Universidad Popular Autónoma de Veracruz

The Universidad Popular Autónoma de Veracruz (UPAV) is a public institution of upper-secondary and higher education based in Xalapa-Enríquez, in the Mexican state of Veracruz. It was formally created by Law 276 of the Veracruz Congress, promulgated on 1 August 2011, and it traces its origins to earlier adult-education and open-learning initiatives developed within the Instituto Veracruzano de Educación para los Adultos (IVEA) beginning in 2005. Its founding rector was Professor Guillermo Héctor Zúñiga Martínez, who had been a leading figure in the state's adult-education efforts. UPAV describes itself as a public educational option responding to the specific needs of Veracruz society. It offers bachillerato (upper-secondary) programs, more than 30 licenciaturas (undergraduate degrees) on cuatrimestral and semestral calendars, and more than 20 postgraduate programs including especialidades, maestrías and doctorados. It also provides technical careers and continuing education. According to its official website, it serves more than 67,000 students and has been "forming professionals" for more than 14 years, with presence across the state through 18 regional coordinations and numerous centers and campuses. The university's educational model draws on social pedagogy — associated with the German neo-Kantian philosopher Paul Natorp — as well as constructivism and self-directed learning (autodidactismo). UPAV presents itself as a pioneer in Latin America in using the term "aprendientes" (learners) instead of "alumnos" or "estudiantes," emphasizing the learner's capacity to analyze social reality autonomously for the common good. Its programs at the bachillerato, licenciatura and postgraduate levels are registered with Mexico's Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP). Students at UPAV are entitled to the IMSS facultative health insurance during their studies and may apply for transport and maintenance scholarships through the Coordinación Nacional de Becas de Educación Superior (CNBES). The institution has undergone structural changes in administration, curricula, educational infrastructure and its educational model. In 2017 it inaugurated its Centro de Innovación Académica (CdIA), and in 2020 it relocated administrative offices to Torre 20/20 and the Rectoría to "Casa Veracruz" in the state capital. UPAV operates as a state public university, governed by a rector; its recent rectors include Rodolfo Torres Velázquez (2025–present), Sergio Torres Mejía (2024–2025) and Ome Tochtli Méndez Ramírez (2018–2024).

