The Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Studies (Spanish: Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey or ITESM) is a national university in Mexico founded in 1943. ITESM is also known as Monterrey Tech, Tecnológico, Tec de Monterrey, or simply Tec, reflecting its origins as a technological university. In addition to the main campus in Monterrey, Mexico, the ITESM network currently includes over 30 regional campuses throughout the country.
| Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey | |
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Established | 1943 |
| President | Rafael Rangel Sostmann |
Academic staff | 1628 full-time |
| Students | 95,777 (2005) |
| Undergraduates | 90,701 |
| Postgraduates | 5,076 (326 medical) |
| Location | , , |
| Campus | Urban 143 acres (579,000 m²) |
| Atletics | 100 varsity teams |
| Colors | Dark blue, and white |
| Nickname | Borregos Salvajes  |
| Website | www.itesm.mx |
It consists of academic department rather than faculties. Both undergraduate and graduate studies are available. Tecnológico de Monterrey is also responsible for the PrepaTEC (Preparatory School), and Universidad Virtual (Virtual University).
From its beginnings, ITESM has expressed a strong support for research and development. This orientation guided ITESM to become the first university of Latin America in connecting to the Internet back in 1986. In addition to hosting Mexico's first connection to Internet, ITESM was also charged with managing the country's domain registry (mx).
Although ITESM is a relatively new institution, it awards the largest number of engineering degrees after the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and is the most important private school in Mexico and Latin America.
In 2006, the Wall Street Journal ranked the institute's business school as the #7 International Business School worldwide, ahead of MIT, Haas, Wharton and Stanford, and just behind Columbia University and Thunderbird[1].
History
The ITESM (Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey) was founded in 1943 by a group of businessmen, headed by Eugenio Garza Sada, in Monterrey, Mexico.
In 1945, the Institute adopts "The Ram" as mascot.
In 1947, the Monterrey Campus is inaugurated (previously, classes were held in several buildings in downtown Monterrey).
In 1967 a new campus in Guaymas is inaugurated, becoming the first Campus outside of the city of Monterrey.
In 1968, the first Ph.D. degree is granted, in chemistry with specialty in organic chemistry.
In 1969, the first Latin American University with a formal computer science degree.
In 1973, two new campus are inaugurated. One in Mexico City, and another in Ciudad Obregón.
In 1976, State of Mexico Campus is founded in a suburb north of Mexico city.
In 1978, the Tec de Monterrey School of Medicine is founded, next to the San Jose Hospital, in Monterrey.
In 1980, the ITESM introduces in Mexico personal computers as a tool for learning.
In 1987, the ITESM gets hooked to Bitnet.
In 1989, a new icon for the city of Monterrey is inaugurated at the Campus Monterrey: The Cetec.
In 1990, Mexico City Campus is founded.
In 1995, the ITESM opens its Business Graduate School called Escuela de Graduados en Administracion y Direccion de Empresas, by its initials EGADE.
In 1996, Prepa Tec Campus Santa Catarina is founded
In 1997, the Virtual University is founded.
In 1998, President Ernesto Zedillo honors the 3rd largest campus, ITESM-CEM (Greater Mexico City), with the "National Quality award."
In 2003, President Vicente Fox inaugurates in Monterrey the Center for Advanced International Learning (CIAP), at Campus Monterrey, and celebrates the 60th Anniversary of the Institute. In Puebla, President Fox inaugurates the latest of the 33 campuses of the system: Campus Puebla.
In 2005, President Vicente Fox inaugurates in Mexico City the Center for Business and Technologic Development (CEDETEC), at Campus Mexico City.
In 2006 Campus Guaymas (the first Campus outside of the city of Monterrey)switches over to the Tec Milenio University format.
Education Model
The ITESM education model is called the "Redesigned Education Model", because it redesigns traditional didactic models around technology, and certain attitudes and values shaped around entrepreneurship, knowledge, culture, resourcefulness, and social consciousness.
Part of the education redesign includes having certain courses taken partly online or exclusively online. It also includes field work, such as practices in the private initiative. Learning foreign languages is a must, especially English. In 2003 the first course in French was given.
Every five years, during a satellite broadcast to all campuses, the institute addresses the student, staff, and administrative bodies. In this broadcast, the institute revisits its goals, evaluates its achievements and shortcomings, and sets the next goals with particular emphasis on the needs of an increasingly global society.
