GateWay Community College recently welcomed students from Universidad de Guanajuato and Universidad de Sonora for a weeklong educational exchange in Arizona focused on water sustainability, environmental science, and workforce development.
The Feb. 23–27, 2026, visit brought 12 students and their advisors to the Phoenix area to explore how communities manage one of the Southwest’s most critical resources: water. The program is part of an ongoing partnership coordinated through the Maricopa Community Colleges, connecting students and faculty from both countries to address shared environmental challenges.
Students began the week with a welcome gathering hosted at Rio Salado College, setting the stage for several days of collaboration, hands-on learning, and cross-cultural exchange.
“Water is life,” said Danny Fisher, Dean of Manufacturing, Industrial Technology, and Trades at GateWay Community College. “We are excited to foster this program, which is a unique partnership and one of only a few in existence.”
The exchange program began in 2017 as a grant-funded partnership between GateWay Community College and Universidad de Guanajuato. Its goal is to strengthen students’ technical knowledge while giving faculty in both countries the opportunity to enhance their curriculum and better prepare graduates for careers in the water industry.
The partnership has since expanded through collaboration with the Arizona-Mexico Commission, which promotes cross-border initiatives that benefit communities in Arizona and Mexico. Through programs like this exchange, students gain exposure not only to technical training but also to the global perspectives needed to solve environmental challenges that cross borders.
During their visit, students toured several key water utilities, laboratories, and regulatory agencies across the Phoenix region. These experiences allowed them to see firsthand how Arizona manages water treatment, distribution, and environmental protection.
Stops included the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, the Central Arizona Project, and the City of Scottsdale Water Campus, along with other facilities that play a vital role in maintaining safe and reliable water systems.
For many of the visiting students, the experience highlighted the importance of collaboration in solving environmental issues. Adamany Castro Moreno, a student studying environmental engineering at Universidad de Sonora, said learning about Arizona’s water treatment systems reinforced the importance of international partnerships. “My area of study is focused on environmental science, as it is a vital topic for life,” she said. “International collaboration is essential for continued growth. How much we can learn from each other and support each other is truly fascinating.”
Fernando Jose Cota Garcia, a chemical engineering student at UNISON, echoed that sentiment. “We must share the knowledge acquired among ourselves, all with the aim of making a better place and taking care of the resources that nature provides us,” he said.
GateWay faculty are also expanding the partnership through a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) course focused on water sustainability. The course is being developed by Dr. Cindy Alejandra Gutierrez Valenzuela, professor of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering at Universidad de Sonora, and Roman Diaz, program director of Environmental Science and Water Resources Technology at GateWay.
The first phase launched in fall 2025, when instructors delivered virtual lectures to students at their partner institutions on topics such as environmental law and wastewater management.
Beginning in spring 2027, the program will move into its next phase: collaborative student projects. GateWay and UNISON students will work together in international teams, meeting virtually to complete assignments and share perspectives on water sustainability.
Through hands-on site visits, faculty collaboration, and international learning experiences, GateWay Community College continues to expand opportunities for students pursuing careers in environmental science and water resource management.
Programs like this exchange help prepare students not only with technical expertise, but also with the global perspective needed to address complex environmental challenges facing communities throughout the Southwest and beyond.