Mexico City, September 25, 2024.- With the aim of promoting a more inclusive and accessible work environment for people with disabilities, the Universidad Panamericana held the first edition of the COLABORE Summit.
This event is positioned as a key space for reflection and action on labor inclusion, integrating experiences, initiatives and technological tools that seek to ensure equal opportunities in the labor market.
Inauguration and key reflections
The inaugural event was attended by authorities from Universidad Panamericana such as MBA Antonio Castro, Director of University Life; Salvador Beltrán del Río, Director of Institutional Development; and Yasmín Mendoza Reyes, Director of Social Commitment and the Pan American Center COLABORE .Pan American Center COLABORE. In addition, panelists, entrepreneurs and experts shared their knowledge on inclusion.
Sylvia Enriquez, general coordinator of the Pan American COLABORE Center, stressed the importance of transforming ideas and speeches into concrete actions. "This summit is a call for each participant to become a leader of change, with the responsibility to build an inclusive and collaborative environment," she emphasized .
Inclusion and shared responsibility
The labor inclusion of people with disabilities was one of the main themes of the event. Ms. Mendoza highlighted the importance of this topic, emphasizing that the average level of schooling for people with disabilities in Mexico barely reaches the second grade of primary school, which significantly limits their job opportunities.
"It is essential that universities and educational institutions play a transformative role, helping to generate significant changes in people's lives," Mendoza mentioned.
Antonio Castro, for his part, reflected on social responsibility as a pillar of Panamericana, highlighting the importance of dialogue and action to promote inclusion. "Social commitment is essential in our university life, and its absence would mean the loss of our identity as a humanistic institution," he said .
Technological innovation and strategic alliances
One of the highlights of the summit was the participation of Alan Ventura Talavera, CEO and co-founder of BioGrip Tech, a company whose work focuses on the development of intelligent bionic systems for the rehabilitation of people with disabilities. Ventura stressed that the purpose is to "close the gap between technology and people, empowering human capabilities".
While, during the panel discussion Government and COLABOREEduardo Contró, Director of Development and Economic Promotion of the Mayor's Office of Miguel Hidalgo, shared the efforts they are making to digitalize job vacancies and make them accessible to people with disabilities.
However, he pointed out that only 3% of vacancies in Mexico are aimed at people with disabilities, which reveals the need for greater awareness and adaptation in the business sector.
Contró also addressed the economic challenges faced by local governments in encouraging companies to hire people with disabilities. Despite these limitations, he highlighted the progress made with the digitization of labor exchanges and the creation of linkages between government and business to foster inclusion.
Inspiring testimonials
The summit was also the scene of testimonials such as that of MBA Odilia Agustín Escobar, a Mexican with a disability acquired after a spinal cord injury, who shared her success story in the supply chain at Procter & Gamble (P&G). She stressed the importance of having allies in her career path, people who were educated and willing to challenge stereotypes to foster true inclusion.
On the other hand, Eng. Luis Armando Bravo Castillo, CEO of Probionicspresented his innovation in non-invasive prostheses. Bravo has led the development of the first electronic prosthesis in Mexico, transforming the lives of more than 300 people, demonstrating how technology can be a fundamental tool to improve the quality of life.
Student projects and university commitment
The Universidad Panamericana also highlighted the work of its students. The Stable Stabledeveloped by students Begoña García, Jimena Cepeda and Ana Cristina Tamés, was recognized globally after winning first place in the L'Oréal Brandstorm competition in 2022.
Its innovation, based on an inclusive and practical design, highlights the commitment of the university and its students to social responsibility and inclusion, as well as demonstrating how the combination of technology and innovation can transform industries.
COLABORE: a bridge to inclusion
The COLABORE program of Universidad Panamericana has established itself as a benchmark in the labor inclusion of people with disabilities in Mexico, where 16% of the population (approximately 21 million people) has a disability. This project seeks to break down barriers, creating job opportunities and offering both technical and personal development training.
The program acts as a link between companies and people with disabilities, helping to raise awareness in the private sector and promoting structural changes that facilitate inclusion. COLABORE also organizes specialized job fairs and provides tools to companies to improve their inclusion practices.
An inclusive future
The first edition of the COLABORE Summit marks a milestone in the efforts to build a more inclusive society. Through dialogue, reflection and collaboration between government, business, educational institutions and civil society, this event made it clear that labor inclusion is not only possible, but necessary for the development of a more just and equitable society.
The Universidad Panamericana will continue to promote this type of initiative, confident that, as Antonio Castro pointed out, "dialogue and reflection can generate transformative actions that improve people's lives and promote social justice".
Learn more about COLABORE at: https://compromisosocial.up.edu.mx/colabore-cdmx/
