The University of Texas at Austin to Offer Courses in Guatemala at Historic Casa Herrera

AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning in February, the Professional Development Center (UT PDC) at The University of Texas at Austin presents a series of personal and professional enrichment courses in Antigua, Guatemala. The courses will be based at Casa Herrera, a fully restored 17th century Spanish Colonial property owned by the university and located in the heart of Antigua. The series kicks off February 19-23 with Tour Guatemala, a travel and educational tour from Austin to Antigua, followed on May 18-19 by the two-day course Managing Projects for Guatemala's working professionals. 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 Dr. Linda Glessner, Executive Director of the Division of Continuing and Innovative Education. "I encourage anyone with an interest in learning more about Latin America to join us on our educational travel tour, and I would also encourage Guatemalan professionals to consider enrolling in this project management training program from The University of Texas at Austin."

"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 is operated by the Mesoamerica Center, a program of the university's Department of Art and Art History in 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 put together a schedule of outstanding continuing education programs that serves 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."   

Tour Guatemala 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 Tour 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 Tour Guatemala, including hotel accommodations and 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, including those working in hotel management, tourism, regional government and private industry. 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 Web site at http://www.utexas.edu/ce/pdc/workshops/proyectos-de-manejo/.

For more information, contact Wayne Wenske at (512) 232-7392 or [email protected].   

About Continuing and Innovative Education:

The Division of Continuing and Innovative Education (CIE) provides a wide range of credit and noncredit courses, services and programs that encompass K-16 academics, online college and professional development courses, professional certificate programs and personal enrichment opportunities. CIE is made up of the K-16 Education Center, Petroleum Extension Service (PETEX), Professional Development Center, Thompson Conference Center, University of Texas-University Charter School and University Extension. For more information, please visit us online at http://www.utexas.edu/ce/.  

Contact: Wayne Wenske, Division of Continuing and Innovative Education, The University of Texas at Austin, (512) 232-7392, [email protected] 

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SOURCE Professional Development Center