Notwithstanding persistent economic, political and security challenges facing Latin America, Fung said Mexico and the wider region had “an opportunity to play an outsized role in talent development, production and services”. “Geopolitical tensions that we are seeing around the world are causing shifts in supply chains and in talent flows,” said Fung, emphasising the global shift towards “de-globalisation” and heightened rivalry for talent in industries such as data, tech, semi-conductors, minerals and AI. However, Fung warned against Latin American destinations emulating education systems in the global north, pointing out, “the starting points are very different”. What’s more, Fung noted specific projects in countries with emerging education systems where the needs of non-traditional learners are driving the development of flexible, future-ready models tied to industry. For instance, while literacy levels across Mexico are approximately 95%, among indigenous populations they are roughly 50%, said Fung.