Professional Development Center at The University of Texas at Austin Presents Courses and Travel Tours in Antigua, Guatemala

AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Professional Development Center (UT PDC) at The University of Texas at Austin is proud to announce a range of exciting, cultural exchange events to take place in Antigua, Guatemala in 2012. On February 19-23, UT PDC hosts Travel: Guatemala, a travel tour and cultural expedition from Austin to Antigua, followed by the two-day course Managing Projects on May 18-19 for Guatemala's professional community. UT PDC is an enterprise of the university's Division of Continuing and Innovative Education.

"This schedule of events is something I'm very proud to offer -- to both the people of Guatemala and the people of Texas," states Linda Glessner, Interim Executive Director of the Division of Continuing and Innovative Education. "I encourage anyone with an interest to learn more about Latin America to join us on our travel tour, and I would also encourage Guatemala's professional community to consider gaining valuable project management training in this unique opportunity from The University of Texas at Austin."

These UT PDC events will be based at Casa Herrera, a fully restored 17th century Spanish Colonial property located in the heart of Antigua. The Casa is operated by the Mesoamerica Center, a program of the university's Department of Art and Art History in the College of Fine Arts.

"I'm so happy that Casa Herrera will host these special learning events," says Douglas Dempster, dean of the College of Fine Arts. "The Casa's overall mission is to create new opportunities for learning, research and dialogue in a variety of disciplines across cultural boundaries. I know that the Professional Development Center has taken great care to schedule outstanding continuing education programs that serve a growing need for cultural exchange and education on an international scale. These efforts to create new learning opportunities for both Texans and the people of Guatemala fit wonderfully into the very core of Casa Herrera's mission."

The Travel: Guatemala tour offers a unique opportunity to explore historic Antigua, the heart of Guatemala and Maya culture, within in a small travel group. During this five-day, four-night expedition, participants take part in intimate lectures and tours taught by professors from the university and Mesoamerican scholars. The agenda for Travel: Guatemala includes:

• Antigua Cultural Walking Tour with author Elizabeth Bell.
• Coffee plantation tour and tasting at Finca Filadelfia, one of the oldest and most established coffee estates in Guatemala.
• A field trip to the historic Iglesia de San Francisco cathedral to learn more about Guatemala's religious history.
• A field trip to Iximche Archaeological Park for an archeology and glyphs lecture.
• A trip to the Antigua Artesania Market to explore Mayan textiles and handicrafts unique to Guatemalan artisans.

Registration for Travel: Guatemala, including hotel accommodations and most meals, costs $495 and is open at http://www.utexas.edu/ce/pdc or by calling 512-232-2234. Airfare is not included.

On May 18-19, UT PDC offers the two-day course Managing Projects in Antigua. The course is open to anyone in Guatemala's professional community looking to develop one of today's most in-demand business skills: project management. Managing Projects focuses on building essential skills to help participants lead projects in a timely, cost-effective manner. Key principles explored in the course include managing the project team, preparing comprehensive project plans, and delivering excellent results. Online registration is open on the UT PDC website at http://www.utexas.edu/ce/pdc/workshops/proyectos-de-manejo/.

For more information, contact Maureen Schwartz at (512) 232-2234 or [email protected].

About the Professional Development Center:
The Professional Development Center (PDC), an enterprise of the Division of Continuing and Innovative Education at The University of Texas at Austin, provides innovative and agile continuing education learning solutions that maximize professional performance. PDC offers a wide range of programs and courses designed to help individuals and organizations around the world improve personal, professional and organizational performance. To meet this goal, PDC offers high quality non-credit courses, professional certificate programs, consulting, coaching, and facilitation services, both online and on the university campus. http://www.utexas.edu/ce/pdc/

Contact: Maureen Schwartz, Professional Development Center, The University of Texas at Austin, (512) 232-2234, [email protected]

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SOURCE Professional Development Center