MESSAGE FROM THE CHANCELLOR

By submitting the fourth Activities Report during my management, I wish to acknowledge the effort made by the university community that has allowed our university to reach a level of excellence. During these four years of work UDLAP has received national recognition to due to its high research levels but, above all, due to the formation achieved in its classrooms, which complies with the highest academic standards. Our Friendly Quality philosophy has transformed us into the most renowned university in Mexico. Testimonies have been made, today UDLAP is acknowledged as an avant-garde institution, a leader of higher education in the country. We are recognized by our faculty quality, by the modernity of our education facilities, by having the most outstanding students, and finally, by our graduates, who are truly considered the best individuals to be hired by employers. Due to the aforementioned, I thank the university community one more time for their support,

without which this outcome would not have been possible. As I mentioned last year, for me it is an honor to participate in this joint endeavor to achieve a great objective: that UDLAP be recognized as the best university in Latin America.

I wish to point out that these achievements have been reached in the middle of a difficult economic, financial and social situation that has caused significant harm to the country. During the last four years we have suffered an economic recession that still damages the families of our student community; a growing insecurity that resulted in the loss of foreign students, and a reduction of the Mexican middle class -our main source of new students. In spite of this negative external environment, the joint work of our institution with its dedication and devotion has allowed it to grow, to improve its academic quality, renew its facilities and maintain the high research level which distinguishes us as the best university in the region and the country. Therefore the outcome achieved by UDLAP in the past 12 months is highly positive. As I mentioned last year, despite the external difficulties we have faced, our achievements in regard to academic, administrative, cultural, sports and financial activities have demonstrated that we are a university that successfully competes with similar universities in the United States of America and in any European country. We continue innovating, performing our daily activities with administrative and financial efficiency, consolidating an institution that makes all of us proud, and improving the education techniques to keep us on top.

Let us maintain this work philosophy during the period we start today. Greece is showing us that regarding the economic and financial matters, the forecast remains negative: another complicated year for our community. Mexico’s economic outlook remains fragile, any negative international or national event will suffice for the current growth and stability forecasts to rapidly worsen. The 2012 electoral process will undoubtedly affect the perspective of many citizens and distract our authorities from correctly implementing social programs aimed to reduce the nation’s insecurity. Organized crime activities shall worsen the foreigners’ point of