The origins of the Universidad Popular Autónoma de Veracruz (UPAV) lie in the Instituto Veracruzano de Educación para los Adultos (IVEA). In 2005, according to INEGI data cited by the university, 53.1% (2,580,732) of young Veracruzans were in educational lag relative to the state population over 15 years of age (4,858,837 inhabitants). A group of pedagogues, officials and educational authorities, including Professor Guillermo Héctor Zúñiga Martínez, met to analyze the situation and propose solutions. On 19 September 2005, through publication in the Gaceta Oficial, the Constitutional Governor of the State of Veracruz granted IVEA the authority to provide literacy, primary and secondary education, as well as upper-secondary, higher and job-training education, to all young people and adults over 15 years of age, using particular contents tailored to specific educational needs based on social solidarity. A year later, on 11 July 2006, reforms to the Organic Statute of IVEA were published in the Gaceta Oficial, creating the Unidad de Educación Media Superior and the Unidad de Educación Superior. In 2007, Professor Zúñiga Martínez announced another innovative educational option: certifying self-taught knowledge at the bachillerato level through a single examination. However, because it did not strictly follow the procedures established by the Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP), this examination had to be suspended and later eliminated, as it was not based on adequate quality control. Four years later, in the first months of 2011, a call was launched for another major project, the Bachillerato Virtual, supported by a digital platform, with solidarity tutors and administrative staff from IVEA. This gave legality to an educational option that opened another door of access to education for the people of Veracruz and for people from other states. Because of the success of these educational projects, the State Congress approved Law 276 creating the Universidad Popular Autónoma de Veracruz (UPAV) with unanimous support from all political parties represented in the Veracruz Congress, with 46 votes in favor, zero against and zero abstentions. Upon promulgation of that law on 1 August 2011, the Instituto Veracruzano de Educación Superior, which had operated from 2000 to 2008, disappeared. In that same year, 2011, Professor Guillermo Héctor Zúñiga Martínez was appointed rector of UPAV, accompanied by various officials, academics and intellectuals of the state of Veracruz, strengthening the institution's operation with their knowledge, experience and work. The institution is public in character, and all its educational programs — bachillerato, licenciaturas and postgraduate degrees (especialidades, maestrías and doctorados) — are duly registered with the Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP). The university has undergone structural changes: administrative, curricular updating, educational infrastructure, and its educational model. That model is based on the perspective of social pedagogy that emerged at the end of the 19th century with the system of Paul Natorp, a German neo-Kantian philosopher, and also draws on constructivism and self-directed learning (autodidactismo). Based on this educational system, the university is one of the pioneers in Latin America in using the concept of "aprendientes" instead of "alumnos" or "estudiantes," understanding these learners as people capable of analyzing social reality from a self-directed attitude for the benefit and transformation of society, seeking the common good of citizens today. Students of the university are entitled to the facultative insurance of the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS) during the periods studied, enjoying medical and hospital assistance, in addition to participating in calls for transport and maintenance scholarships through the Coordinación Nacional de Becas de Educación Superior (CNBES). Regarding its educational spaces, on 7 July 2017 the university's Centro de Innovación Académica (CdIA) was inaugurated, a dedicated space for academic training, continuous capacitation and professionalization of students. In 2020, UPAV relocated its administrative offices to Torre 20/20 and the Rectoría to "Casa Veracruz" in the state capital, with the main objective of streamlining school procedures for the UPAV learning community. UPAV has been led by a series of rectors: Guillermo Héctor Zúñiga Martínez (2011–2015), Andrés Blancas Portilla (2015–2017), Maribel Sánchez Lara (encargada de despacho, 2017), Carlos Raúl Velázquez Hernández (2017–2018), Ome Tochtli Méndez Ramírez (2018–2024), Sergio Torres Mejía (2024–2025) and Rodolfo Torres Velázquez (2025–present).

• 2025

  Rodolfo Torres Velázquez becomes rector.

• 2024

  Sergio Torres Mejía becomes rector.

• 2020

  UPAV relocates administrative offices to Torre 20/20 and the Rectoría to 'Casa Veracruz' in Xalapa.

• 2018

  Ome Tochtli Méndez Ramírez becomes rector.

• 2017

  Centro de Innovación Académica (CdIA) inaugurated on 7 July; Maribel Sánchez Lara serves as encargada de despacho; Carlos Raúl Velázquez Hernández becomes rector.

• 2015

  Andrés Blancas Portilla becomes rector.

• 2011

  Bachillerato Virtual launched; Law 276 creates UPAV, promulgated on 1 August 2011; Guillermo Héctor Zúñiga Martínez appointed founding rector.

• 2007

  A single-examination certification for self-taught bachillerato knowledge is announced but later suspended and eliminated for lacking SEP-compliant quality control.

• 2006

  Reforms to IVEA's Organic Statute create the Unidad de Educación Media Superior and Unidad de Educación Superior.

• 2005

  IVEA granted authority to provide literacy, primary, secondary, upper-secondary, higher and job-training education to people over 15.

A public, socially oriented university offering accessible, flexible and self-directed learning to the population of Veracruz and beyond.

• Bachillerato Mixto Unitario Virtual

• Bachillerato Virtual

• Carreras Técnicas

• Licenciaturas (cuatrimestrales y semestrales)

• Especialidades

• Maestrías

• Doctorados

• Educación Continua

1. 1Universidad Popular Autónoma de Veracruz — Official Websiteupav.edu.mx
2. 2Universidad Popular Autónoma de Veracruz — Wikipedia (Spanish)es.wikipedia.org
3. 3Universidad Popular Autónoma de Veracruz — Wikidatawikidata.org