Quintana Roo University Joins EU-Funded Project to Boost Indigenous Social Entrepreneurship

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — The Autonomous University of Quintana Roo (UQRoo) has formally joined EmpSOCIAL, a three-year initiative funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ program that brings together universities from Europe and Latin America for academic collaboration.

The project aims to strengthen university instructors’ capabilities and support social entrepreneurship projects led by indigenous students. Through an interdisciplinary approach, it promotes educational innovation and international cooperation, helping young people develop ideas that address their communities’ real needs.

The international partnership launched recently in Quito, Ecuador, during the “First International Meeting: EmpSOCIAL Project: Training in Social Entrepreneurship for Indigenous University Youth.” UQRoo representatives from the Business Entrepreneurship Center (CEN) participated, working with other universities to define the educational model’s action lines for the coming years.

EmpSOCIAL proposes an educational model combining research, social innovation, and teacher training to guide students in creating and strengthening sustainable social enterprises that respect their cultures. The goal is for projects to have not only economic impact but also social and community benefits.

For UQRoo, this integration represents a strategic opportunity to enhance institutional capacities, generate applied knowledge, and expand the social reach of its academic work. The university says this participation reaffirms its commitment to social responsibility, community engagement, and building collective solutions to complex problems, positioning it as a public institution with global vision and local commitment.