Mexican economy has been growing strong and steady for a decade; actually it joined the trillion dollar class economies a couple of years ago. The real GDP growth has sustained around the 3 per cent since 2004.
This economic stability is enhanced by a low rate inflation; the lowest in Latin America. The inflation rate has also sustained around the 3 per cent and it seems the tendency will continue for the next years.
This situation and the effort to diversity the commercial activity has enable Mexico to overcome economic situations in the region. Mexico’s International Agreements such as NAFTA (1994) and Mexico-European Union Free Trade Agreement (2000) have induced foreign investment and better paid salaries. The trade exchange between EU and Mexico has increased 133 per cent in the last seven years. Recently, President Felipe Calderon recommended diversifying sectors and regions of commerce to reduce United States impact on the Mexican economy. Tourism also increased form 2005 to 2006 by 13 per cent. According to Visit Britain, 88,000 Mexicans visited the UK on 2006.
This conjuncture and state of affairs is an open door to increase the awareness of Europe and especially of UK culture in the country.
On the political field, Mexico proved its democracy and pluralism last elections (July, 2006) where Felipe Calderon was elected president on the closest suffrage ever held. Calderon took post on December 2006. During this presidential year, he encouraged tax and electoral reforms.
Since the previous presidential period, there has been and interest and awareness of the relevance of education. The tendency of enrolment at higher education and secondary education has been around 15 per cent approximately. President Felipe Calderon recently declared his particular interest on Higher Education better quality and competitive courses.
Although there are Higher Education Institutions in Mexico, both private and public, which offer competitive programmes, they seem to be unable to cover the enlarged demand of good education. This due to a double factor: a strong youthful population of 56 per cent between 15 and 35 years old and a fee increase of HE institutions to maintain their quality standards.
This last statement is enhanced by a time factor. Masters degree programmes in Mexico last two years and UG degrees run for four or five years. The balance cost and benefits when considering the increase on HE institutions fees and the period of programmes place UK institutions on a competitive position. Now studying in the UK is not as expensive, compared with local private fees, as it was in the past.
International institutions must emphasize the cost-benefit balance in UK Education when promoting their programmes in the country. Other strengths that must not be forgotten is the worldwide prestige on education quality, the variety of subjects and courses offered, the relatively uncomplicated process to obtain a visa, the cultural diversity and tolerance and the value and preference employers give to UK graduates when hiring.
Other niche market with has developed significant enquiries is the UG Mexican Students. There is an increased number of High Schools offering International Baccalaureate schemes in the country and their students are becoming more interested in studying abroad. This fact not only attributed to an international quality high school education, but also to the increase in the fees that some Mexican universities charge for UG courses (around UDS 13,000 per year).
The use of technology in schools and higher education is also expanding. In 2007 the internet users were 22 million people. This means an annual growth of 21.6 per cent. One out of 3 youngsters between 12 and 24 is a web user. The use of the web has also changed from e-mail only to a 41.5 per cent of information research usage.
CONACYT (National Council of Science and Technology—main funding agency for both research and scholarships) first destination on scholarships held on 2007 was UK. Although the Quality Programmes in Mexican Institutions is been reinforced by this institution, CONACYT does not underestimate the growth opportunities the cultural and educational exchange brings.
Other important funding institutions who represent a real opportunity for attracting students from PG and UG levels are FUNED (Mexican Foundation for Education, Technology and Science) and FIDERH.(Human Resources Fund of the National Bank) These organisms provide credits and funding to high quality students who want to study abroad.
Due to the geographical proximity with the United States and the increasing participation of Mexico as an emergent market doing business with other countries, English language is increasingly requested both as a pre-requisite for gaining admission in the most important Mexican universities and for obtaining better work opportunities.
Although there is no direct equivalent between FE and the Mexican educational system, some Mexican institutions provide programmes on specific areas such as Business Management, Arts and Culture, social Sciences and Economics. This kind of education is mainly addressed to those people wanting to study specific skills in order to improve their current job.
Other developing sector is Mexicans becoming more interested on studying English, as some of the top Mexican Universities have started to request English as a pre-requisite to get admission (and even others, are starting to implement Foundation courses). This situation opens a new market of young students aged 17-20.
Since year 2005, the British Council Mexico started to pilot a new program called EFL+, which introduces a combination of subjects that FE Colleges and some higher education institutions offer through their language departments. Finally, the British Council Mexico is currently promoting training courses in the UK among international companies established in the country.
The number of private and self funded students is increasing, especially for Masters and UG degrees. Scholarships from both national and international sources are still imperative for some Mexican students.
British Council Mexico is working very hard in order to address changes in CONACYT’s policies, improving the relation with key contacts from this agency and identifying those Mexican Institutions offering International Quality Programmes according to CONACYT’s registers.
Through this strategy, UK institutions will be able identify potential opportunities for signing Split Ph.D’s and Joint Degree agreements with Mexican Universities, in order to increase their share in the Mexican market. Currently there are 22 British institutions holding scholarships’ agreements with CONACYT.
The latest researches run by the British Council Mexico show that the number of self-funded students is increasing. This is particularly increasing for undergraduate and masters degrees. At the moment, BC Mexico is carrying out further market research on this target audience, which is considered as a priority. The final results of this exercise will bring up a clear picture for UK institutions, about self funded students’ habits, lifestyle, patterns of election of programs, institutions and countries as a destination for studying.
The top five preferred subjects studied by Mexican students in the UK remain; Business studies, Politics, Economics, Computer science, Electronic & electrical engineering. Enquiries to the British Council Mexico and at British Council stands at different education exhibitions show that programs such as the Arts, Design and other creative areas are becoming more popular, especially due to the increase in interest of females in international education. Females are another new and very important target group in the Mexican market.
The preferred subjects of FE programmes lay on the EFL and courses and Vocational Training on the areas of oil and gas.
British Council Mexico has one office in Mexico City. The Education UK section was established in 1998. Since 1999, this section has organised Education UK exhibitions in major cities within Mexico. In 2008, the venues were Mexico City and Monterrey, attracting over 3,000 visitors. We also participate in at least nine educational exhibitions in different cities, promoting education in the UK, and deliver presentations in Mexican universities about Education UK and funding opportunities.
In order to increase impact, mainly in education and exams services, British Council Mexico has a very close relationship with the British Consulate in Monterrey. The main objectives are to establish links with local educational institutions, promote UK educational institutions and co-ordinate IELTS work. Education promotion materials are also available from the Consulate in Guadalajara.
Mexico is an Education UK Partnership supported country since 1999. Since then it has doubled the number of Mexican students in Higher Education. Currently BC Mexico has 42 institutions as country partners.
The main priorities of the Education Section are to deliver high quality standards in services to institutions, improving the market intelligence in order to provide advice to institutions for recruiting and to establish long term relationships with Mexican institutions both for academic collaboration (i.e. promoting the creation for joint degrees and split PhDs) and with companies and academic institutions in Mexico for increasing the number of private and self-funded students.
| 
