National Commission on Lifelong Learning established to transform higher education in Mexico

The Secretary of Public Education, Mario Delgado Carrillo, led the establishment of the National Commission on Lifelong Learning, a group whose goal will be to transform higher education in the country.

According to Delgado, the goal is to make this level of education more flexible, capable of adapting to economic changes and in line with the speed with which knowledge is generated and transmitted today.

At the event, held in the Ibero-American Hall of the historic headquarters of the SEP, the Secretary of Public Education, Mario Delgado Carrillo, highlighted that the transformation of Higher Education will be carried out in coordination with the Mexico Plan and the Development Poles for Well-being , promoted by President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo.

He was accompanied at the event by the Undersecretary of Higher Education, Ricardo Villanueva Lomelí, as well as rectors and directors of public and private universities.

"There must be a match between the educational offerings of certain regions and the economic vocations of those regions to fulfill the promise we always make to young people: that if you study, you will do well," Delgado Carrillo explained.

He said that "Higher Education in Mexico must adapt to changing times to develop citizens with critical thinking, values ​​such as solidarity, fraternity, a sense of community, and commitment to their country and others, while also having the highest level of specialization, qualifications, and technical preparation that will allow them to successfully enter the labor market."

The head of the SEP asserted that ongoing training is something new that will need to be instilled in higher education, so the work of the National Commission on Lifelong Learning, which will be responsible for driving this change in university education, will be important.

The Secretary of Public Education, Mario Delgado Carrillo, noted that the transformation of Higher Education also seeks to make it more attractive to young people, granting them recognition and microcredentials for skills and knowledge throughout their academic training.

As part of this strategy, he announced that the national digital platform saberes.mx will be launched in the coming months, which will aim to democratize access to this type of education.

Finally, Delgado Carrillo explained that when the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) points out that people can no longer navigate their lives using only the skills and knowledge acquired in school, college or university and that they need to learn throughout their lives, it recognizes what our indigenous peoples have always known: that the knowledge acquired in youth is a guiding star, but that we need to constantly update our compasses and perfect the tools with which we build the world.

During his remarks, Undersecretary of Higher Education Ricardo Villanueva Lomelí emphasized that the working group's purpose is to open an in-depth debate on the future of higher education in Mexico and embrace a paradigm shift toward open, lifelong learning.

The Secretary of Public Education, Mario Delgado Carrillo, warned that, given the limited validity of specific skills—estimated at just five years—it is essential to have universities that permanently support Mexicans in their professional development.

Delgado emphasized that the challenge is not only to support those who complete university, but also to offer educational alternatives to students who interrupted their education. For this sector, he announced that short, specialized courses will be promoted, aimed at professional development and skills recovery, with the goal of opening up new opportunities in the workplace and academia.

The secretary general of the National Association of Universities and Higher Education Institutions (Anuies), Luis Armando González Plascencia, commented that through this commission, courses aligned with the main areas of Plan Mexico will be established and educational offerings will be tailored to each region. He said the goal is not to generate labor, but rather to strengthen the skills of Mexicans.

The Director General of Higher, University, and Intercultural Education at the Ministry of Public Education (SEP), Carlos Iván Moreno Arellano, said the goal is to move toward more flexible and open university systems, not only for study but also for the dignity and life of individuals. He said the skills students acquire at universities become obsolete in 10 years, which is why microcredentials should be promoted.

The Commission's installation was attended by Alma Herrera Márquez, Rector of the Rosario Castellanos National University; Lilia Cedillo Ramírez, Rector of the Distinguished Autonomous University of Puebla; Arturo Reyes Sandoval, Director General of the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN); Ramón Jiménez López, Director General of the National Institute of Technology of Mexico (TecNM); as well as representatives from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the Monterrey Institute of Technology, Anáhuac University, and the Open and Distance University of Mexico, among others.

The National Commission is made up of the following institutions: National Autonomous University of Mexico, National Polytechnic Institute, National Pedagogical University, Meritorious Autonomous University of Puebla, Monterrey Institute of Technology, Anáhuac University, Open and Distance University of Mexico, Rosario Castellanos National University, Technological Institute of Aguascalientes and the National Institute of Technology of Mexico, Autonomous University of Baja California, Autonomous University of Nayarit, Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí, Autonomous University of the State of Morelos, Autonomous University of Nuevo León, Pan-American University and the Autonomous University of Guerrero.

Regional commissions will also be established between September 22 and October 10, 2025, and will be chaired by the state universities of San Luis Potosí, Baja California, Nayarit, Morelos, Mexico City, and Quintana Roo.

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