Zapopan, Jalisco, September 14.— The Universidad Panamericana says it is ready to host the QS Higher Ed Summit: Americas 2026, an event of great significance for the future of higher education in Latin America.
The event will take place from September 30 to October 2, 2026. The activities on September 30 will be held at the Guadalajara campus of the Universidad Panamericana, while those on October 1 and 2 will be held at the Hotel Riu Guadalajara.
Carlos Mateos, an engineer and the head of Rankings at the institution as well as the project lead, shared some of the main objectives and scope of this international summit.
A space for networking and strategic planning
Hosting an event of this magnitude represents a unique opportunity for regional collaboration. For the Universidad Panamericana, the primary value lies in “this forum’s ability to bring together the region’s leading universities.”
According to Carlos Mateos, one of the forum's main strengths is its ability to bring together universities in the region and create opportunities for collaboration.
“This conference offers numerous benefits for our institution, ranging from fostering research collaborations to strengthening corporate ties, while also providing a broad showcase for the academic and scientific work we carry out internally,” he explained.
Key Debates: Artificial Intelligence, Employability, and the Mark of Humanism
The QS Higher Ed Summit: Americas 2026 will address some of the key challenges and opportunities currently facing higher education. Among the main topics of discussion are the interaction between businesses and universities, as well as “the challenges faced by higher education institutions in the face of advances in artificial intelligence,” explained Carlos Mateos, Eng.
In addition, the study will examine key aspects such as “the factors that influence recruitment and academic mobility, analyzing the motivations that drive students and faculty to choose Latin America as an educational destination.”
Innovation will also play a central role in analyzing what institutions are doing today and in which sectors they are creating value, along with reputation management, students’ skills, and employability.
However, the hallmark of this edition, organized by the National Institute of Higher Technical Education ( Universidad Panamericana ), will be the incorporation of an ethical and social approach. “We have incorporated a cross-cutting thematic focus on the influence of humanism on these disciplines; our goal is to integrate a profound sense of humanity into the analysis of every aspect,” emphasized Carlos Mateos, noting that this approach represents the hallmark of the National Institute of Higher Technical Education ( Universidad Panamericana ) at the event.
The UP Pavilion: Strengthening the Institution's Reputation
As part of its participation in the summit, the University of the Pacific (Universidad Panamericana ) will feature the UP Pavilion, a space designed to showcase the work of the institution’s various strategic areas and encourage interaction with attendees.
The goal will be to showcase university activities and foster closer ties with the leaders responsible for various institutional initiatives.
“Beyond simply presenting our physical infrastructure, our goal is to provide a detailed overview of the university’s operations and to introduce the leaders responsible for each initiative,” explained Mr. Mateos.
Key representatives from strategic areas such as research, international affairs, continuing education, and institutional development will participate in this pavilion. For the coordinator of this event, this interaction is essential: “Having the opportunity to raise the profile of these strategic areas and foster their interaction with attendees is essential for strengthening our institutional reputation. Consequently, we believe this forum is the ideal setting to showcase our strengths.”
Who will participate in the QS Higher Ed Summit: Americas 2026?
The summit will feature prominent representatives from the academic, educational, and government sectors in Mexico and Latin America. Dr. Fernanda Llergo Bay, president of the UP-IPADE system; Dr. Abraham Mendoza Andrade, president of the Guadalajara Campus; Dr. Santiago García Álvarez, president of the Mexico City Campus; and Dr. Antonio de los Reyes, president of the Aguascalientes Campus, are representing the University of the Pacific-IPADE ( Universidad Panamericana ) at the summit.
Also participating will be Dr. Hiram Ponce Espinosa, director of the Center for Innovation and Technological Development (CINOV) at the Universidad Panamericana; Dr. María Eugenia Bolaños Vargas, director of the FIMPES Accreditation System; Dr. Carmen Enedina Rodríguez Armenta, general director of CENEVAL; Juan Carlos Flores Miramontes, Secretary of Education for Jalisco; Jessica Turner, CEO of QS UK; Jason Newman, CCO of QS UK; and Dr. Gabriela Gerón Piñón, Senior Consultant at QS Miami, among other distinguished academic figures.
The Legacy for Guadalajara and Jalisco
Hosting the QS Higher Ed Summit: Americas 2026 in Guadalajara represents an opportunity to showcase the city and the state of Jalisco as key hubs for dialogue and collaboration in the field of higher education.
Since this is the first time this event is being held in Guadalajara, the summit will help raise awareness of the work being done by the region’s institutions of higher education and foster new collaborative partnerships.
Through its Guadalajara campus, the Universidad Panamericana actively participates in the region’s academic and professional development, strengthening ties with institutions, companies, and other local stakeholders.
Their participation in this international conference provides an opportunity to share this experience and contribute to the dialogue on the challenges and opportunities facing higher education in Mexico and Latin America.
“The primary legacy lies in the fact that, since this is the first time this event is being held in Guadalajara, it will provide invaluable exposure for the city. This will demonstrate that academic excellence and major events are not limited to the nation’s capital; the state of Jalisco has top-tier institutions of higher education that are fully prepared to showcase their work and collaborate synergistically with other universities,” concluded Carlos Mateos.
To learn more about the QS Higher Ed Summit: Americas 2026, visit the website: https://www.qs.com/conferences/americas
