"Polytechnics contribute to the progress and well-being of Mexico," Arturo Reyes

Enrique Soto

"Today more than ever, we need young individuals with a strong sense of discipline and perseverance, who deeply feel the pride of being part of the polytechnic community; individuals who undertake the commitment to build the progress and well-being of our country and always bear in mind that technological and economic advancement must have a social component," asserted the General Director of the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Arturo Reyes Sandoval, while inaugurating the Expo Profesiográfica of Middle High School 2024.

Expressing gratitude to the President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, for supporting education and expanding coverage in upper secondary and higher education levels, the head of the IPN also urged young individuals about to conclude their secondary education to understand the significance of the Politécnico in Mexico's progress and the social well-being of the nation.

He emphasized that no private or public upper secondary institution offers what the Politécnico vocations provide: comprehensive and excellent education. He stated that the 2024 Upper Secondary Professions Expo is the platform where prospective students learn about the educational offerings of the IPN (consisting of 54 academic programs, offered in 20 units located in Mexico City, Hidalgo, León, and Zacatecas), as well as admission requirements, scholarships, mobility programs, and sports and cultural activities.

Almost 100 percent of students with scholarships

He stated that practically 100 percent of IPN upper secondary students are covered by a scholarship; 98 percent of them receive the "Benito Juárez" Scholarship, and the remaining 2 percent receive institutional support for the purchase of books or transportation assistance. This, he said, reaffirms that the Government of Mexico supports Mexican youth.

At the "Jaime Torres Bodet" Cultural Center in Zacatenco, the IPN General Director highlighted that the Politécnico offers alternatives for young individuals to undertake academic stays in countries across various continents.

He also confirmed that the Institute offers highly relevant upper secondary careers, linked to the needs of the productive sector; some examples include programs in Cybersecurity Management, Sustainable Energy, Digital Marketing, Software Development, or Aeronautics, where students have the opportunity to learn in real helicopters, planes, and small aircraft.

He also informed that the Politécnico is making unprecedented progress in infrastructure throughout its history, allocating funds to improve sports facilities and establish an Olympic Gymnasium, which will offer all disciplines and become an icon of the "Adolfo López Mateos" Professional Unit.

He explained that this educational institution strengthens its presence in the country with the creation of the Unidad Profesional Interdisciplinaria de Ingeniería Campus Palenque (UPIIP) and the upcoming construction of an innovation center, a vocational school, and a professional unit in Puebla. "We have the support of Governor Sergio Salomón Céspedes Peregrina, who opened the doors of his state to the Politécnico," he emphasized.

Reyes Sandoval urged young individuals to dream of joining the Politécnico, an institution that, through its Foreign Languages Center, offers the opportunity to learn 12 languages, including English, French, Italian, Korean, and Chinese.

Path to building a professional future: Jasso Zaranda

In his turn, the Academic Secretary of the IPN, Mauricio Igor Jasso Zaranda, mentioned that the IPN is one of the best public education institutions in the country and is number one in technological education, producing great researchers. The clearest example, he said, is Dr. Arturo Reyes Sandoval, who played a key role in developing the foundation for the COVID-19 vaccine.

He explained that young individuals deciding to join the polytechnic high school will likely aspire to pursue a professional career at the institution. Therefore, he encouraged them to consider academic mobility, whether national or international, as an option that will allow them to grow not only in their professional and work spheres but also personally.

"Surely, some of you want to be doctors, engineers, architects, etc.; at this expo, you can reaffirm your choices or perhaps become interested in new subjects or fields, but there is still time for you to trace the path you want to build," he emphasized.

Gaceta Politécnica #1766. (January 15th, 2023). IPN Imagen Institucional: Read the full magazine in Spanish here.