David Garza: ‘We must be self-critical and think about what the university of the future will be like for the AI era’

David Garza says Tecnológico de Monterrey is preparing to expand its work in lifelong learning, artificial intelligence and new technologies as universities adapt to a changing economy. The group’s chief executive sees education, applied research and entrepreneurship as ways to help Mexico develop higher-value economic activities and address social challenges.

The institution plans to open a lifelong-learning unit and a centre to study the impact of AI and other technologies. Garza says more than half of its professors have received AI training, and the university chose to teach students when to use the tools rather than ban them. Its educational model, changed nearly seven years ago, now devotes half the curriculum to challenges that students tackle across disciplines.