In addition to being one of the first serious users of Internet in Mexico (1980s), ITESM was also a pioneer in the use of wireless technologies among Mexican enterprises. These technologies have been extensively used to facilitate online education throughout the campuses.
Monterrey Campus
The Monterrey Campus is the site of the ITESM at Monterrey, Mexico. The campus extends over 125 acres (0.5 km²), and includes 8 buildings with classrooms, a building for the library, 5 administrative buildings, 5 cafeterias, several habitation buildings for students, gymnasiums, a theatre, and a World-Class stadium (also used by the professional soccer team Rayados de Monterrey).
The buildings are separated by beautiful gardens, populated with over 20 species of birds (ducks and peacocks being the most interesting ones), and some deer (which inhabit the gardens in front of Aulas 4).
Its Medical School graduates have attained the best results in the Mexican National Residence Qualification Assessment for many years. Graduates from its Chemical and Civil Engineering programs have consistently achieved the best results in the National Undergraduate Assessment Test (CENEVAL) since its inception.
Aulas (Classroom Buildings)
- Aulas 1 - Where most chemistry labs are located
- Aulas 2 - Holds the offices for the Humanities and Physics Departments and the School of Architecture.
- Aulas 3 - Holds some administrative offices, and the Math Department
The CIAP building - Aulas 4 - Holds the Chemical engineering, Mechanical and Electrical engineering laboratories, as well as the Industrial Design workshops.
- Aulas 5 - Holds the Center for Biotechnology
- Aulas 6 - Has several small auditoriums, located in each of the floors, as well as hosting part of the "Virtual University".
- Aulas 7 - Where workshops for Industrial Design, Mechatronics and Computer Science are located.
- The CIAP (Aulas 8). Here, the radio station of the Campus is located, the soon to be launched student newspaper ¨El Borrego¨ is edited (where the cultural magazine "Mientras Tanto" used to be produced), and it also has a Cinema Studio. The Center for Communication studies is also here, as well as a business incubator, and the Business Landscaping Institute
The radio station's frequency of the campus is 94.9 FM, and though it is heard all over the city of Monterrey, it is produced exclusively by students. It can be accessed online here.
Administrative Buildings
- The CETEC, Center of Technology Applied to manufacturing, is a major landmark of the campus, and where the computer science labs are located. It is sometimes jokingly referred to as the "Servilletero" ("Napkin holder"), because of its shape. Next to this building, the manufacture laboratories are located, here, several Mechatronics projects are held.
- The CEDES, Center for Sustainable Development, the Total Quality and Environmental Quality Centers, among others, are located in this building. It also holds the broadcasting studios for Tec de Monterrey´s Virtual University.
- The Main Building, which serves as the rector's tower or "Rectoria", houses the Tec system's administration. This was the original location of the Library.
- The Library
- The Student Center. Where student congresses and events are held. Conferences, congresses and fairs are held here, and student organizations are given a place to work. Famous visitors include the Crown prince of Spain and his wife, in their first visit to an American University, former Spain Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, the CEO of Cemex, Lorenzo Zambrano, the CEO of Grupo IMSA, Eugenio Clariond, among many others.
Cafeterias
- Centrales, located at the center of the Centrales building, at the right is a residence hall for students who participate in the football team. Left are administrative offices, including the treasury.
- Jubileo, located in the basement of the Student Center.
- El Borrego (The Ram), located between the Student Center, and Aulas 3.
- La Carreta, (The Cart), located between Aulas 1 and Aulas 2.
- Comedores de Estudiantes, located next to Student Residence Hall Buildings.
The cafeterias serve meals for students, and the food is typically cheaper than American food. The quality of the food is controlled by the department of food services, which is always innovating a way of making food taste better and be more nutritious. One particular dish that has become part of the "gastronomic culture" of the campus is Chilaquiles – it is prepared in a special way at ITESM cafeterias (And in a different way in each cafeteria), and consists of fried tortilla chips drowned in tomato sauce, with beans and cheese.
Auditorium
The Auditorio Luis Elizondo is one of the largest theatres in the city, seating 1800. It holds many cultural activities throughout the year, including student plays.
Stadium
Tec's stadium, or Estadio Tecnológico, is home to Tec's football team, the Borregos (the Rams), and the professional soccer team the Monterrey Rayados. The Rayados, whose main rival is the UANL Tigres, have no affiliation with the University; they just rent the Stadium.
