NYU Madrid might soon join NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU Shanghai in making John Sexton’s vision of a global university a reality. Today in Madrid, Sexton signed a Memorandum of Understanding with President Esperanza Aguirre of the Madrid Regional government. The document puts in writing an agreement between NYU and the local government to explore ways that the existing Madrid study abroad program could be expanded into larger academic campus.
From a press release:
As is the case with all the other sites abroad, the site would be financially self-sustaining and discretion for all academic matters – including the development of curriculum, the recruitment of faculty, and the selection of students – would rest with NYU, while Madrid would provide its significant expertise in higher education, bilingual education, and internationalization at the university level.
As a consequence of today’s agreement, NYU and the Government of Madrid will continue to carry on discussions about their ongoing partnership and hope over the course of the coming several months to move towards a final agreement that would lead to the establishment of a significantly expanded NYU presence in Madrid.
The study abroad site at Madrid is the oldest at NYU, having been founded in 1958. Because this is only the first step in planning a campus expansion, there is no word yet on whether the new program would grant degrees. However, the university has already identified a possible location for the new satellite, the el Palacio del Marqués de Salamanca de la Finca de Vista Alegre, a heftily-named plot of land which the Madrid government has said is available for construction.
The vision behind NYU Madrid fits in with the idea of a “Global University” we’ve all been hearing so much about in recent years. President John Sexton said of the project, “There is a compelling symmetry. Here in the city where NYU took its first steps in providing global educational opportunities over half a century ago at the dawn of the study abroad movement, we now return with a new architecture for the modern university – the global network university – and a mutual desire to create an important hub in the NYU network here.”
Guyyyyysss! Proper blogging etiquette- link!
http://nyunews.com/blogs/on-assignment/2011/04/29/29expansion/
Where are your manners, Local?
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Jonathan – I wrote this story from a press release.
[...] Comunidad de Madrid ha suscrito un acuerdo con la New York University, importante universidad privada estadounidense, para que esta se instale en el Palacio del Marqués [...]
I live near the palace El Palacio del Marqués de Salamanca in Madrid.
I really regret to hear the NYU has rented El Palacio del Marqués de Salamanca for two reasons. One is that in order to have the building available, our president Esperanza Aguirre wants to move from there state social facilties such as one infant house, and a school for kids with special needs. It is a shame that such a prestigious instution would indirectly harm this kids and their families. The other reason is that I do not understand how this university would benefit to the people of Madrid, the authentic owners of the Palace.
It’s worth noting that NYU expands into Madrid as Spain suffers severe unemployment & has faced a housing crisis worse than our own as a result of the 2008 crash. In fact the Spanish people suffered worse than any other Euro countries that host NYU outposts.
NYU is buying cheap real estate at an opportunistic moment.
[Ed. note: The agreement, as far as we know, only stipulates that NYU will be renting the new building, not buying it.]
I also live near the palace in “Quinta Vista Alegre” -Carabanchel.
Just to say the majority of the people living in this historic distric of Madrid
do support the project of the NYU. If we are claiming that thus far there was no real goverment involvement to maintain the palaces and the garden surroundings, all the more reason to secure this way forward, since the crisis severs all prospect of dedicating any money for historic conservation. If fact, the other building for social service nearby the palace is an example of facilities in the Quinta that are doomed to stand derelicts for ages. I trust Esperanza Aguirre to deal the negotiation diligently enough to check this university activity will secure the conservation of the historic site and mean the least impact to other social activities in the same area. To be clear, Carabanchel is not selling its heritage, the rental is a way to overcome the years ahead of financial straits collaborating with people desiring to invest in our country and boost local economy. If somebody misses that in our district, please check that with a doctor.
Luis, please. Don’t let us to see your insight colors so clear by defending the privatizations of “la Espe” (as is known Esperanza Aguirre -Espe=Especulacion -Speculation-). Vista Alegre was donated to the village of Carabanchel to their people not to fund them but to enjoy it as a public park (much more desire than a private University).