Development of Human Capital and Talent Management

Alberto García Martínez, Undersecretary of Employment and Professional Training at the Government of Guanajuato, began the last conference of the day with the quote: “Good talent will always move freely. It cannot be contained.” García spoke of Guanajuato’s experience and potential as an industrial hub. This state is becoming the business platform of North America for a number of reasons, including its central position in Mexico. The center of Mexico can proudly state that it contains 80% of the Mexican market and 70% of international commerce. Guanajuato has a lot to offer local and international companies, as the state has 5.5 million inhabitants, excellent train connections, and a strong workforce. García mentioned that the state has created a development plan to guide them until 2035, which relies on the strengthening of traditional companies in the state.

García recounted the history of manufacture in the state and highlighted its fast growth and diversification. The state began by manufacturing mainly shoes but now it has branched into many other industries including food production, petrochemistry, agrochemistry, and automotive, among many others. From 2012, the state has invested in the construction of 12 industrial parks to host all foreign companies coming into the country, and these parks are expected to be completed by 2018. Now, the automotive industry is one of the main drivers of the state and companies in this sector are being encouraged to generate value chains and develop high value technologies in Mexico. García also remarked on the development of a new business culture in the state due to the arrival of Japanese and German industries, and highlighted the importance of generating strong alliances with both countries. For example, the state is collaborating with the German government to generate education models to train new professionals.

In order to strengthen human capital in the state, the government is implementing strategies to link universities and the industry, and updating curricula to reflect industry needs. He referred to the dual education model, which is being implemented in collaboration with Germany to transfer technology to Guanajuato. He also mentioned the “Capacitación sin Fronteras” program, which aims to educate well-rounded professionals by offering programs where students undertake six months of study in Mexico and six months abroad, with a recruitment guarantee on their return to Mexico. This program has produced encouraging results as several students have been trained for highly specialized positions, and so far 100% of students undergoing this program have been hired in Mexico.

García capitalized on the importance of “just in time” training, as foreign companies entering Mexico ted to feel like there is a lack of qualified professionals. The state of Guanajuato has promised to fill 14,000 local job vacancies through investment by next year, therefore the state needs to acquire a large number of qualified professionals in a very short time. “Just in time” training provides education focused on a specific company’s needs and it will be tailored for the companies coming into the state. Alongside universities, the state is recruiting college students in their final year for this project. This project will benefit individuals as it will improve their quality of life, and this will also benefit the state by reducing crime, improving social development, and reducing absenteeism. García believes that it is of the utmost importance to align the state’s education system to these needs, since more than 200 companies are coming to Guanajuato in the next few years, which will elevate the city to international standards.

Mexico Talent Forum 2015 provided an excellent platform to share innovative strategies on the attraction and retention of human talent. It also provided networking opportunities for participants to meet potential new clients and partners, and to develop strategic alliances among attendees. All in all, the event was a resounding success, allowing members from the industry, academia, and the government to connect and discuss the development of human talent in Mexico.