• The Director General highlighted the contribution of the two CENLEX centers, which, since 1961, have served more than one million users; over 111,000 students have graduated from their programs.
• “To master a language is to master a world where knowledge flourishes,” he stated. The centers currently offer 13 languages, including English, German, and French, among others.
The Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN) is committed to comprehensive education and, as part of this effort, actively encourages its students and the general public to study foreign languages. This strengthens academic preparation and equips learners with better tools to graduate and compete in a global landscape, stated Director General Arturo Reyes Sandoval. He noted that with 61 years of history and more than one million users served, the IPN’s Foreign Language Centers (CENLEX) have become a benchmark for expanding access to knowledge, new cultures, and effective communication by connecting people across borders.
His remarks align with the educational principles set forth by President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo and advanced by Secretary of Public Education Mario Delgado Carrillo, which emphasize the importance of reinforcing language education from a humanistic, critical, and inclusive perspective. Reyes Sandoval explained that CENLEX Zacatenco began in 1964 with four languages (English, German, Russian, and Italian). Today, after 61 years of operation, the center offers instruction in 13 foreign languages. In 1983, the Santo Tomás unit opened with English and French; after 42 years of service, it now offers 11 languages.
He added that more than 111,000 students have graduated from both units since their establishment. The Director General reported that during his administration (2020–2025), 8,474 students have completed studies in English, German, Chinese, Spanish for foreign learners, French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Hindi, Mexican Sign Language, Náhuatl, and Maya—reflecting a comprehensive academic training model with greater linguistic inclusion promoted within the IPN classroom environment.
He emphasized that 309,741 people have been served during this administration and reiterated the importance of studying foreign languages, noting that they are powerful tools for personal and professional growth. “To master a language is to master a world where knowledge flourishes,” he affirmed.
The CENLEX centers also offer workshops aimed at strengthening language skills and preparing students for certification. International certifications available include DELF and DALF (French); CELPE-BRAS (Portuguese); ÖSD, GOETHE-ZERTIFIKAT, and OnSET (German); PLIDA (Italian); and TOEFL, IELTS, and APTIS (English)—all endorsed by leading institutions in the field of language education, with five of these certifications secured during the current administration.
While English has been the most in-demand language among IPN students and external users over the years, interest in Náhuatl, Maya, and Mexican Sign Language continues to grow, creating further opportunities for development and social inclusion.
For more information, visit www.ipn.mx
INSTITUTO POLITÉCNICO NACIONAL
D.R. Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN). Av. Luis Enrique Erro S/N, Unidad Profesional Adolfo López Mateos, Zacatenco, Alcaldía Gustavo A. Madero, C.P. 07738, Ciudad de México. Conmutador: 55 57 29 60 00 / 55 57 29 63 00.
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