Mexican engineers have developed drones that can be produced right here in Mexico, making them much more accessible,” stated a representative, although they clarified that they cannot provide details for security reasons. Finally, they invited young people to get to know the university: “If you want to come, you will be accepted. If you have any problems, approach the rector's office and we will see how we can help.” Among the most involved companies, they mentioned Honeywell Aerospace (with around 1,800 engineers on its campus and joint laboratories), Bombardier (with whom they have been training technicians for almost 20 years), Safran (which manufactures complete aircraft engines in Querétaro, including the LEAP, “the most sold and most flown engine in the world”), and Airbus. “If you believe it and come, in three or four years you will be aerospace engineers,” they said. “If you were born in Guadalajara, in Buenos Aires, even in Los Angeles or Marseille and you want to study aeronautics, there are no opportunities,” they said. Currently, the university has 2,500 students in undergraduate and graduate engineering programs, and trains more than 4,000 technicians for the workforce. They explained that UNAQ represents “a unique opportunity for the youth of Querétaro.” “Now they are beginning to trust Querétaro to do cutting-edge science,” they said. Regarding collaboration with the defense sector, they mentioned that UNAQ works closely with the Secretariat of National Defense, the Secretariat of the Navy, the Mexican Air Force, and the Air Force College. “They will be ready to compete with any engineer in the world.” “These are kids who two years ago couldn't even say 'chirp-chirp' in English and who are now coding at a technological level with the best universities in the world.” To the young people about to finish high school, they sent a direct message: “Trust yourselves. “Many of them have gone to work in other parts of the world,” they said. “We are one of the few cities in the world where aircraft engines are made.” On the economic and social impact, they indicated that the aerospace industry in Querétaro generates around 15,000 direct jobs and has trained more than 40,000 people between technicians and engineers. “There are already organized tours, but if another time works better for you, we will adapt.” “Because our young people are as smart as anyone, but they have the advantage that they still carry the culture of effort.” Regarding the university's future challenges, they identified three main ones: the maintenance and updating of equipment (they have 16 aircraft for practice), the incorporation of artificial intelligence in both teaching processes and content, and scaling capabilities towards research and development of frontier technology. “We have students who are making autonomous drones, autonomous satellites, space rockets, space robots, remotely piloted aircraft, and electric cars,” they said. “We have seen this hundreds of times. This has transformed regions that were poor 20 years ago: 'today it is a booming region where extreme poverty has been practically eradicated and poverty has been reduced to very low levels.'” Speaking about the careers offered by UNAQ, they mentioned Aerospace Mechanical Design Engineering (where they learn to design aircraft parts), Aircraft Electronics and Systems Control Engineering (bionics, electronics, and programming), Aerospace Manufacturing Engineering (manufacturing processes, composite materials, and quality standards), and Aerospace Maintenance Engineering. “I hope we take better advantage of it,” they said regarding the youth of Querétaro, since currently only about half of the students completed high school in Querétaro. “The public university is very accessible,” they pointed out, and emphasized that “the indication from Governor Mauricio Kuri is that no one is left out for economic reasons.” “The LEAP engine is made in Querétaro,” they highlighted. They highlighted the case of Colón: “it exports something like 3,500 million dollars a year in turboparts, more or less what the country exports in avocados.” They left their WhatsApp number (442 392 5253) so that student groups can schedule visits.
