This is a best prospect industry sector for this country.  Includes a market overview and trade data.

From education technology for school-age children to professional training for adults, U.S.-supplied education and training represent a best prospect industry sector in Mexico.


Overview

Mexico is the ninth-largest country of origin for students studying in the United States. In 2018, 15,468 Mexican students were enrolled in U.S. schools, primarily in undergraduate programs, contributing USD 633 million to the U.S. economy. Mexican students often choose to study in the United States due to the prestige of the American higher education system, as well as the strong ties and proximity between the countries.

Mexican Students in U.S. Colleges and Universities 2017-2018 Academic Year
Academic LevelNumber of Students from Mexico
Undergraduate8,802
Graduate3,839
Other / Non-Degree1,137
Optional Practical Training1,690
Total15,468
Source: IIE Open Doors 2018
Mexico has prioritized international education, fostering student mobility and academic exchanges with institutions abroad, to become more competitive in the international market. The U.S.-

Mexico Bilateral Forum on Higher Education, Innovation and Research (Foro Bilateral sobre Educación Superior, Innovación e Investigación or FOBESII), launched in 2014, has brought together the public and private sectors, as well as the education community, to promote educational and research cooperation with U.S. institutions, as well as improving access to quality post-secondary education to underserved demographic groups in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. The Forum has signed over 100 collaboration agreements between higher education institutions in Mexico and the United States, as well as joint projects and programs in innovation and research implemented by Mexico’s National Council of Science and Technology (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología or CONACYT) and the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Mexican higher education institutions actively participate in regional education consortia to increase their knowledge and collaboration with institutions in the hemisphere and to develop mobility strategies to increase exchange of students, faculty and collaborative programs. The most recent example of regional collaboration is the Hemispheric University Consortium (HUC) created in 2018 by 10 universities from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The HUC mission is to facilitate collaborations in education and research to generate the knowledge and solutions to challenges in public health, climate change, sustainability, and innovation.

Mexican higher education institutions are active in the 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund, a public-private sector collaboration between the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassies, Partners of the Americas, NAFSA, corporations, and foundations working together to develop partnerships between the United States and the rest of the Western Hemisphere.
Given FOBESII’s focus on workforce development, opportunities for community colleges and boarding schools are increasing, particularly among Mexican students looking for educational opportunities at a younger age or interested in two-year programs. Mexico’s community college equivalent, the Universidades Tecnológicas system, features several bilingual technical universities that are particularly interested in collaborative programs with U.S. institutions.

Workforce and professional training are also provided by employers in Mexico. With an eye towards global competitiveness, employers and economic development organizations are interested in training opportunities for the Mexican workforce. Employers in Mexico seek training to improve their business processes, reduce costs, improve workforce effectiveness, innovate, and strengthen their relationship with clients. Customized training in information technologies, quality control, management, and language programs are in high demand. In addition to traditional training methods, Mexico is investing in technology and opening the market for on-line or blended courses.

The Lopez Obrador Administration is particularly focused on skills and talent development to spur economic productivity and competitiveness. Its Jóvenes Construyendo el Futuro (Young People Building the Future) program seeks to train young people between 18 and 29 years of age at work. Local and multinational companies are partnering with the Mexican Secretariat of Labor to incorporate over two million people into this program and increase productivity, primarily in technical work positions. The Mexican Government provides monthly scholarships of MXN 3,600 (USD 190) to each participant for one year of training in private companies or public institutions to enhance their future employment opportunities. Finally, as part of the Mexican education model, technology plays a key role in providing learning tools to students and fostering interactive experiences. The Mexican Government, through the Secretariat of Education and private educational institutions, is investing in equipment and technology solutions such as software, applications, and digital content in English at all levels.

Private schools in Mexico have evolved to educational models that incorporate innovative digital classrooms, laboratories (robotics, language), and digital libraries as part of their strategies to improve the teaching and student experience.


Leading Sub-Sectors

There are three key sub-sectors in the education sector:
  • Academic-related training in the United States is the largest sub-sector and can be split into undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree programs, and practical training. There are niche opportunities for Mexican enrollment in high school level boarding/private schools. Mexican enrollment in U.S. elementary schools is insignificant.
  • Education and training services in Mexico represent significant opportunities for U.S. educational providers, which can include partnerships with educational institutions, training programs through employers, and development of independent training centers.
  • The education supplies and technologies sector offers strong opportunities for U.S. solutions providers, particularly in the areas of software, online learning, classroom or field education tools, and distance learning services.


Opportunities

The U.S. Commercial Service in Mexico has identified the following key opportunities:
  • ESL programs for students, both short-term and longer courses of study, to address Mexico’s critical shortage of English-language teachers.
  • Student recruitment for undergraduate and graduate programs for STEM disciplines, aeronautical sciences, business administration, environment/energy, agriculture, and design.
  • Collaborative programs for technical/vocational programs in engineering and technology.
  • Dual-degree programs and collaborative programs in international business and management, engineering, environmental technology, and aerospace at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
  • Corporate training programs in management, as well as executive-level language proficiency programs.
  • Technology applied to K12 education, including applications, software, and digital content, as well as software for school administrative processes.
To pursue these opportunities, we highly recommend traveling to Mexico and participating in one of several available education recruitment fairs. We encourage U.S. institutions to visit schools to promote educational opportunities and build relationship with education organizations, education agencies, and Mexican grant institutions. We see opportunities in smaller geographic regions in Mexico (outside of the major cities) where students are increasingly seeking quality education programs abroad.

U.S. training companies have successfully partnered with Mexican institutions/universities to develop continuing education programs. However, training companies need to be flexible and sensitive to the specific characteristics of the Mexican market and typically need to work with a partner in country. The demand is for tailor-made programs conducted in Spanish.


Web Resources

Education USAwww.educationusa.state.gov
Mexican Secretariat of Public Education (SEP)www.sep.gob.mx
National Association of Universities and Higher Learning Institutionswww.anuies.mx
U.S. Embassy education and English programsmx.usembassy.gov/education-culture
COMEXUS–Fulbright-García Robles Scholarshipswww.comexus.org.mx
National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT)www.conacyt.gob.mx
Consortium for North American Higher Education Collaborationwww.conahec.org
100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fundwww.100kstrongamericas.org
Peace Corps in Mexicowww.peacecorps.gov/mexico


Events

  • Linden Educational Services Boarding Tours, various times and locations in the Mexican cities of Cancún, Querétaro, and Mexico City
  • Bett Latin America Leadership Summit 2019, October 10–11, 2019, Centro Citibanamex, Mexico City


Contacts

For more information on the education and training sector in Mexico, please contact:

Martha Sanchez
Commercial Specialist, Education and Training
U.S. Commercial Service—Mexico City
Tel: +52 (55) 5080-2000 ext. 5225
Martha.Sanchez@trade.gov

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.