Sheinbaum to ask UNAM where applicants come from as Mexico weighs universities in high-demand areas

Claudia Sheinbaum wants to know where young people seeking admission to Mexico’s National Autonomous University are coming from, but without receiving their names or personal information. Her government plans to use the regional data to identify where demand for university places is greatest.

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We want to know where the young people who took the UNAM exam come from, without names or personal data, to know where demand is greatest and where we need to open universities.

The information would help determine where Mexico needs to open new universities and expand educational opportunities for applicants who were not admitted to UNAM. “We want to know where the young people who took the UNAM exam come from, without names or personal data, to know where demand is greatest and where we need to open universities,” Sheinbaum said.

The president acknowledged that UNAM had created 2,000 additional places for students. She nevertheless argued that the university could make a further administrative austerity effort and redirect those resources toward teaching and a larger student intake.

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I think UNAM can still make an effort toward republican austerity in its administrative area and devote all those resources to opening more teaching places.

Sheinbaum also recognized UNAM’s autonomy and said its authorities were responsible for deciding how to manage the institution’s resources. But she recalled that her government had called for lower administrative spending two years ago. UNAM had made an initial effort, she said, though the government believed another effort was possible.

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UNAM is autonomous and decides. We made this call for republican austerity two years ago, and UNAM made an initial effort. We believe another effort can still be made.