By Carola Rico
The confinement due to the pandemic affected university students’ emotional health. Those who suffered economic difficulties due to the decrease of income and/or unemployment at home were especially vulnerable to academic distraction, depression and anxiety.
The rector of the Universidad Tecnológica de San Miguel (UTSMA), Daniel Jiménez Rodríguez, spoke to Atención about the reopening of school and students’ economic situation. For Jiménez, the pandemic was an unimaginable situation, but at the same time very interesting because it brought out the creative side of not only the students and academics of UTSMA, but of the world.
The rector noted that this university was not prepared to offer 100% of enrollment virtually, as it did not have the knowledge or the necessary tools to undertake this way of teaching. Nevertheless, the faculty and students found a way to work via free platforms.
In Jiménez’s opinion, the economic situation was a trigger for most of UTSMA’s students, since 80% of this school’s enrollment comes from rural communities in northeastern Guanjuato State, where internet is not available, and not all young people have a computer or a smartphone to work from. Further, some students had to drop out of school to help support their families in cases of unemployment. As such, school could no longer be a priority for these students.
Jimenez added that for the young people who remained at the university, studying through platforms became tedious and sometimes unbearable. He said it was a challenge for students and teachers, because they had to redouble their efforts and reinforce leadership to maintain motivation. However, not all the students could keep up with the pace of work, and so they also dropped out. The result was an atypical attrition in 2021.
Regarding UTSMA’s internal scholarships, the rector explained that 10% of enrollment is supported, regardless of the career. UTSMA offers more careers than any other university in San Miguel de Allende: there are 13 professions, with an emphasis on gastronomy, tourism, physical therapy, rehabilitation and therapy, health, wellness, administration, mechatronics engineering, and engineering in sustainable and protected agriculture.
Jiménez told Atención about a new career at UTSMA—superior technician in agriculture, with a specialization in viticulture—that will start in September. UTSMA is working with the Secretariat of Economic Development, Secretariat of Tourism, Secretariat of Agricultural and Rural Development, and Secretariat of Education of Guanajuato State to generate agreements that will benefit everyone concerned.
Finally, Jiménez explained that UTSMA is seeking adequate equipment, as well as proper work spaces and better-trained teachers. UTSMA is designing enology (the study of wines) , storage and pairing laboratories, and a wine cellar. The university is also planning to have a UTSMA-branded wine.
