The University of Florida recently joined leaders from across North America at the 2025 North Capital Forum in Mexico City and participated in a delegation to Mexico organized through the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities' (APLU) Commission on International Initiatives.
Guided by the vision of Marta Wayne, Dean of UF's International Center, the visit advanced UF's mission to expand global engagement and build partnerships across North America that drive innovation, research, and education across borders.
At the North Capital Forum, participants explored new opportunities to strengthen academic, business, and governmental cooperation across Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. Current and former ambassadors, senior government officials, CEOs, and other thought leaders from all three countries shared perspectives on cross-border trade, innovation, sustainability, and workforce development. Through plenary sessions and breakout discussions, delegates examined strategies to better align policy, research, and education across sectors.
Michael Kung, the UF International Center's Director of Global Research Engagement, represented the university as part of the APLU delegation. The delegation met with key Mexican partners, including the National Association of Universities and Higher Education Institutions, the Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Confederation of National Chambers of Commerce (CONCANACO), the Consejo Coordinador Empresarial, COPARMEX, and the Ministry of Public Education. Conversations focused on regional economic development, policy collaboration, and shared priorities in higher education and workforce development.
The delegation returned with a deeper understanding of Mexico's priorities and innovative ideas for future collaboration, reaffirming UF's commitment to international research, student and faculty mobility, and the global engagement.
