The autonomy of the UNAM and the foundationof the National Polytechnic Institute, two expressionsof the ideological battle for education in Mexico

Abstract

In 1932 the National Polytechnic Institute was founded after the autonomy granted to the National University of Mexico, led by students and professors in 1929, in a context of a revolutionary process that ousted a useless regime and established a modernizing government that was receptive to the working-class’s needs. This new government had the intention of incorporating university students to its new projects. Nonetheless, the reluctance to participate shown by the newly-autonomous National University led to the creation of a technical institution that committed to its ideals. This part of history needs the rescuing of facts and actors, brought to their corresponding place, in order to avoid lacks and disorder.