Mexico City, 3 September 2025
The British Council and the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) signed a Letter of Intent aimed at expanding opportunities for educational, academic and cultural cooperation between the two institutions.
The ceremony, held at UNAM’s Rector’s Office Tower, was led by Rector Dr Leonardo Lomelí Vanegas and the British Council’s Country Director in Mexico, Mr Darren Coyle, MBA, with Susannah Goshko, British Ambassador to Mexico, serving as witness of honour.
A commitment to higher education and internationalisation
The agreement seeks to enhance opportunities for access and inclusion in higher education, and to foster cooperation in areas of shared interest. These include academic mobility, capacity building for internationalisation, strengthening of STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), scientific cooperation, and the promotion of gender equality.
Rector Leonardo Lomelí Vanegas stated that this agreement “opens new opportunities for the internationalisation of the university, while at the same time boosting our academic and scientific collaboration capacities within a framework of inclusion and diversity.”
For his part, Darren Coyle noted: “The British Council recognises UNAM’s leadership in scientific production and academic excellence in Latin America. With this Letter of Intent, we reaffirm our commitment to building bridges that strengthen collaboration between Mexico and the United Kingdom for the benefit of university communities in both countries.”
Also present at the meeting were Dr William Lee, Coordinator of International Affairs (CRAI); Dr Rosa Beltrán, Coordinator of Cultural Affairs; and Mr Mauricio López, Director General of Social Communication, representing UNAM, and Mr Arturo Mendoza, Head of Higher Education, representing the British Council.
Upcoming joint projects
As part of this alliance, it was announced that on 6 November UNAM will host the Alumni UK – UNAM event at the MUAC Esplanade, with the participation of nearly 50 British universities, aimed at strengthening academic collaboration networks and alumni links.
It was also announced that UNAM will take part in the British Council’s Going Global Conference 2025, to be held in London in October, as well as in transnational cooperation programmes such as HE Connects, where UNAM is among the institutions submitting the highest number of proposals.
About the institutions
UNAM is Mexico’s leading public university and one of the top ten universities in Latin America. It produces more than 50% of the country’s scientific output and has active agreements with over 25 universities in the United Kingdom.
The British Council is the United Kingdom’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. In Mexico it promotes cooperation programmes in areas such as higher education, arts, science, innovation, English language learning, inclusion and the empowerment of women in STEM.