Development in Mexico and Central America faces a critical situation and complex prospects. The societies of the region are experiencing economic, social, demographic, environmental, and political circumstances that continually challenge prosperity, social cohesion, and sustainability, due to both internal and external factors. Today, development and development policy encompass a wide range of dynamic fields of knowledge, requiring continuous updating by those interested in and engaged with the many issues that define them. The Summer Course on Development Studies for Mexico and Central America is highly relevant for the professional development of participants and for strengthening debate on these topics.

Today, development is approached from many different perspectives, including not only economic, but also institutional, cultural, and anthropological viewpoints, among others. For this reason, the course offers an original and diverse curriculum that addresses the most significant issues currently shaping social processes related to development. Through this program, participants will update their knowledge and broaden their intellectual perspectives from both academic and public policy standpoints, as well as through practical experience in development-related action in Mexico and Central America. In this sense, the course will enrich regional reflection on development, strengthen participants' capacities, and contribute to informed public dialogue on development in our countries.

The Summer Course on Development Studies for Mexico and Central America provides an opportunity to discuss the themes of comprehensive development with depth and rigor while respecting the pluralism inherent in development studies. Throughout the course, participants will examine both theoretical and empirical issues related to the development of countries, territories, communities, and individuals, with a particular focus on the experiences of Mexico and the countries of Central America.

The lectures cover a broad range of topics related to comprehensive development. Participants are therefore expected to be willing to engage with subjects that typically span multiple academic disciplines and approaches.

Classes are taught by experts from the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and faculty members from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Each session includes a theoretical overview of the topic, a review of the available empirical evidence for the region—with emphasis on the most pressing issues and priorities for accelerating development—and an examination of the various public policies adopted by governments to address these challenges.

There is no tuition fee for enrollment or participation. However, participants are responsible for covering their own transportation, travel, accommodation, and living expenses, as scholarships are not available.

Program Structure

The program is organized into six modules:

Comprehensive Development

• Philosophy of Development
• Subjective Well-Being
• Multidimensional Poverty
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Human Development

• Food and Nutrition Security
• Cognitive and Socioemotional Development
• Education
• Health

Social Development

• Social Capital, Social Cohesion, and Trust
• Social Protection
• Migration
• Population Aging and the Care Society

Economic Development

• Productive Development and Value Chains
• Employment
• Agricultural Development
• Science, Technology, and Innovation

Political Development

• Democracy
• Institutions
• Territorial Development and Multilevel Governance
• Drug Trafficking, Crime, and Armed Conflict

Sustainable Development

• Climate Change
• Biodiversity and Conservation
• Energy Transition
• Responsible Consumption

Duration: 3 weeks / 48 hours of in-person instruction

Location: National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City

Capacity: 40 participants

Minimum Requirement: Bachelor's degree

Eligibility: Nationals of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic.