this part of the world. Moreover, this agreement can consolidate new forms of cooperation between Peru and the United States."

ISU and UTEC researchers have been collaborating on topics related to civil engineering since 2022, and several ISU graduate students have had the opportunity to work under the co-supervision of UTEC faculty and publish their research findings.

ISU previously signed several international MoUs with universities in 2024, including Australian University (AU) in Kuwait and the University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) located in Qatar, and Gachon University in South Korea.

"ISU is a regional leader in moving new ideas from imagination to innovation to impact,” said Marty Blair, vice president for research and economic development at Idaho State University. “The UTEC partnership is another excellent example of ISU engaging with a like-minded university to support innovative faculty and student research opportunities. Innovation knows no geographic boundaries. In today's world, we collaborate across cultures, systems and borders to address the challenges common to all of us."

For more information on Idaho State University and Universidad de Ingeniería y Tecnología, visit isu.edu and utec.edu.pe.