In search of educational strengthening

Always looking for academic excellence and the well-being of students, in this year UNAQ decided to implement the introductory course online, aimed at levelling the basic knowledge of mathematics for applicants to the university’s engineering programs so that they could properly prepare for the examination tests. For the university, the particular objective is to perform a better selection among the applicants, making sure that the accepted ones meet the defined entrance profile for the engineering programs. This is undoubtedly an important achievement since UNAQ has a high enrollment of foreign students, which will expand the opportunities for candidates from all over the country.

During 2019, we worked on the improvement plan to maintain the Accreditation Council for Engineering Education (CACEI) certification for the Higher Technical University (TSU) program in Aeronautical Maintenance, Avionics Area. The next objective is to work on the CACEI framework points for the two remaining TSU programs.

Regarding inter-institutional postgraduate studies, as part of the collaboration between the UNAQ and the Institute for Research and Technological Development of the Mexican Air Force, we participated in the management of the project "Geolocation and Tracking System for Aircraft of the Mexican Air Force" (SIGESAFAM), which has been developed inter-institutionally with: Centro de Ingeniería y Desarrollo Industrial (CIDESI), Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas (UAZ), Universidad Tecnológica de Tecámac (UTTEC), Instituto Estatal de Capacitación (Guanajuato) and Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Ecatepec (TESE).

In order to improve the quality of the educational level, the university's teachers attended the "Teacher Development" course where they were trained in topics relevant to teaching and education, and were given the tools to develop the necessary skills to put into practice.

Consolidating research and academic alliances

Something that has always characterized the University is teamwork, always seeking to collaborate with other educational institutions for the development of the areas of science and technology; on this occasion, the collaboration was with the Technological University of San Juan del Rio and its Rector M.A.P. Bibiana Rodriguez Montes, through the signing of an agreement that links the two institutions for the mutual strengthening of knowledge, training and skills of our students and faculty.

In order to strengthen the link between the Universidad Tecnológica de Tijuana and UNAQ in the areas of science and technology, and to promote the formation of human capital and high-level research and technological development groups, an agreement was signed between the two universities to promote academic stays for students and researchers, with the aim of sharing spaces for collaborative research.

Within the framework of the Mexican Aerospace Fair FAMEX 2019, an agreement was signed between UNAQ, General Electric, the Center for Engineering and Industrial Development and the National Center for Aeronautical Technologies, the governor of the state of Querétaro, Francisco Domínguez Servién served as an honor witness. With the signing of this agreement, the relationship between the institutions and the company GE was formalized for the development of capacities of high added value both in professional fields, and in activities that are developed worldwide, as this agreement is a watershed for the implementation of the development of research programs on specific topics to strengthen aeronautical development in the entity.

In the middle of the year, as has happened consecutively, the students of the Military School of Specialized Troops of the Air Force were received, with the aim of increasing the staff’s knowledge in aeronautical aspects, which are part of the academic and technical training of the students of this Military Education Establishment. Their visit began with a reception to continue with a tour of the facilities of the ship, covering the laboratories and the Franco Mexicano Campus. Within its alliance, UNAQ, with the support of academic staff, provides stay for students.

Among the alliances that have benefited the most the institution highlights is the one with the Secretary of the Navy, which was consolidated in June 2019, in first instance with the visit of Admiral Ríos, who came to know the university and to sign an alliance that would give rise to great collaborations for both institutions. On October 23, 2019, Vice Admiral Juan José Padilla Olmos, General Coordinator of Naval Aeronautics, visited the university to receive a plaque of gratitude for having donated two aircraft: a Cessna and a Redigo, by Governor Francisco Domínguez Servien. The purpose of this agreement is to promote the exchange of knowledge, which promotes the growth since it allows the university community to develop activities with great added value and establish a close relationship with the Research and Technological Development Institute of the Mexican Navy.

