According to a report by ANUIES, Guanajuato ranks among the seven states with the most women studying STEM careers In classrooms, laboratories and
According to a report by ANUIES, Guanajuato ranks among the seven states with the most women studying STEM careers
In classrooms, laboratories and education communities, thousands of women drive learning and social change
Guanajuato/Gto News
In Guanajuato, enrollment of women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields has grown by nearly 71% in the last decade, reflecting the growing interest of young women in joining fields that are strategic for scientific and technological development and innovation.
The number of students increased from:
- 12,761 in the 2014–2015 academic year
- To 21,787 in 2024–2025
- During the 2023–2024 academic year, university enrollment in the state reached 233,684 students
- 125,850 are women (53.8%)
- An 88% increase (58,079 more women) compared to the 2013–2014 academic year, when women already represented 50% of the student body
- Women represent 64% of the teaching staff
- 51% of the student enrollment
According to data from ANUIES for the 2024-2025 cycle, Guanajuato remains among the seven states in the country with the highest female enrollment in STEM higher education programs.
The People’s Government recognizes the contribution of nearly 61,000 teachers and 863,000 students who are active members of the educational community. Their work not only promotes learning but also strengthens values, creates opportunities, and contributes to the transformation of society.
Female leadership is also reflected in graduation rates. In just over a decade, the total number of higher education graduates increased from 13,290 in the 2013–2014 academic year to more than 23,000 in 2023–2024, representing an increase of nearly 75%. Additionally, the number of female graduates rose from 12,863 to 23,006, meaning almost 10,000 more professionals who are now contributing their talent to the development of Guanajuato. Education in Guanajuato has a woman’s face.
Science with social impact
Among the stories that illustrate this progress, the story of Doctor Michelle Farfan Gutierrez stands out, a scientist, researcher and science communicator who has dedicated her work to protect ecosystems and bring science closer to society.
A biologist by the Autonomous Metropolitan University, with a master’s degree in Integrated Landscape Management and a doctorate in Geography by UNAM, she is currently a full-time professor-researcher in the Department of Geomatic and Hydraulic Engineering of the Engineering Division of the University of Guanajuato.
Her research focuses on the monitoring and spatial modeling of forest fires and deforestation, work that led her to co-create IGNIS, a citizen-based fire reporting app. She also founded the Los Chuines volunteer brigade, a group that actively participates in fighting forest fires.
A vocation that transforms lives
But education isn’t only built in laboratories or research centers. It’s also woven into the daily interactions with students, in classrooms where a word of encouragement can change the course of a life.
This is demonstrated by the story of teacher Josefina Tapia Velazquez, who has dedicated her life to teaching in Guanajuato.
A mother, professional, and teacher by vocation, she began her career in the classroom, guiding children in their early learning.
Over time, her path led her to work at USAER, where she worked students facing various learning challenges. For her, one of the most rewarding moments of her career is seeing a child learn to read for the first time, understand a text, or make progress in their academic development.
Stories like hers reflect the silent, but profound, impact of thousands of women teachers who every day make education a tool for transformation.
Beyond the numbers, it is stories of talent, perseverance, and commitment that continue to shape the present and future of education in Guanajuato.
Because when a woman gains access to knowledge, she not only transforms her own life: she paves the way for many more.
En Español:
COMMENTS