Given the passenger train projects announced by the Mexican Government, as well as the introduction of new technologies for the industry, there is a need for trained personnel for the railway sector.

“We saw it in the development of the Mayan Train, training was important, but at the same time, we must improve it to face the challenges that are coming, sustainable issues, hydrogen or high-speed trains. One day Mexico will migrate to these technologies and we must have trained personnel for when we get to that point,” said Julio César Vergara Vázquez, president of the Railway Engineering Academy of the Interdisciplinary Professional Engineering Unit of the Polytechnic (UPIIP) Campus Palenque.

In an interview, he explained that although there is a rapprochement with international specialists, there is a need to have these specialists at a national level and be a watershed in the industry.

He pointed out that the areas of opportunity are in security, infrastructure, rolling stock, “the branch of specialization is very broad.”

While from the academy, he considered that work must be done to form this human capital , which has a scientific-technological training, “it is important to lay the foundations in young people, we must take them to the railway sector, so that they know it.”

However, he said that part of the challenges is to consolidate the railway academy, as well as the courses offered at various universities that must be geared towards this sector.

He explained that they currently have an enrollment of 100 students in Palenque , while in UPICSA there are around 500 students, in addition to those at the National Technological Institute of Mexico.

“It is important to encourage young people to learn about the existence of this career, which offers a wide range of opportunities and, with current projects, the job market is very broad,” he said.

He also said that another challenge is to generate information on the industry for consultation , as well as to develop technology and innovation. “Today, that is the challenge, to generate that data, that knowledge.”

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In the chemical industry, teaching new prospects and developing the workforce has made great strides towards having a qualified workforce , so it is important to develop curricula in accordance with new trends in the sector, such as dual education and disciplines in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, known as STEM .

In the Talent Development and Workforce Trends session , within the framework of the LVI National Chemical Industry Forum , Fernanda González , head of Learning and Development Mexico & Central America/head of Professional Education Latam at Siemens , highlighted the dual training model, which is implemented in that company, which has allowed them to retain and attract the best talent .

To date, they have more than 300 apprentices and 11 courses offered, most of them in STEM sectors.

He stressed that the programs last from one and a half to two years and that at the end, students respond to changing trends.

González stressed that this model, which helps to foster a culture of innovation and ingenuity, has a structure that ensures the training of students by combining theory and practice , and in which the business community, academia and the student are involved.

At the event organized by the National Association of the Chemical Industry (ANIQ) , Andreas Müller , deputy director general of the Mexican-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Camexa) , said that the dual model is used in Germany to link academia with industry so that students can develop their professional skills in a company.

Saving training costs, selecting the best students and ensuring the availability of qualified personnel in the long term, among others, are some of the reasons why companies participate in this educational model, he said.

For her part, Guadalupe Silva , former director of the Higher School of Chemical Engineering and Extractive Industries (ESIQIE) of the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) , highlighted the interest of students in the chemical industry, and stressed that there is a significant number of women working in chemical engineering .

Industry 4.0, which involves the digitalization of equipment and systems and the use of technology such as big data , will impact the training of future chemical professionals with comprehensive and complementary education, Silva said.

Gabriela Martínez , rector of the Technological University of Mexico (Unitec) , indicated that trends in higher education in Mexico are diversifying academic programs , so it is important to promote STEM careers to take advantage of the relocation of companies in the country ( nearshoring ).

The connection with the productive sector is important so that the student graduates with knowledge of the industry in which he will work, Martínez stated in his participation.

In turn, Salvador Reyes , Vice President of Human Resources for Mondelēz Snacking de México , spoke about the development of the talent that collaborates in this company.

Having a culture of well-being and fostering a connection with employees is necessary to properly run a company’s operations , added Reyes, who also highlighted various projects they carry out, such as Mondeleads , which is an accelerated learning and training program that he described as a breeding ground for future leaders .

The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that by 2050, 90% of jobs will be related to STEM skills , despite this, only 16.5% of graduate students in Mexico are being trained in these disciplines, revealed a study by Structuralia , an online school in that sector.

Given this situation, it is necessary to encourage students to train in these disciplines , which are currently among the most valued and best paid in the labor market.

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