When Universidad Panamericana student Eduardo Aranda Goyos arrived at Notre Dame last year to participate in the ESTEEM graduate program, he was continuing a journey he began years earlier, a journey that was born out of a growing alliance between two institutions that believe ethical and innovative solutions to solving problems matter.

Universidad Panamericana (UP), founded in 1967 in Mexico City, is a private Catholic university dedicated to forming leaders through academic excellence and Christian humanism. Recognized as the second-best private university in Mexico, UP has established itself as one of the country's most prestigious higher education institutions. UP emphasizes the integration of rigorous education with moral formation, preparing students to contribute meaningfully to society.

The partnership between Notre Dame and Universidad Panamericana emerged from a natural alignment of institutional values and educational philosophies. This shared foundation led to collaborations across the humanities, philosophy, law, and student exchanges. Faculty partnerships include joint research projects, academic visits, workshops, and scholarly collaboration. Student mobility is also an important part of this alliance. These partnerships reflect both institutions' belief that true education must cultivate intellectual curiosity and moral imagination, educating people who understand that the most meaningful solutions arise when ethical principles and a genuine concern for human wellbeing guide technical expertise.

One notable success story of this partnership is the development of the dual degree between the College of Engineering at UP and the ESTEEM program at ND. It exemplifies both institutions' commitment to preparing students to tackle complex global challenges through an integrated approach of innovation, entrepreneurship, and social responsibility.

Eduardo’s story illustrates the impact of this partnership: As an industrial engineering and innovation management student at UP, he spent a semester doing entrepreneurial work at UP’s Xponential Lab. This lab provided an intensive learning experience focused on incubating ideas and transforming them into technological innovations with a social impact. “I learned a lot about entrepreneurship,” Eduardo remarks, primarily, that it’s about “knowing and falling in love with the problem rather than the solution.”

In ESTEEM, Eduardo found the same sentiment reflected. He was first introduced to the graduate program when ESTEEM Assistant Teaching Professor Germán Estrada visited UP’s campus and led a workshop showcasing the program’s potential. “It seemed like a good synergy, ” Eduardo recalls. After having an additional conversation with David Murphy, executive director of ESTEEM, his mind was made up: he wanted to join the ESTEEM program.

“Eduardo's journey from Universidad Panamericana to Notre Dame's ESTEEM Graduate Program showcases the incredible potential of our partnership. His entrepreneurial background and solid education made him a standout addition to the Class of 2025, bringing fresh perspectives that enriched both classroom discussions and our broader community,” Germán shares. “This partnership opens doors for exceptional UP graduates to join Notre Dame's innovation ecosystem while bringing valuable diverse perspectives to our program."

Despite Notre Dame’s physical campus being so different from UP’s, Eduardo found an important similarity in how the two approach entrepreneurship and innovation. “It’s the values they share—the force for good,” he explains. “It isn’t just about, in the case of business, generating revenue and trying to make a company profitable. [It’s about] creating something that will benefit society or your community.”

Because this sense of purpose was embedded in both the Xponential Lab and the ESTEEM program, Eduardo’s time at Notre Dame has been a natural continuation of the studies he’d been pursuing at UP.

While he appreciates what’s familiar about the learning environments, he also notes what’s unique to the ESTEEM program. “In my cohort, we’re 54% international,” he shares. “It’s been an incredible adventure to sit down and work with someone who has different ideas from you, that has a different perspective than you. It’s really insightful and enriching because I’ve learned from them, and I hope that they’ve learned from me.”

This spring, Eduardo graduated with a master’s from both UP and Notre Dame. Looking back, he’s already confident that the sacrifice was well worth the reward. “If I can tell something to Eduardo a year ago that was applying to ESTEEM, I would tell him, ‘Hey, this is a great path, it’s going to cost a lot of effort, sweat, and tears, but at the end, I will tell you that it was worth it. The whole year was worth it.’”

For José Mauricio Pardo Benito, director of the graduate school of engineering at UP and longtime supporter of the UP-ND partnership, that impact is exactly the point. He shares, “At Universidad Panamericana, we firmly believe that international experiences can transform professional careers, as they allow students to develop a global perspective and expand their professional network. We are very pleased to witness this impact through Eduardo’s journey in the dual degree program. His experience has been truly inspiring for other students, who are already planning to apply to this dual degree program.”

Strong partnerships foster impactful experiences. Eduardo’s story exemplifies how they are central to expanding students’ opportunities and growth. In a world that requires more ethical, thoughtful, and innovative leaders, partnerships that are rooted in purpose and shared values are not just valuable—they are essential.

Originally published by Jessie Carson at mexico.nd.edu on June 17, 2025.