The University of Xalapa has the entrepreneurial model you’ll want to follow

In our efforts to bring Santander X Explorer to institutions, we often come across centres that integrate the programme into their entrepreneurship agenda. Some already had training in the subject; others begin to address it with special attention. The result for students is a journey that, depending on how it’s travelled**, can open their eyes to a viable and secure career path** they might never have considered.

The University of Xalapa (Mexico) knows this well: not only did it include Santander X Explorer in its roadmap; it made it the core of the programme and, when Road to Explorer arrived, it didn’t hesitate to add it as a previous step. This entrepreneurial path, with clearly defined stages, also features a highly comprehensive network of resources. But shaping it hasn’t been easy, as Alma Herrera, head of the university’s UX Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre, tells us.

“We already knew Santander X Explorer: we have been present in the programme since it was launched in Latin America. At the beginning we did it as a test, organising the calendar to adapt it to the school year. Currently, one of the difficulties we have is finding teachers who are committed, as it is difficult to get paid for this work,” she explains. However, those who embark on it become mentors, motivators, and guides for people determined to be their own bosses.

From the idea search to contact with chambers of entrepreneurship

The University of Xalapa’s entrepreneurial path begins with the Imagine Bootcamp. “This outdoor event helps participants connect with an idea they’re passionate about – what they want for their lives. We introduced them to Imagine 2030 (which is where the camp gets its name), a programme that develops entrepreneurial projects based on the UN’s 2030 Agenda,” Alma tells us.

This event already existed at the university before Road to Explorer came along: when it arrived, they saw it as a logical next step. “It’s the next stage on the pathway: Imagine Bootcamp runs for five weeks and Road to Explorer for three. The teachers are already familiar with the platform, so in the entrepreneurship classes, we work with it. The students’ end-of-course project is their venture, which they present at the DemoDay of the INN4UX forum,” she explains. This event includes in-person participation from representatives of TEC de Monterrey (the institution collaborating on Road to Explorer), from the United Nations… and this year, Patricia Araque, Executive Director of Santander X Explorer, will join online.

INN4UX takes place in June, right when applications open for the second edition of Santander X Explorer each year. This is no coincidence, as the winning ideas from the forum advance to the 12-week programme, although **“students also know they can apply through the usual route,**” Alma adds. This is why INN4UX, which aims to inspire and empower the entrepreneurial ecosystem, is held at a time when anyone interested can sign up.

And after Santander X Explorer? If the project moves forward, students “progress to Reto Emprende. By this stage, they may already need packaging, a barcode, social media advice… and can feel a bit lost. This phase is more complicated because there are no mentors, but I seek out support to ensure they’re not left on their own: if they ask for help, we connect them with the relevant people, institutions, or courses (such as some of the scaling programmes from Santander X in Mexico) so they can keep advancing,” says Alma.

These institutions form part of the extensive entrepreneurial ecosystem created by the University of Xalapa. “We have partnerships with the public sector, which allows us to access subsidies for things like patent registration or graphic design assistance, for instance. We’ve also established agreements with the four regional business chambers to connect students with other entrepreneurs. And although it’s very challenging, we have occasionally succeeded in attracting some investors,” the UX Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre director notes.

The advantages of this path

The journey doesn’t end there: “after completing Santander X Explorer, 80% of participants continue with their projects. We are creating a platform to track people who finish the programme; we already know that many of them return with a new idea,” Alma adds.

Polishing this path has taken time: ‘It was complicated to link these programmes with those that already existed at the university; we even had to go through a legal process to get approval for the agenda. Teacher training was also difficult because, for instance, there isn’t a dedicated area for them to download materials,” Alma confirms, while emphasising the crucial motivational role played by the mentors.

Despite everything, it’s undoubtedly worth it, as the results are strong. “For the students, the adventure is a lot of fun, as they work with friends (most of the time). The projects they come up with come out of their passions and skills”, she explains. But there’s more: they realise that entrepreneurship isn’t something distant or unattainable. It’s a real, viable option. “They usually visit local businesses aligned with the SDGs 2030 and get a close-up look at how these companies work. They become familiar with the processes, which is hugely motivating for them,” she adds.

“With Road to Explorer and Santander X Explorer, we’ve seen increased interest in entrepreneurship: two years ago we received a visit from a certifying organisation for Education in Mexico and they asked us to show how we were linking entrepreneurship to society; these programmes were key to this. It has given us the capacity to extend our commitment: we hold press conferences whenever a call for applications opens, we welcome external applicants, and we’ve even given talks at other universities to explain our entrepreneurial path,” Alma says, smiling. This is how, every day, she helps more people discover ways to make the world a better place.

Do you want to test whether your entrepreneurial idea could become your way of life while making a positive impact? Pre-register for Santander X Explorer.

Photo by Tamas Tuzes-Katai on Unsplash.