Juan Pablo Murra participated in a forum with LATAM universities. He said that collaboration and global vision are key elements for educational institutions
How can Latin American universities tackle the region’s challenges? Through collaboration, global vision, research, and attracting international talent, said Juan Pablo Murra, Rector of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies at the Tec.
He shared that observation during the panel Connecting through crisis: How universities in Latin America are responding to global challenges, held at the Times Higher Education Latin America Universities Forum 2022.
“Universities will have a great responsibility at a complex moment when many institutions are losing people’s trust. We have the skills and ability to move forward and serve communities,” he said.
The Tec executive, who participated in this forum alongside other university leaders from Latin America, also shared some of the strategies and programs that Tec de Monterrey has implemented to help the community and grow.
International collaboration between universities
The rector said that Latin America is a region in which communities, as well as universities, have to face challenges such as sustainable development, climate crisis, inequality, poverty, and security.
“Latin American universities have a responsibility to find the ideas, talent, and networks to move forward and solve these challenges,” he said.
During the chat, he explained how Tec de Monterrey has created a network of connections with universities around the world, which goes beyond collaboration agreements for student and faculty mobility.
He said that the institution has collaborated with other universities in developing learning experiences, faculty, and research projects for science, education, and communities.
“We can’t dedicate ourselves to training global citizens if we aren’t a global university ourselves,” - Juan Pablo Murra.
La Tríada is an example of one of these partnerships. Murra said that this is a collaboration agreement between the Tec and two leading universities in Latin America: the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and the University of Los Andes in Colombia.
He also pointed out the institution’s participation in global university networks such as APRU and Universitas 21.
It’s important that universities speak up and that we don’t only collaborate with each other but find ways to represent Latin America in other parts of the world,” he added.
“At the Tec, we have always seen ourselves as leaders in education. We want to educate global citizens, but we say we can’t dedicate ourselves to training global citizens if we aren’t a global university ourselves,” he said.
Global vision and research to find solutions
During the chat, Murra discussed how Latin American universities can tackle the crises that occur in their regions by implementing a global vision and conducting research.
The executive shared two initiatives that are included in the Tec’s 2025 Strategic Plan to find solutions to society’s challenges.
One was the Faculty of Excellence initiative, with which the institution aims to bring together 100 world leaders, thinkers, and researchers from various disciplines who are connected globally.
“We already have the first eight teachers of excellence from Europe, North America, Asia, and also from Latin America. The idea is that they have global status and international reach,” said the rector.
“We already have the first eight teachers of excellence. The idea is that they have global status and international reach,” - Juan Pablo Murra.
Murra also highlighted the effort that has been made in research, whereby the institution went through a process of identifying global challenges. The result is interdisciplinary institutes focused on different areas.
“One is the Institute for the Future of Education, focused on how to improve the lives of millions of people through innovation and education. We have been discussing challenges such as access, inclusion, and quality of education.
“There is also the Institute for Obesity Research. In our region, cardiometabolic diseases are one of the main causes of death. We aim to find solutions for prevention, quality food production, and adequate public policies,” he said.
He said that the Tec will soon be launching another institute. It will be focused on developing better manufacturing materials such as cement, steel, and plastic biomaterials, which help to make a more sustainable region and world.
Attracting global talent: international students and teachers
The Rector of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies at the Tec said that Latin American universities should focus on incorporating global talent into their communities through the promotion and attraction of international students and teachers.
His message highlighted three key elements for higher education institutions to achieve that goal: academic courses in English, immigration policies, and focusing on what makes universities unique.
He shared various efforts that have been carried out at the Tec, such as the creation of courses, exchange programs, and degrees entirely in English
“Three years ago, we launched undergraduate degrees 100% in English, in Global Management. This August, we’ll also launch two engineering courses in English: Industrial Systems and Mechatronics, lowering the barriers for attracting international students,” he said.
“Latin American universities have to find the ideas, talent, and networks to solve these challenges.” - Juan Pablo Murra.
Murra added that it is important to support foreign students and teachers when it comes to immigration policies because the visa process usually involves very bureaucratic and complex processes.
He added that Latin American universities can attract international talent by promoting the characteristics that make them unique.
“Social entrepreneurship programs in areas such as Chiapas have been working well for us at the Tec. They focus on international students, and we have been able to attract students from Germany, France, Spain, and the United States.
THE Latin America Forum 2022
The Times Higher Education Latin America Forum was held on July 14, where university leaders exchanged observations on how higher education institutions are responding to the different challenges in the region and aim to generate a global impact.
More than 20 university leaders from Latin America participated in chats and keynote speeches in which they analyzed the global and regional panorama for Latin American universities.
Participating with Juan Pablo Murra on the panel were Denise Carvalho, Rector of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, and Hernán Cortés-Mora, leader of the Environmental Management Office at the Bogotá campus of the National University of Colombia.
“The world is changing, and universities are the place where we have to think about solutions, make things happen so that we become stronger in Latin America, and also interact with developed countries to make the world a better place,” said Carvalho.
During the day, the most recent edition of the Times Higher Education Latin America University Rankings was also released, in which Tec de Monterrey remained the number one university in Mexico and among the top five in Latin America.
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