Similarly, and as a result of the collaboration agreement between the University and Airports and Auxiliary Services, through the International Training Centre for Airports and Auxiliary Services, graduated to the first generation of nine-member Aviation Stewards, who performed their actual contingency practices on an equipped Boeing 737 aircraft. It should be mentioned that since the beginning of the Official Training project more than 100 young people have graduated, of which more than 70% already have a job in the branch.

In terms of teacher training, the Unmanned Aerial Systems Training and Training Centre provided the university with three scholarships to train teachers on drones. On the other hand, looking equally for the training of university staff and with the aim of promoting more efficient and assertive internal communication, in March and April the first Communication Training Workshops began, Public Relations and Institutional Image. One of the key themes was to present the official communication tools of UNAQ and how to use them to inform what to do about this great institution. The workshops were aimed at all teaching and administrative staff.

Another important collaboration to highlight in 2019 was the one carried out with the Research and Technological Development Institute of the Mexican Air Force; the university participated in the management of the project "Geolocation and Tracking System of Aircraft of the Mexican Air Force" (SIGESAFAM) which was developed inter-institutionally with: the Center for Engineering and Industrial Development (CIDESI), the Autonomous University of Zacatecas (UAZ), the Technological University of Tecámac (UTTEC), the State Training Institute (Guanajuato) and the Ecatepec Higher Education Technology (TESE). Undoubtedly this alliance allowed the university to create new academic relationships with other institutions of high academic level.

Seeking the integral development of the community, UNAQ administrators attended the simultaneous workshops of the 2nd Symposium on Human Resources in the Aerospace Industry, organized by the Querétaro Aerospace Cluster. The 18th and 19th of September, lectures and workshops were given as "Cognitive stimulation in the aerospace industry", "Strategies for the development of a human company" and "Developing soft skills for the generation and attraction of talent", among others, taught by different companies in the sector such as Bombardier, SEMAR and MRO Holdings, with the aim of providing tools and skills to other companies and organizations to strengthen and make the most of their human capital, since it is the primary basis for training capable professionals.

Strategic actors at the international level

One of the institution’s greatest strengths is its national and international liaisons. During 2019 important collaborations were successfully achieved, this year UNAQ strengthened its alliances, which provided a great contribution in the industrial, academic and professional aspects.

Within the international alliances for academic purposes, in the presence of the Governor of the State of Querétaro and Emmanuel Cordier, coordinator of the Campus of Aeronautical and Space Professions and Certifications of Occitania, Eng. Jorge Gutiérrez de Velasco Rodríguez, president of UNAQ signed with the Université de Toulouse, an agreement to promote mobility and exchange programs for students, opening doors of a world-class aeronautical training to the youth of Queretaro. Occitania is the largest aeronautical region in Europe. 

Likewise, at the beginning of October, the French embassy in Mexico visited UNAQ with the purpose of knowing the current status of the French Mexican Campus, in this visit the Eng. Jorge Gutiérrez de Velasco, rector of the university, received them to give them a tour of the campus, showing them the progress of the facilities, laboratories and workshops enabled, as well as the infrastructure, vital for the development and training of students.

On December, with the presence of Colonel René Roberto López Morales, president of the Board of Directors of the Central American Corporation for Air Navigation Services (COCESNA) and the Civil Aviation Authority of El Salvador, the CTA. Juan Carlos Trabanino Aguirre, executive president of COCESNA and Lic. Mario Rubén Martínez Guardado, director of the Central American Aeronautical Training Institute, UNAQ received recognition for the support given for the implementation of the Technical Training Programs in Aeronautical Maintenance, Undoubtedly, the fruits of the work done in UNAQ have transcended borders and proof of this is this project with El Salvador.

To conclude the year, UNAQ had an income of more than $58mdp, exceeding its target set at the beginning of the year of $38mdp in own income during 2019. The main income was from the sale of continuing education courses, accounting for 54.9% of school income and services, with 29.1% representing the latter for enrolment and fees for school services.