UWE Bristol is leading a new international partnership with Universidad Tecnológica de Saltillo (UTS) the Secretaría de Educación de Coahuila (SEDUC), and Universidad Politecnica de Ramos Arizpe (UPRA) Mexico, under the British Council’s HE Connects 2025 programme.
The project, titled “Strengthening systems to improve the quality and efficiency of Higher Education Institutions in Coahuila, Mexico,” aims to build institutional capacity, enhance educational quality, and foster inclusive international collaboration across the higher education sector. This partnership is developed on the previous project “Improving soft skills, learning outcomes and employability of women students, graduates, and early career professionals in STEM” and existing relationship with the State of Coahuila (government) in Mexico.
Building capacity for quality and internationalisation
Led by Dr Tariq Umar (Senior Lecturer, School of Architecture and Environment, UWE Bristol), this initiative will co-create frameworks and tools to strengthen institutional governance, curriculum quality, and international engagement. Working closely with Mexican partners, the project will develop a strategic institutional toolkit – a bilingual resource that supports higher education institutions in Coahuila to benchmark and plan improvements in teaching, management, and global collaboration.
Over 2026, the project will deliver a series of collaborative activities, including:
- Institutional self-assessment workshops to identify capacity gaps in quality assurance and governance.
- Strategic toolkit co-development labs to design internationalisation and improvement frameworks tailored to local contexts.
- Capacity-building training for academic and administrative staff focused on curriculum, leadership, and quality enhancement.
- A UK–Mexico Policy Dialogue Forum bringing together higher education leaders and policymakers.
- A final dissemination event to share outcomes and best practices with wider academic communities.
Supporting sustainable and inclusive higher education
The project contributes to several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). Through inclusive participation and gender-responsive design, the collaboration will promote equitable access to international opportunities, leadership development for women in academia, and sustainable education models.
Dr Umar explains: “This partnership is about more than system strengthening – it’s about mutual learning and shared innovation. By working alongside our Mexican colleagues, we aim to co-create practical tools that foster inclusion, sustainability, and quality improvement across the higher education sector.”
From Mexico, Dr Yolanda Soberón Rodríguez, Director of Liaison (Universidad Tecnológica de Saltillo), added: “For us, this collaboration represents an opportunity to transform institutional practices through shared knowledge and joint development. Working with UWE Bristol and the British Council enables us to strengthen our systems and open new pathways for international engagement that directly benefit our students, staff, and regional communities.”
Enhancing UWE Bristol’s international engagement
For UWE Bristol, this initiative represents a strategic step in deepening engagement with Latin America. It aligns with the UWE Bristol’s Transforming Futures agenda, expanding its global network and advancing transnational education (TNE) initiatives. The School of Architecture and Environment will particularly benefit from new opportunities to integrate global perspectives into teaching, research, and professional practice.
Expected outcomes include:
- A co-developed institutional toolkit for quality and internationalisation, applicable across global partnerships.
- Policy recommendations to support education reform in Coahuila and beyond.
- Formal collaboration agreements (MoUs) establishing the foundation for joint programmes, staff exchanges, and research projects.
A shared roadmap for transformation
The partnership underscores the importance of cross-cultural collaboration in achieving systemic educational improvement. By combining UWE Bristol’s expertise in higher education quality and governance with the contextual knowledge of Mexican partners, the project will create a scalable model for international partnership and capacity development.
“The collaboration with Universidad Tecnológica de Saltillo, SEDUC and UPRA exemplifies the power of partnership in advancing inclusive and globally connected higher education,” said Matthew Jones, Dean and Head of School of Architecture and Environment (UWE Bristol). “This initiative strengthens UWE’s commitment to fostering innovation and impact through international engagement.”
Arturo Mendoza, Head of Higher Education (British Council, Mexico), commented: “Through HE Connects 2025, we are proud to support collaborations that enhance educational quality and create sustainable partnerships between the UK and Mexico. The UWE–UTS partnership demonstrates how international cooperation can lead to meaningful institutional reform and greater opportunities for students and educators alike.”
Mónica Angulo Miñarro, Project Manager for Higher Education (British Council, Mexico), added: “This project showcases the best of the HE Connects programme—co-creation, inclusivity, and long-term impact. It will help institutions in Coahuila strengthen their systems, improve teaching and governance, and connect more deeply with the global higher education community.”
Project details
Project Lead: Dr Tariq Umar, Senior Lecturer, School of Architecture and Environment (UWE Bristol)
Partners:
- Universidad Tecnológica de Saltillo (UTS)
- Secretaría de Educación de Coahuila (SEDUC)
- Polytechnic University of Ramos Arizpe (UPRA)
- COPARMEX Coahuila Sureste
- Comité de Recursos Humanos Derramadero (Human Resource Committee of Coahuila)
Funding: British Council – HE Connects 2025 (Going Global Partnerships)
Contact
For more information, please get in touch with the Project Lead, Dr Tariq Umar (tariq.umar@uwe.ac.uk).