Aguascalientes, September 22, 2025.— The Universidad Panamericana Aguascalientes Universidad Panamericana inaugurated the facilities of the Institutional Center for Educational Innovation (CIIE), a unique venue within the Pan-American system that brings together under one roof the two pillars of the institution’s educational innovation: the SMART Student Center and the TALENT Faculty Center.
The CIIE is an inter-campus initiative with locations in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Aguascalientes; however, the Aguascalientes campus is the first to feature physical facilities that bring both centers together into a vibrant ecosystem that fosters collaboration, creativity, and purpose-driven innovation, in line with the humanistic mission of the Universidad Panamericana.
An ecosystem of educational innovation
The purpose of the CIIE is clear: to foster a culture of educational innovation in which both students and teachers play a leading role. To this end, the facility offers classrooms and collaborative spaces designed according to the principles of neuroarchitecture, which support a variety of learning and teaching styles.
Spaces such as the “Mountain” (which inspires vision), the “Campfire” (which encourages intimate conversation), the “Cave” (for concentration and rest), or the Makerspace and Makerlab (for prototyping ideas) make the CIIE a flexible and dynamic environment.
Thus, SMART and TALENT are housed in the same building: the former focuses on the holistic development of students through mentoring and projects, while the latter is dedicated to supporting teachers in innovating their teaching practices.
This partnership makes the CIIE a pioneering institution in the country, as it views educational innovation not as an abstract process, but as an everyday experience shared by both learners and teachers.
Voices from the Inauguration
Martha Rosalba Moreno Ortega, director of the TALENT Center, explained that this new space is designed to inspire teachers in their educational work. TALENT is a center that promotes training and co-creation, providing teachers with tools and support to experiment with new methodologies and technologies.
“We want teachers to feel that this space is theirs: to prepare lessons, receive training, innovate, and meet with colleagues in an environment that inspires creativity and community,” said Ms. Moreno Ortega.
Meanwhile, Liliana Medina de la Torre, head of SMART, emphasized that the CIIE also places students at the center of innovation. She explained that SMART’s mission is to nurture each student’s unique talents through counseling, mentoring, and projects that strengthen their academic, personal, and professional skills.
“The future of education lies in nurturing each person’s unique talents. That’s why, at CIIE, everything starts with our students. SMART is at the heart of it all— an environment designed for them to explore their passions, cultivate critical skills, and build support networks that will last a lifetime.”
Dr. María Teresa Nicolás Gavilán, director of the Institutional Center for Educational Innovation at the Universidad Panamericana, went on to explain that the CIIE was established as an inter-campus initiative aimed at bringing together the efforts of faculty and students in the area of educational innovation.
He went on to say: “The CIIE is a space designed for professors and students to work together on purposeful educational innovation, in keeping with the humanistic mission of the Universidad Panamericana. The bricks, the cement, the beams, and the furniture are more than just a space; they are the ‘ubi’ (the where), which allows us to develop as people.”
For her part, Dr. María de los Ángeles Padilla Lavín, Vice President for Educational Innovation at the Universidad Panamericana, highlighted the value of the CIIE as a think tank that brings students and faculty together to build a better future. “This space must be a laboratory of ideas, where students and faculty, collaborating based on their talents and life experiences, can be part of the solution and make this world a better place,”, the vice-rector stated.
Antonio de los Reyes, Ph.D., dean of the Aguascalientes campus, reviewed the project’s background and emphasized the importance of exploring new approaches to teaching and learning. “I believe that education today has to be disruptive. We can no longer stick with the old models of classroom teaching”.
“Today, teachers learn in different ways, and we need to be encouraged to learn as teachers in different ways as well,” he added.
Finally, Father Luis Felipe Quesada Pérez, senior chaplain at the Aguascalientes campus, blessed the space and reminded everyone that all educational innovation must be centered on the individual as the core of the university’s mission.
“If we say that education is very important to us, we need appropriate spaces in which to provide that education. The focus is on the individual, and how do we ensure that both teachers and students grow? This space is the answer to that mission,” he concluded.
Innovation with purpose and a humanistic vision
With the opening of the CIIE, the Universidad Panamericana its commitment to educational innovation as a driver of social transformation.
Through spaces that foster creativity, collaboration, and the holistic development of students and faculty, the Universidad Panamericana its humanistic vision and its belief that education is the path to building a more just, sustainable, and hopeful world.
Learn more about the CIIE at: https://ciie.up.edu.mx/inicio
