Ibero University Coming to Mérida Soon

Mérida, Yucatán — With the opening of its new campus, the IBERO Preparatory School has reinforced its presence in southeastern Mexico and announced the projection of an educational ecosystem looking toward the future. The inauguration ceremony was attended by key educational and governmental figures.

The new campus is located at Calle 37-A No. 301, Colonia San Ramón Norte. The inaugural event was attended by Mario Ernesto Patrón Sánchez, representative of the Universidad Iberoamericana and leader of the Ibero-Mérida project; Dr. Geovanna Campos Vázquez, Secretary of Sciences, Humanities, Technology and Innovation for the Yucatán state government; Mérida Mayor Cecilia Patrón Laviada; Lic. Jorge Ermilo Barrera Novelo, Secretary of Economic Development and Labor for the Yucatán state government, representing the Governor; Mtra. Anna Karina Cruz López, president of the board of directors of Loyola Comunidad Educativa; and the school's director, Lic. Ana María Laviada Hernández.

A New Chapter for Jesuit Education

Director Ana María Laviada Hernández recalled the Jesuit order's historical trajectory in the region and anticipated that the Universidad Iberoamericana would soon begin operations in the capital city, stating, "the debt will be settled."

The new campus begins operations with seven classrooms, a laboratory, a library, and a faculty lounge. It currently serves 102 students under a model of comprehensive formation that incorporates guided reflection, Ignatian projects, camps, and social experiences.

Dr. Geovanna Campos emphasized the school's mission, expressing, "This community forms women and men for others; a seed planted 20 years ago that continues to grow today."

Mérida: A City of Learning

Mérida Mayor Cecilia Patrón Laviada underscored that Mérida is recognized as a "City of Learning" by UNESCO. She celebrated the school's focus on situated learning through its "compassionate week," "work week," and "rural week," which connect young people with the social and economic realities of their environment.

Forming Leaders for the World

For Mario Ernesto Patrón Sánchez, the educational bet of IBERO combines academic excellence with social relevance. "We do not form the best in the world, we form the best for the world… It is a day of celebration," he stated.

He added that the university project is undergoing a diagnostic and evaluative stage, with a horizon that integrates sports, art, culture, and spiritual dimension, forming young people who are caretakers of the environment, builders of peace, and sensitive to inequality.

A Campus Open to the Community

The new space is described as having the same spirit as the institution's mission. The opening is not merely a physical change but consolidates a project expanding in the southeast with an Ignatian stamp—justice, solidarity, discernment, service, and the search for truth—as its compass.

The campus is proposed as a meeting point with the Mérida community, open to cultural, social, and academic projects that respond to local and global challenges. The preparatory school reaffirms a humanistic, critical, and socially responsible formation, with methodologies and evaluation centered on meaningful learning. The goal is to form leadership with a global vision and local roots to transform their environment for the common good.

The space favors collaborative models that integrate technology and experiences anchored in reality. The formative itinerary is nourished by five centuries of Jesuit tradition.

Student Voices and Inaugural Ceremonies

In a student address, Isabella Becker and Rodrigo Trava highlighted the value of community life and of experiences that "open one's eyes to reality."

As a symbol of identity and the future, students buried a time capsule on the new grounds. The presidium, formed by school administrators and representatives from the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City, as well as representatives from the state and municipal government and part of the student body, cut the inaugural ribbon. They subsequently toured the facilities, which feature air-conditioned, spacious classrooms with lockers, designed to provide students with a secure, tranquil education free from distractions for improved educational quality.

Admissions and Information

Admission is conducted through an exam and an interview, with close psychopedagogical accompaniment. For more information, the public can consult the website www.prepaiberomerida.edu.mx or follow the school on its social media channels on Facebook and Instagram at @PrepaIberoMerida.