*This article was updated on July 5, 2021.
By INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATION | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL
On July 1, the Academy of International Business (AIB) awarded Ignacio De la Vega, Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, Faculty & Internationalization of Tecnológico de Monterrey, as the International Educator of the Year 2021 for his impactful trajectory as a transformative educational leader.
This appointment is awarded annually to academic leaders in business education who promote international business programs through personal initiative, teacher support, and constant educational innovation.
"I am very excited and grateful to receive this important recognition. The AIB is a highly respected, diverse, and multicultural community. This recognition is also for the entire community of colleagues, students, graduates, and directors of Tec de Monterrey, the Undergraduate Business School, and EGADE Business School. It is proof that teamwork and the focus on innovation that is done in the institution is valued at an international level, "said De la Vega.
Due to the pandemic, the AIB deferred the presentation of these awards in 2020. Finally, De la Vega received this distinction in the AIB 2021 Annual Meeting, which was held online.
As merits for this recognition, the AIB highlights De la Vega's outstanding performance and achievements as dean of EGADE Business School and the Undergraduate Business School of Tecnológico de Monterrey between August 2017 and February 2021.
The achievements of De la Vega and his team in implementing an internationalization strategy to increase the global reach, recognition, and development of EGADE Business School and the Business School of Tecnológico de Monterrey stand out.
This includes the launch of Tec's first undergraduate degree program taught entirely in English, the Bachelor in Global Business, and two-year-long postgraduate programs in English, the Full-Time MBA in Innovation & Entrepreneurship, number 1 in Mexico, and Latin America according to the QS Global MBA Rankings 2021, and the Master in Business Management, winner of the 2019 EQUAA International Innovation Award.
Likewise, under his leadership, the launch of a global student attraction campaign was promoted, and the academic offer of double degree and exchange programs with leading academic partners on five continents was expanded. In addition, the Business School and EGADE Business School of the Tecnológico de Monterrey have incorporated more than 200 research professors, most of them with a global profile, during the last three years.
Also noteworthy is EGADE Business School's association with global platforms to offer the first online premium MBA in Latin America; short inclusive leadership online courses; and micromasters in negotiation and leadership, and innovation and entrepreneurship.
Robert Grosse, chair of the AIB Educator of the Year award selection committee, commented on the recipient:
"Ignacio de la Vega exemplifies the kind of leader we would like to have in our schools. At Tec de Monterrey he has actively advanced international business in the curriculum, provides opportunities for students and faculty to get international experience, and himself personifies the international leader with his background in Spain and his experience in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America."
De la Vega's career as an educator spans more than three decades, spanning both the public and private sectors.
Before joining Tecnológico de Monterrey, he served as CEO of Babson Global. This organization integrates the Babson College Global Entrepreneurial Leadership Centers, for which he developed innovative, collaborative research programs and initiatives with a focus on entrepreneurship.
Previously, he was Chief Learning Officer of BBVA at a global level, where he collaborated directly with the president, CEO, and Executive Committee of the Group to transform its corporate training model.
He was president of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), an international observatory that studies entrepreneurship trends globally, which brings together more than 450 researchers and collaborators in 90 countries.
For twenty years, De la Vega served as a teacher and researcher at IE Business School. In this institution, he also directed the International Center for Entrepreneurship and Development of Business Projects.
The AIB has awarded the International Educator of the Year Award since 1984. Among the recipients were Edward A. Snyder, Dean of the Yale School of Management at Yale University, in 2018.