Seeking to Internationalize Practices at ESCA Santo Tomás

A group of International Business undergraduate students visited the Permanent Mission of Mexico to the United Nations, as well as the UN General Assembly, in New York

Adda Avendaño

To broaden the opportunities provided by the Bachelor’s in International Business (LNI), not only in trade and logistics but also on a diplomatic level, a delegation of 13 students from the Escuela Superior de Comercio y Administración (ESCA), Santo Tomás Unit, visited the diplomatic corps at the Permanent Mission of Mexico to the United Nations, located in New York, United States.

The international organizations they had only seen in classroom images and that seemed so distant, suddenly became a reality for Sofía Álvarez, Gladys Bernal, Paulina Castro, Sarahi Gil, Lourdes Maqueda, Marisol Mayen, Camila Pérez, Jaly Ramírez, Fabiola Rodríguez, Camila Romo, Luz Salim, Regina San Vicente, and Isaac Rivera, who made up the delegation.

During their visit to the headquarters of Mexico’s diplomatic mission to the UN, they witnessed the prominent role the country plays as a representative of the Southern Cone and Latin America in negotiations addressing international issues, such as migration, security, public debt, human rights, and women's rights, all part of the 2030 Agenda.

Staff members involved in various activities within the Mission, including Natalia Berrón, Karla González, Sandra Valencia, and Rodolfo Reta, shared their experiences in negotiations with representatives from other countries and the significant challenges the world faces, such as eradicating gender violence and the fight for equity.

One of the most significant activities in their itinerary was a guided tour of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where they observed the different representations and councils and witnessed firsthand how a meeting is conducted under the leadership of Secretary-General António Guterres.

According to the polytechnic delegation, this visit highlighted the complexities of global negotiations, where individuals from different cultures, religions, ways of life, and viewpoints must interact and reach a consensus.

The visit was organized with the support of the Coordination of Practices and School Visits and professors Fernando Abrego Camarillo and Yu Cheng Cheng, who teach the courses International Scenarios and Regional Studies of Latin America and the Caribbean, respectively. Both professors are also members of the Mexican Council on Foreign Affairs (Comexi).

According to the polytechnic professors, the aim is to internationalize practices because they believe that the students of ESCA Santo Tomás should be aware of the diverse opportunities their degrees offer, not only in LNI but also in other specializations. This experience is meant to broaden their horizons, provide them with a different perspective of the world, and foster their professional, academic, and personal growth.

Gaceta Politécnica #1800. (June 30th, 2024). IPN Imagen Institucional: Read the full magazine in Spanish here.