BOARD TRUSTEE

Miguel Angel Escotet received his Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska and his M.A. from the University of Texas at Austin. His major specialization was in Social Research and Planning and Program Evaluation in Higher Education, and Comparative and International Education and Cross–Cultural Psychology. Previously he studied Engineering, Philosophy and Clinical Psychology in Spain, Colombia and Venezuela. He received his professional license in Clinical Psychology from Javeriana University. He has been awarded with several honorary degrees and international awards for his scientific contribution in the United States, Europe and Latin America. He has served as a member of UNESCO's Advisory Committee for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean for fifteen continuous years. He received the Florida Teaching Award in recognition for outstanding classroom teaching at the undergraduate/graduate level, presented by Florida International University and the State University System of Florida, Teaching Incentive Program. In 2001 he was awarded the Frost Professorship from FIU, an academic distinction that honors faculty who distinguish themselves and inspire excellence. In September 2012 he was honored as the Houston Endowment Chair in Education at the University of Texas. In 2015 he was granted the title of Emeritus Professor by the University of Texas System. He is presently, President of Afundación, one of the largest foundations in Spain, sponsored by Abanca and President of the Universidad Intercontinental de la Empresa (UIE).

He holds the UNESCO and United Nations University Chair for History and Future of the University, one of the highest UNESCO’s honorary academic distinctions. He served as a member of the Board of Directors and chairperson of the Committee of Enhancement of Information and Networking of the Comparative and International Education Society from 1999-2004. He is presently, vice-president of The International Association for University Innovation and vice-president of the oldest Latin American Educational Association, GULERPE. He also serves, as a member of committee editors of several international academic journals.

Professor Escotet was Dean of the College of Education of the University of Texas UTRGV, Dean of the Institute of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education at the University of Deusto, Bilbao. Spain. Previously, for twelve years, until 2004, he was professor of Education, Director of the International Institute of Educational Development and Associate Chair of Educational Foundations and Professional Studies Department at Florida International University. Formerly he taught in Fort Lewis College, Colorado and he was visiting faculty at Penn State University. Escotet career has mainly been focused on academics. He has taught and has been visiting professor in Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Spain, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States and Venezuela. Other international relevant posts he has held include President of Universidad Iberoamericana de Postgrado of Salamanca, Spain, Provost and founder of the Open National University of Venezuela, Special Counselor to UNESCO's Director General in Paris, France, Academic Dean and Dean of the School of Education of University of Oriente (50,000 students and 5 campuses) of Venezuela, Sub-secretary of the Ministry of Education of Venezuela, General Director of Planning of Venezuela, Executive Director of The Interamerican University Council for Economic and Social Development, Washington, D.C., and General Secretary (highest rank) of the Organization of Iberoamerican States for Education, Science and Culture (OEI) in Madrid, Spain (An intergovernmental organization for Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries of Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia). He has been consultant to the World Bank, Interamerican Development Bank, United Nations Development Program, OECD, AOS and US AID.

Among many other international experiences in which he has been participating are president of the Latin American Association of Distance Education, president of the Latin American Association of Behavior, member of the Board of the International Society for Development, director of the Multinational Project of Educational Costs of the Organization of American States, president of the Latin American Program of New Forms of Post Secondary Education of the Interamerican Development Bank, adviser in educational planning for The World Bank.

His major research interests have focused on higher education reforms and innovations in the United States, Latin America and Europe, and on the development of research methodology in cross-cultural and transnational studies. During the past twenty-five years he raised in grants, approximately 36 million dollars for projects in educational innovation and change between Americas and Europe. He also raised several research grants in Higher Education development and international cooperation. In addition, in the past three years, he co-fundraised 14,616,704 dollars for the created Basque Institute of Competitiveness of the University of Deusto and Harvard University and $15,261,361 as external funding under his leadership in the UTB College of Education during the last four years.

He is the author of many books and numerous articles and presentations. He recently authored a book on research methodology (2017) entitled Analisis Multivariado en Ciencias Humanas (Multivariate Analysis in Human Sciences). In 2010 co-authored a book entitled The Scientific Activity in the University published by UNESCO/United Nations University and Palermo. a book with Villa & Goñi (2008), Model of Innovation in Higher Education and co-edited (2007) for GUNI, OECD and UNESCO, Higher Education in the World 2006 published by Palgrave Macmillan.

One of his most popular books (2004) Psychosocial and Cultural Nature of Education reflects his continuing scholarly concerns on interdisciplinary of educational process within cross-cultural perspectives. Other recent books related to international/Intercultural themes and Higher Education Innovation are: University and Evolvement. Between Certitude and Uncertainty, Cultural and Social Foundations of Education, Aprender para el futuro (Learning for the Future), Educación y desarrollo desde la perspectiva sociológica (Education and Development from the Sociological Perspective), Evaluación institucional universitaria (Institutional Evaluation of the University), Culture Influence on Behavior coauthored with R. Serpell, Tendencias de la Educación Superior a Distancia (Tendencies of Distance Higher Education) and Mission and Trends of the University published by UNESCO. He also published two major methodology books, Diseño Multivariado en Psicología y Educación (Multivariate Design in Psychology and Education) and Estadística Psicoeducativa (Statistics for Psychology and Education), at the present time on its 16^th edition.

Professor Escotet is an American citizen originally from Spain and an international recognized scholar.

Dr. Escotet was invited to participate on the ISSTA Board, and he is voluntarily serving as Emeritus Professor Board Member and Chairperson of the Committee on Innovation, Research & Evaluation.