Abstract:

The State of Mexico is the most populated in Mexico. It has a wide range of economic activities with a strong presence of manufacturing sectors such as automotive, plastics, chemistry and pharmaceuticals. Demand of these industries for qualified personnel has triggered different policies to support industrial development. One of these policies has been aimed at supplying professionals. For that reason many technical institutes and universities have been created during the last 25 years. These institutions are now facing the challenge of evolving from pure teaching facilities to train engineers devoted to operative functions to modern universities able to conduct relevant research, cooperate with other institutions and private firms and diversify their sources of income. 

This paper presents the results of a series of strategic planning workshops organized by the authors, with the participation of principals and directors of these institutions. The objective of these workshops was to assess strengths and weaknesses of such institutions and to generate recommendations of feasible actions to catch up in order to having a different profile and offering a wider range of services, including teaching, research and technical services for industry.

The main recommendation deals with implementing a state system of higher education. We present the main factors conducive to building sound capabilities for the modernization of institutions and to increasing their relevance to society and competitiveness of local industries.

Keywords:

Mexico, Higher education, Challenges.