Cork English College Welcomes Yucatán Students to Cork City Hall as Part of Landmark International Partnership

Students from Mexico’s Yucatán region had the opportunity to experience Cork’s civic life first-hand this week when they visited Cork City Hall and met with the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Damian Boylan.

The visit formed part of an official partnership between Cork English College and the Government of the State of Yucatán, the first partnership of its kind between an Irish English language college and the Yucatán state government.

The partnership sees CEC deliver a bespoke programme for students from Yucatán, combining General English tuition with STEM through English classes, alongside a programme of weekly social, cultural and educational experiences designed to give students an opportunity to experience life in Ireland and develop their understanding of Cork and Irish culture.

As part of their programme this week, the SECIHTI Group from Mexico visited Cork City Hall, where they were warmly welcomed by Lord Mayor Boylan for a tour of the council chambers and the historic Lord Mayor’s Office.

Adding a particularly colourful cultural element to the occasion, the students arrived wearing traditional Yucatecan clothing, including huipiles and guayaberas, proudly showcasing an important part of their regional heritage during their visit to Cork.

The students took part in a Q&A session with Lord Mayor Boylan, learning about the role and responsibilities of the Lord Mayor, the work of Cork City Council and the relationship between the Lord Mayor and the people of Cork.

They also had the opportunity to hear about Lord Mayor Boylan’s vision and priorities for his year in office, giving the students a unique insight into how the city is governed and the role that local government plays in Cork’s community.

The cultural exchange continued with a special presentation from the students, who gifted Lord Mayor Boylan a traditional guayabera from Mérida, Yucatán, as a gesture of friendship and appreciation from the group and the people of Yucatán.

The visit is representative of the wider aims of the CEC–Yucatán partnership, which extends learning beyond the classroom and gives students the opportunity to engage directly with Cork’s people, institutions, culture and community.

Through their weekly programme, the students combine English language learning with STEM-focused classes and a varied schedule of social and cultural activities, allowing them to put their English into practice while experiencing Ireland first-hand. For CEC, the partnership also provides an opportunity to strengthen educational and cultural links between Cork and the Yucatán region.

International education plays an important role in Cork’s identity as a globally connected city, with students from around the world contributing to the diversity, cultural richness and international outlook of the local community.

CEC would like to extend a sincere muchas gracias and thank you very much to Lord Mayor Damian Boylan for his enthusiasm, generosity and time in welcoming the SECIHTI Group to Cork City Hall and sharing his insights into civic life in Cork.