Made in Mexico: Why UNAM is more than a university

This month, 58,000 university applicants in Mexico are sitting a retake of their entrance exam, raising questions about where they are competing for admission. The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) stands out as an institution with a 475-year history, a campus built on a lava field, and a significant influence on Mexican public life.

In August 2021, tens of thousands of Mexican teenagers traveled to convention centers in León, Oaxaca, Tijuana, and Mexico City to take the entrance exam, most of which they had already passed. This year marked the first time the test was conducted entirely online with AI-supervised proctoring. Despite freezing enrollment across every degree program, a technical commission recommended that a large portion of the applicant pool retake the exam in person under human supervision.

A university older than the country itself, UNAM was founded by Charles V in 1551 and began classes in 1553. However, its independence was repeatedly threatened; it was closed and reopened multiple times until the 1910s when it officially reopened as the National University of Mexico. The university's original campus, built around a lava field, was completed in 1952 and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.

Its distinctive architecture integrates various elements of design and art, while its murals depict the country's history. UNAM's influence on Mexican society and education is profound, reflecting its status as an institution of national importance.