Mexico City, February 27, 2026.—As part of its strategy for academic internationalization and industry engagement, the Universidad Panamericana carried out the Mexico–Singapore Corporate Innovation Program, a training initiative that culminated in a two-week professional immersion in Singapore, one of Asia’s leading hubs for innovation and business.
The program brought together 15 students from the School of Business and was coordinated by Alejandra Tenorio, M.A., and Professor José Manuel Bulás, in collaboration with the Singapore–Mexico Chamber of Commerce—of which UP is a member and chairs the academic committee—and with the support of the Mexican Embassy in Singapore.
During their stay in the Asian country, the students participated in an intensive academic and professional program that included sessions with experts and executives, visits to companies and institutions, networking opportunities, and the development of a real-world corporate challenge. Six teams worked for six different companies and presented their final proposals to executives and industry representatives.
International experience with a real impact on business
Unlike a traditional academic trip, the Mexico–Singapore Corporate Innovation Program was designed as a comprehensive experience. Over the preceding three months, the students analyzed Singapore’s economic, cultural, and business context, as well as the specific challenges faced by their assigned companies.
Prof. José Manuel Bulás emphasized that, given the current geopolitical and economic environment, it is essential to open new commercial and strategic routes to Southeast Asia.
“The program aims to foster student leadership, focusing primarily on identifying new business opportunities between Mexico and Southeast Asia, with Singapore as the base, since this country is the most reliable gateway to all of Asia,” he noted.
Leadership Development and Global Perspective
For the participants, the experience represented a significant leap forward in their professional development. Jesús Damián Arias, a student at the Universidad Panamericana, highlighted the contrast in models of transparency, business organization, and public-private collaboration.
“Transparency in business was truly striking; the organized way of working and the mutually beneficial relationships between companies were simply incredible. Furthermore, the government’s active involvement in fostering improvement for businesses and the country is also very different—better than in Mexico, in my opinion,” he said.
For her part, María Fernanda Gascón highlighted how her strategic analysis and executive communication skills had improved after interacting with CEOs, mayors, and economic development leaders.
“My strategic analysis skills took a huge leap forward. Moving from looking at trade figures to understanding the impact of the project’s sub-topics—from bridge expansion to hospital infrastructure—allowed me to see the ‘big picture,’” he explained.
“Conducting structured interviews with mayors, economic development directors, and CEOs helped me refine my executive communication skills and my ability to draw high-value insights.”
Internationalization as a Strategic Priority
The Mexico–Singapore Corporate Innovation Program concretely reflects the university’s educational model of Universidad Panamericana: innovation, academic internationalization, and industry engagement.
Through initiatives like this one, the Universidad Panamericana is consolidating its presence in Asia and strengthening its students’ international readiness, convinced that a global perspective is a strategic tool for Mexico’s business and social development.
Discover how the University of the West ( Universidad Panamericana ) fosters global experiences that transform your education. Learn more in our International section: https://www.up.edu.mx/internacional-acerca-de/
