Representatives from Texas Tech traveled abroad to encourage university enrollment.

With a history of collaboration with schools and educational institutions in Brazil, Texas Tech K-12 along with Texas Tech University’s Undergraduate Admissions are joining forces to further strengthen and expand the university’s international footprint. 

Representatives traveled to Brazil in early April to meet with international partner Liberty Education, current students in the K-12 Brazil partner programs and prospective schools and students to begin building solid student pathways from those high school programs to Texas Tech as students’ higher education choice. 

Texas Tech K-12 has had some presence in Brazil since the 1990s, and the district is celebrating 10 years of partnership with Liberty, which is responsible for bringing K-12 programs to Brazil and parts of Latin America. 

The team comprised Jamie Hansard, vice president of Enrollment Management, and Jason Hale, senior associate vice president of Enrollment Management, from the university; the K-12 side was represented by Robert Bayard, superintendent, and Cari Moye, principal of Recruitment, Investment, Strategic Partnerships & Pathways and Engagement.

More than 3,000 students are currently enrolled in Texas Tech K-12 programs across Brazil. Since the beginning of the partnership between Liberty Education and Texas Tech, around 10,000 students have been served, and the number continues to grow each year as Liberty expands its network of partner schools.

Hansard was excited about the opportunity to think through and discuss seamless ways for these students – high school and even middle school – already exposed to Texas Tech to continue on to the university for higher education. The 360-degree approach makes the university unique in forging these pathways, allowing alignment in the student experience and the college readiness program. This ensures the students are well-prepared for success at the undergraduate level. 

“When we look at expanding our international presence, the Texas Tech brand is already strong in Brazil. This model can certainly be applied to wider global expansion,” she said. “Education entities in other countries will see the success in Brazil and know their students, too, can have that aligned student experience and college preparation from early on and be well-equipped for their futures as well.”  

The delegation participated in an event organized by Liberty Education, which brought together more than 40 prospective schools from across Brazil interested in implementing K-12 programs.

The benefits of the nearly week-long trip were many, Bayard said. From nurturing existing relationships to forging new ones, and from representing the Texas Tech brand to exploring enrollment strategies – all on very little sleep with many events and meetings to attend – the added opportunities for growth both within Brazil and beyond were apparent. 

By the end of the week, through Bayard’s conversations with several of the leaders of prospective schools, he found they were joining Liberty and Texas Tech K-12, “pretty much on the spot.” Once administrators from the prospective schools had gotten a chance to talk with Bayard and hear from other Texas Tech leaders, the prospects knew this was right for their students.

Bayard said he’s especially proud of being able to fulfill the strategic plan at the university level to increase enrollment at Texas Tech through the partnerships and relationships made with students and their families who take classes from Texas Tech K-12.

Lucas Fernandes, marketing and business development manager for Liberty Education, said the visit was a highly enriching experience, allowing Texas Tech to closely observe the academic excellence of its partner schools in Brazil, as well as the outstanding quality and engagement of their students. By the end of the visit, the group of administrators met with about 500 students enrolled in the K-12 programs across these institutions.  

“Our students benefit from several advantages when applying to Texas Tech’s undergraduate programs,” Fernandes said. “These include a fast-track admission pathway, as well as access to scholarships and opportunities.” 

Liberty’s programs in their Brazilian partner schools always focus on collaborations with top-tier institutions. Students begin engaging with the American education system as early as sixth grade, which allows them to explore the wide range of opportunities available at Texas Tech.

By the end of high school, students graduate with both a Brazilian and an American diploma. Their transcripts already include a calculated GPA, and they have access to opportunities such as the National Honor Society and participation in the Texas Tech Summer Camp in July, among many other experiences.

During the visit, the combined team engaged with students from seven of the top schools in Brazil, including Colégio Bom Jesus Aldeia in Curitiba; Notre Dame Recreio and Notre Dame Ipanema in Rio de Janeiro; and Agostiniano Mendel, Agostiniano São José, Consa and Ways Bilingual School in São Paulo.

“Being there, we’re able to help families visualize the brand and help them to really see that they have a place at Texas Tech University,” Bayard explained. “We did focus a lot on the trip of saying, ‘From Here, It’s Possible™.’ And when a student is with Texas Tech K-12, we believe from here, it is possible that they will be successful students at Texas Tech University.”

Find out more about Texas Tech K-12’s international partnership opportunities.