The Consortium for North American Higher Education Collaboration (CONAHEC) is a non-profit membership organization

Professional body

A professional association is usually a nonprofit organization seeking to further a particular profession, the interests of individuals engaged in that profession, and the public interest.The roles of these professional associations have been variously defined: "A group of people in a...

 which advises and connects higher education institutions interested in establishing or strengthening academic collaborative programs in the North American region.

Its core membership is composed by colleges and universities from Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

, the U.S. and Mexico

Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

. Since 2008, its membership has expanded to include participation of key higher education institutions from other countries.

CONAHEC fosters academic collaboration among higher educacion institutions and it has developed a successful partnership with the key national umbrella higher education organizations in the North American Free Trade Agreement

North American Free Trade Agreement

The North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA is an agreement signed by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. The agreement came into force on January 1, 1994. It superseded the Canada – United States Free Trade Agreement...

 (NAFTA) region: the American Council on Education

American Council on Education

The American Council on Education is a United States organization, established in 1918, comprising over 1,800 accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities and higher education-related associations, organizations, and corporations....

 (ACE), the American Association of Community Colleges

American Association of Community Colleges

The American Association of Community Colleges , headquartered in the National Center for Higher Education in Washington, D.C., is the primary advocacy organization for community colleges at the national level and works closely with directors of state offices to inform and affect state policy...

 (AACC), the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada

Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada

- See also :* G13 * Association of Commonwealth Universities...

 (AUCC), the Association of Canadian Community Colleges

Association of Canadian Community Colleges

The Association of Canadian Community Colleges is a national association formed in 1972 to represent the interests of its member institutions to government and industry. Membership is voluntary and open to publicly-funded community colleges in Canada or institutions that may also be referred to as...

 and the Asociación Nacional de Universidades e Instituciones de Enseñanza Superior (ANUIES

ANUIES

The National Association of Universities and Higher Education Institutions is a non-governmental organization which includes 152 public and private higher education institutions in Mexico...

) from Mexico.

With more than 130 member institutions, today, CONAHEC is the largest and most comprehensive network of institutions from the NAFTA region, offering student exchanges, annual conferences, professional development programs, and direct advise to its members.

History

CONAHEC was founded in 1994 as the U.S.-Mexico Educational Interchange Project, co-convened by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) and the Mexican Association for International Education (AMPEI). Later, in 1997, the organization adopted its current name and official trinational scope.

Activities

CONAHEC member institutions have established a series of services, including:

• North American Student Exchange Program.
• Online information services and institutional "matchmaking".
• North American Higher Education Conference.
• Student Organization of North America.
• Regional executive workshops.
• Intensive language, culture, and higher education immersion programs.
• Specialized publications.
• EDUCAMEXUS Program

Governance leadership

President of the Board of Directors	Term
Salvador Malo. Mexico	2004–2006
David A. Longanecker. USA	2006–2008
David Marshall. Canada	2008–2010
Fernando León-García. Mexico	2010–2012

External links

• Official Web site of CONAHEC
• American Council on Education (ACE)
• American Association of Community Colleges (AACC)
• Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC)
• Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC)
• Asociación Nacional de Universidades e Instituciones de Enseñanza Superior (ANUIES)
• NAFTA Secretariat website
• North American Development Bank (NADBANK)