All of the Tec de Monterrey sports teams (at all the campuses) have the Borrego mascot. The Monterrey Campus football team has recently been national champions several times. Interestingly, five of the ten teams in the Mexican College Football League, the ONEFA, are from different ITESM campuses. Accordingly, it has been a long time since a non-Borrego team has been champion. The strongest ITESM teams are Campus Monterrey (who play at this stadium), Campus Mexico State, and Campus Toluca.
The Tec Stadium was a venue for the Mexico '86 World Cup, the highest competition in World-Wide Professional Soccer. Also, the famous rock and roll band U2 gave a concert there, on February 12 2006.
Mexico City Campus
Mexico City Campus was founded as a Graduate Business School in 1973 but in 1990 began providing undergraduate engineering education in its current Tlalpan Campus Its latest building, the Centro de Desarrollo Tecnológico CEDETEC-CEMEX, was inaugurated by President Vicente Fox in 2005. Tony Blair visited Mexico City Campus a few weeks before the September 11 attacks, where he spoke about the challenges posed by globalization.
Academia
The ITESM has over 7,600 professors and instructors, of which 99% hold a degree superior to the one they are teaching. Research is one of the priorities of the ITESM, and many important Mexican researchers find their home here.
Accreditations and acknowledgments
The ITESM holds the following Acknowledgments and Accreditations:
- ABET - Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
- AACSB International - Association to Advanced Collegiate Schools of Business
- IFT - Institute of Food Technology
- NAAB - National Architectural Accreditation Board
- AMFEM - Mexican Association of Faculties and Schools of Medicine
- CACEI - Mexican Council for Accreditation of the Teaching of Engineering
- SACS - Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Andrew Heiskell Award For Innovation in International Education, 2004 by the Institute of International Education [2]
Worldwide presence
The Institute has 33 campuses nationwide, and 19 receptor centers, located all over Mexico, with nine offices located throughout the Americas (including Guayaquil, Quito, Santiago, Chile, Panama City) and Europe.
Famous graduates
- See also articles in the category ITESM alumni
Famous faculty members
- See also the category Category:Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education faculty
- Francisco Garcia Hernandez
- Jorge Ibarra Salazar
- Maria de Lourdes Dieck Assad
- Marco Rito-Palomares
- Luis Ernesto Derbez
Another reason of criticism is the practice of hiring former students with no credentials to hold key positions (see personalismo). Most Directors are not qualified in their areas. Qualifications; meaning PHDs and at least one decade of relevant verifiable practical work experience in the field, seem to not be required to be granted a position. Quite the contrary, it seems that the high requirement standards in place are used to exclude potential undesirable candidates. Unesirable meaning not falling in with the system. It appears that the higher positions in ITESM are held by less trained but more dependable (to the institution) people. see personalismo An interesting phenomenon has appeared where companies hiring have gone out of their ways to specifically say "NO TEC GRADUATES NEED APPLY." This phenomenon is in result of two factors:
1) The average TEC graduate think he/she knows everything, when in reality heshe is just about average
2) TEC people thrive on holding useless meetings about easily confronted issues by any person with conviction. Yet they insist on holding an expensive breakfast/brunch/lunchn meetings obody cares about during which they hold a concensus on the average feelings about the general group feeling.
The result is that the TEC graduate thinks he/she knows everything but in reality just squanders money on an expensive charade that could take anybody else a few minutes to decide.
Many TEC graduates have become famous con artists. The most notable one being Daniel Gaytan Guzman, who conned hundreds of people out of thousands of dollars.
External links
Campus Monterrey
- Campus Monterrey site
- Panorama – Newspaper
- Frecuencia Tec – Radio station
Other campuses
- Aguascalientes
- Apodaca
- Chiapas
- Chihuahua
- Ciudad de México
- Ciudad Juárez
- Ciudad Obregón
- Colima
- Cuernavaca
- Estado de México
- Eugenio Garza Sada – Prepa Tec (High School)
- Guadalajara
- Guaymas
- Hidalgo
- Irapuato
- Laguna
- León
- Mazatlán
- Morelia
- Puebla
- Querétaro
- Saltillo
- San Luis Potosí
- Santa Fe
- Sinaloa
- Sonora Norte
- Tampico
- Toluca
- Veracruz
- Zacatecas