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Instituto Politécnico Nacional facts for kids

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National Polytechnic Institute
Instituto Politécnico Nacional
A cogwheel. On its right, the stylized form of a building. On its center, a scale in balance and a  flask surrounded by a snake. On its top, the acronym "IPN".
Official Seal
Motto La Técnica al Servicio de la Patria
Motto in English
The Technique at the Service of the Fatherland
Type Public
Established 1 January 1936
Founder Juan de Dios Bátiz Paredes [es] and Lázaro Cárdenas del Río
Academic affiliations
AMECYD, ANUIES, AUIP, CLARA, COMEPO, CUDI, ECOES, OUI, UDUAL, Universia
Director Arturo Reyes Sandoval
Academic staff
16,445 (as of 2022)
Administrative staff
9,144 (as of 2022)
Students 216,274 (as of 2022)
Undergraduates 135,558 (as of 2022)
Postgraduates 6,282 (as of 2022)
Other students
74,434 (high school) (as of 2022)
Location ,
Mexico

19°30′02″N 99°08′23″W / 19.50056°N 99.13972°W / 19.50056; -99.13972
Campus Several across Mexico, mostly urban
Colors Maroon and white
         
Nickname Burros Blancos
Sporting affiliations
ONEFA Central Conference
Mascot White donkey

The National Polytechnic Institute (Spanish: Instituto Politécnico Nacional), often called IPN, is one of the largest public universities in Mexico. It teaches many students, from high school to advanced university levels. The IPN is known for its strong programs in technical fields and engineering.

It was started on January 1, 1936, by the Mexican President Lázaro Cárdenas. The main campus, called 'Unidad Profesional Adolfo López Mateos' or 'Zacatenco', is in northern Mexico City. It covers a huge area, about 530 acres. The IPN has many schools and research centers across 22 states in Mexico.

History of the IPN

IPN Adolfo Lopez Mateos
Marquee at the main entrance of the Adolfo López Mateos campus

The National Polytechnic Institute began on January 1, 1936. It was founded by President Lázaro Cárdenas. The first buildings were on land that used to be a large estate. This estate was first owned by the Spanish conqueror Hernán Cortés in the 1500s. The Mexican government later gave this land to the IPN.

Important people like astronomer Luis Enrique Erro and former revolutionary Juan de Dios Bátiz Paredes helped start the institute. In 1958, building began on the main campus, Zacatenco. The first four buildings opened in 1959. These buildings were for engineering and architecture students.

How the IPN is Organized

Entrada IPN
IPN entrance

The IPN has many different parts, called academic units. These include:

  • 18 vocational high schools, which are like technical high schools.
  • 26 university colleges.
  • 20 centers for scientific and technical research.
  • Many other units for learning support and new ideas.

Most of these schools are in Mexico City. However, the IPN also has facilities in 22 other states across Mexico. A special part of the IPN, called CINVESTAV, is very well-known around the world. It has a lot of freedom in its studies and budget.

The President of Mexico chooses the main leader of the IPN, called the director-general. Since December 2020, Arturo Reyes Sandoval has been the director-general. The IPN also runs 'Canal Once' ('Channel Eleven'). This is the oldest public TV channel in Latin America. It shows cultural, scientific, and fun programs.

What You Can Study at IPN

EDIFICIO DE LA UNIDAD POLITECNICA PARA EL DESARROLLO Y LA COMPETIVIDAD EMPRESARIAL
One of the schools of the National Polytechnic Institute specializing in business studies.

The IPN offers many different study programs.

  • It has 80 undergraduate programs. These usually take four or five years to complete. When you finish, you earn a bachelor's degree.
  • It also has 135 postgraduate programs. These are for students who want to study even more after their first degree. You can earn master's degrees or doctorate degrees.

The IPN also has special high schools called 'Centros de Estudios Científicos y Tecnológicos' (C.E.C. y T.). Most of these are in Greater Mexico City. After finishing these schools, students get a technician degree. The institute offers 78 different technical careers at this level.

Sports and Athletics

The IPN has 27 different sports teams. Students can join teams for sports like:

The university has a big sports rivalry with the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Their football teams, the "Pumas Dorados" and the IPN's "Burros Blancos," have very exciting games.

Notable People from IPN

Many talented people have studied or taught at the National Polytechnic Institute.

Scientists and Technologists

González camarena guillermo ing, EN SU DESPACHO
Guillermo González Camarena
  • Guillermo González Camarena: He was a pioneer in television. He invented an early system for color television.
  • Jerzy Rzedowski: A plant scientist who studied plants in tropical areas.
  • Esther Orozco: A biology researcher. She won awards for her work on a disease called amoebiasis.
  • Evangelina Villegas: A biochemist who won the World Food Prize. Her work with corn helped create a new type of corn with better protein.
  • Pablo Rudomín: A neuroscientist who won the Prince of Asturias Award.
  • Gilberto Calvillo Vives: He was the president of the United Nations' Statistics Commission.
  • Ruth Rivera Marin: An architect. She was the first woman to study architecture at the College of Engineering and Architecture.
  • Constantino Reyes-Valerio: A chemist and art historian. He found the recipe for a special blue color used by the Maya people.
  • Raúl Rojas: A professor of computer science and math. He is known for his work on artificial neural networks.

Politicians

EDIFICIOCHIDO ESIME Azcapotzalco
Azcapotzalco
Centro Cultural Jaime Torres Bodet (el queso)
Cultural center Jaime Torres Bodet
  • Ernesto Zedillo: He was the President of Mexico from 1994 to 2000.
  • Josefina Vázquez Mota: She used to be the Secretary of Education in Mexico.
  • Reyes Tamez: He was also the Secretary of Education during the Fox administration.
  • Victor Bravo Ahuja: He was the Secretary of Education during the Echeverría administration.
  • Eugenio Méndez Docurro: He was the Secretary of Communications and Transportation.
  • Héctor Mayagoitia Domínguez: He was the Governor of Durango state.
  • Miguel Borge Martín: He was the Governor of Quintana Roo state.
  • Roberto Kobeh González: He was the President of the ICAO Council, an international aviation group.

Notable Teachers

  • Alexander Balankin: A scientist who won the UNESCO Science Prize for his work on fractal mechanics.
  • Heberto Castillo: An inventor and founder of several political parties.
  • Juan O'Gorman: A famous architect and painter.
  • Arturo Rosenblueth: A doctor and researcher known for his work in physiology.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Instituto Politécnico Nacional para niños

  • National Polytechnic Institute College of Engineering and Physical-Mathematic Sciences
  • National Polytechnic Institute College of Biomedical Sciences
  • National Polytechnic Institute College of Social and Administrative Sciences
  • National Polytechnic Institute College of Interdisciplinary Studies
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