A delegation of eight Canadian university presidents and research partners met with their Mexican counterparts in a three-day mission aimed at strengthening research collaborations and academic mobility between the two countries.

The mission, which took place in Mexico City May 22-25, resulted in seven new memorandums of understanding between Mexican and Canadian universities.

It also advanced research collaborations in priority areas for each country, including health, digital technology, Indigenous education and environmental sustainability.

Mexican partners also called on Canada to increase outward student mobility to Mexico.

"Canada needs internationally adept students and researchers with the skills and competencies to navigate our rapidly changing global knowledge economy," said Universities Canada president Paul Davidson in a statement.

"The connections made this week reinforce our strong relationship with Mexico and will help bring even more Canadian talent to the world."

Among the MoUs, Université du Québec à Montréal and Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí signed a student exchange agreement which will involve three students a year for five years, and allow Mexican undergraduates to study at UQAM for one or two semesters.

Research organization Mitacs expanded an existing partnership with Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (TEC Monterrey) to provide opportunities for Canadian students to undertake research projects at Tec institutions in Mexico. Meanwhile, CALAREO has linked up with CONACYT to build a framework that will facilitate research cooperations in various areas of interest.

Mexico is one of Canada's most important commercial partners and a priority in the International Education Strategy and Global Markets Action Plan, Universities Canada explained in a statement.

In 2017, there was a 16% increase of Mexican study permit holders at all levels.

"Mexico matters... Higher education and research partnerships strengthen and expand these valuable connections," read a statement by Universities Canada.

The mission builds on an "increasingly close" relationship between Canadian Universities and Mexico, and a five-year partnership agreement between Universities Canada and the National Association of Universities and Institutions (ANUIES) which was renewed in 2014.