10-20-04 -- The Electrical Technology Institute Advances in Mexico
The Electrical Technology Institute Advances in MexicoOne of the Electrical Contracting Foundation´s most ambitious international projects, the Electrical Technology Institute (ETI) in Mexico, is advancing according to plan. The Institute’s main objective is to offer courses in Spanish for Mexican electricians and managers and in English for US contractors who are considering Mexico as a potential new market. The first class of electricians completed Part One of the program (4 courses). And graduated from ETI in September 2004 in a ceremony in Mexico City. Part Two (another 4 courses) is still in development. With only one course remaining to finish the series, Part Two will be available by the end of the year. The Manager´s Program has been completed and a few courses are already being offered in Mexico City. Guadalajara and Monterrey are getting ready to offer the courses as well. The English version courses for American contractors will be ready by January 2005.
ETI’s development has received considerable support from the three NECA Chapters is Mexico (AMERIC, ACEN, and ACOEO). As a result of their closer relationship fostered through their joint efforts in the ETI project, these three chapters have decided to create a national organization: UNCE, the "National Association of Electromechanical Builders." This is the first national organization of electrical and mechanical contractors in Mexico´s history.
The Electrical Contracting Foundation provided seed funding to create ETI, but the NECA Chapters in Mexico are responsible for on-going financial support of the Institute. In order to accomplish this goal, UNCE is enlisting commitments for an ETI endowment fund in Mexico. This endowment has already received a $100,000 pledge from Schneider-Mexico. Several other major manufacturers and distributors have expressed their interest in contributing to the endowment. Finally, it is also important to note that several contractor members of UNCE have pledge funds to the ETI endowment.
The overall objective of ETI is to strengthen partnership opportunities for Mexican and American contractors. New initiatives to be developed in the near future include a directory of Mexican electrical contractors to help American contractors identify suitable Mexican partners. A bilingual web site for ETI is now available at: www.ecfound.org/ETI