Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda, along with Alma Xóchitl Herrera Márquez, head of Rosario Castellanos National University (UNRC), toured the campus to evaluate ongoing renovations, emphasizing that Tijuana will be among the first cities nationwide to welcome this new public university model.
The governor highlighted that UNRC is part of President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo’s commitment to youth and education, which are at the heart of the nation’s transformation.
“This also represents reparations for the harm done by past governments to young people who were labeled as ‘ninis’ (NEETs), without providing them opportunities or tools to achieve their dreams,” she said.
She noted that the state is working with the federal government to build this educational facility in eastern Tijuana, which will serve as a space for young students to build their futures.
“This fills us with pride because these vocational programs will provide job opportunities for their futures and their families. Here, we are working with heart to improve education and, above all, to secure rights and opportunities for young people,” the governor stated.
Herrera Márquez explained that this educational model addresses a historical debt of social justice and equity, as no free public universities with high academic standards had been established in nearly three decades.
“This university provides a platform for new talents to envision alternative social, economic, political, and cultural frameworks, allowing us to project ourselves as a society and a nation in the 21st century with a greater sense of social relevance,” she said.
She emphasized that these universities are located in areas of the country where young people face high vulnerability risks, which is why public spaces are being reclaimed and educational infrastructure developed.
“We aim to promote a different model of coexistence in Baja California, because it’s not just about offering high-quality education but also fostering new perspectives on peace culture with civic and citizenship values that contribute to the population’s development,” the rector added.
It is worth noting that this institution has already been offering online classes in Tijuana since the first semester of 2025, with 1,125 students enrolled across 11 degree programs, including Law, Accounting, Engineering, and Business Administration, among others. For the semester starting in September, an additional 760 students will join, and along with the first generation, they will begin in-person classes with the opening of 14 classrooms.
The project involves renovating two buildings with 65 classrooms, two meeting rooms, administrative areas, 10 offices, a 200-seat auditorium, a terrace, and two parking lots, with an investment of 433,958,948 pesos. Additional adaptations will include spaces for a cafeteria, library, gym, multipurpose court, and a linear park.
Exterior renovations will also be carried out, incorporating features such as an elevator, plumbing, fire protection systems, voice and data systems, air conditioning, and water tank repairs.
This event was also attended by the Director General of the National Institute of Educational Infrastructure (INIFED), Armando Vale Ríos; General State Government Secretary, Alfredo Álvarez Cárdenas; and the Secretary of Education, Luis Gilberto Gallego Cortez.
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