Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education

The Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM) is a private research university based in Monterrey, Mexico. It has grown to include 35 campuses in 25 cities across the country, along with 22 liaison offices in 15 other countries.

The university was founded in 1943 by Eugenio Garza Sada, an industrialist and philanthropist from Monterrey who studied at MIT in the United States.

ITESM made history as the first university outside the U.S. to establish an internet connection in the Western Hemisphere, linking directly with the University of Texas at San Antonio.

History

Main article: History of the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education

The Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education was started on September 6, 1943, by a group of local businessmen led by Eugenio Garza Sada. They wanted to create a place where students could learn skills needed by companies in Monterrey at that time. The school began in a big house and quickly grew, needing more space. In 1947, a new campus was opened in Monterrey by the president of Mexico.

The school wanted to connect with other countries and in 1950 became the first foreign university to get approval from a group in the United States. This helped it grow and bring in students from around the world. Over the years, the school expanded to many cities in Mexico and even set up places to teach online, becoming one of the first universities in Latin America connected to the Internet in 1989.

Campuses

There are thirty-one campuses of the Institute spread across twenty-five cities in Mexico. Each campus works mostly on its own but follows the same national curriculum (see Academics). The main campus is in Monterrey, where the system's leadership is based. Most campuses offer both high school and university education, while some provide postgraduate programs. Only eight campuses offer only high school courses.

The campuses are grouped into different regions of Mexico, including the North, Centro, South, and West. In addition to these campuses, the Institute also has international sites and liaison offices in many countries around the world.

Organization

All campuses are supported by non-profit organizations made up of local business leaders. The Monterrey Campus is supported by Enseñanza e Investigación Superior, A.C. (EISAC), which helped start the whole university. Since February 2012, the president of ITESMAC has been José Antonio Fernández, who studied there and now leads a big company called FEMSA.

The university also runs several high schools called "HighPoint International School". These schools offer different programs, including one that helps students learn English well, another that teaches a third language and includes time studying in another country, and the International Baccalaureate program from Geneva, Switzerland. Students in these programs can earn credits that count toward college at TEC or universities in other countries.

Academics

The Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education is set up differently from most Mexican universities. Instead of traditional departments, it uses specialized divisions. It was the first Mexican university to split the school year into semesters. Today, students have two semesters each year, running from August to December and January to May, with an optional summer session.

As of 2010, the university offered 57 undergraduate programs, 33 master's degrees, and 11 doctorate degrees. Since 1969, students applying to join must pass a special test to show they are ready for college work. The university’s programs are approved by education authorities in both Mexico and the United States. It also belongs to important groups of universities around the world.

The institute has over 10,000 teachers, many of whom work with schools in other countries. It has many libraries across Mexico, holding millions of books and magazines.

The university is one of only two in Mexico to appear in world university rankings. It offers special programs together with universities in other countries, such as the United States, the Netherlands, China, Brazil, France, Canada, and Germany.

Medical school

The Ignacio A. Santos School of Medicine is the medical school part of the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM). It started in 1978 in Monterrey, Mexico.

The school was created to meet the country's need for high-quality medical training and new ideas in biomedical research. Today, there are about 500 students in the medical doctor program and around 105 students in programs after their medical studies. Besides the medical doctor program, the school also offers a special program that leads to both a medical doctor and a Ph.D. degree, working with places like Houston Methodist Hospital and Texas A&M Health Science Center. There are also programs in Biosciences, Nutrition Sciences, and Biomedical Engineering. The school has many training programs for doctors who want to learn more after their studies. The leader of TecSalud is Guillermo Torre, a heart doctor who studied with Michael E. DeBakey at Baylor College of Medicine.

Research

The Monterrey Institute of Technology began formal research activities in 1951 with the creation of its Institute of Industrial Research, working with the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas.

Although it faced challenges due to limited funding, the university made research a major focus in 2005. This led to the creation of new programs and important labs, such as the Femsa Biotechnology Center and the Water Center for Latin America and the Caribbean. The university also introduced a patent system to support researchers and has become a leader in patents among Mexican universities since 2006. In 2025, it added a Meltio M450 metal additive manufacturing system for student training and research in advanced manufacturing processes.

Student life

Student life, traditions, and activities can be different at each campus. Each campus has a special office to help students get involved in groups, sports, and other activities.

The university offers scholarships to help students who need financial support. However, because tuition fees are very high, most students come from families with higher incomes. The overall atmosphere at the university tends to be traditional and conservative.

The number of students from other countries also changes between campuses. As of December 2017, over 4,700 international students were studying at one of its campuses, while around 10,600 students from the university were studying abroad.

Athletics

Tec has a strong history in college sports. The university has won many medals in national competitions and has been very successful in American football. The university has invested in sports facilities and offers scholarships to attract talented athletes.

Since 1945, the school's mascot has been the ram, also called "borrego salvaje". There is a popular story that the mascot was chosen after the football team saw a ram on the way to a game, but the official story says it was chosen in a student contest in the 1940s.

Notable people

See also: List of Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education alumni and List of Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education faculty

The university has many famous graduates and staff. From 2006 to 2009, two important leaders in the United States and Mexico were alumni of the university. These include business leaders such as the head of Cemex and FEMSA, and well-known people in science and technology, like a winner of the UNESCO Science Prize.

The university also counts among its alumni people who have served in important government roles and have been leaders in culture and sports, such as Olympic medal winners and a former coach of Mexico’s national football team. Some professors and staff have also gone on to lead other universities and important organizations around the world.