ES
SEK Education Group has appointed Héctor Escamilla as the new rector of Camilo José Cela University (UCJC) to replace Emilio Lora-Tamayo, who finished his term of office this month and who will be named honorary rector.
Escamilla’s appointment will contribute to the ongoing development of the university’s strategic axes of entrepreneurship, technology and digitalization, social engagement and well-being; in addition to its international focus and constant innovation in the pursuit of the best education models, something that SEK Education Group has always aspired to.
Héctor Escamilla has a bachelor’s degree from Tecnológico de Monterrey, a master’s degree from the University of Michigan and a doctorate from Texas A&M University. Escamilla was rector of Tecmilenio University from 2009 to 2020 and vice president of Tecnológico de Monterrey between 2020 and 2022. Additionally, he is a founding member and part of the International Positive Education Network (IPEN) leadership board. He has also completed leadership and strategy programmes at Stanford University and Harvard Business School.
He was rector of Tecmilenio University where he successfully led, for over a decade, the creation of a university whose axis is the life purpose of each student, and which is built around a flexible model that personalises learning experiences and the development of skills for high employability. Tecmilenio is today one of the most innovative universities to teach in Spanish. His role at the helm of this University, and contribution to its growth, makes him one of the most outstanding professionals of the future of higher education. Héctor Escamilla realised his educational ethos, which is student-centred and focusses on creating teacher learning communities, in educational transformation projects.
In his first words to the faculty, students, staff and alumni of the university, Héctor Escamilla stated that he felt honoured “by the great distinction of being named rector of Camilo José Cela University.”
“I come to add to what has already been built. UCJC is distinguished by innovation and student-centred educational entrepreneurship. My objective is for the sum of the strengths of each member of the university’s educational community to focus on developing our students’ skills and competencies,” he said.
Escamilla considers that “UCJC is a great university and a diamond that must continue to be polished. “We have a great opportunity to continue strengthening some axes such as entrepreneurship and social engagement.”
Meanwhile, the president of SEK Education Group, Nieves Segovia, said that Héctor “will contribute decisively to the development of our University, at a time when higher education institutions across the world must reformulate their purpose to respond to their students and the society they serve”.
Nieves Segovia also thanked Emilio Lora-Tamayo for his outstanding work at the head of UCJC over the last four years. Lora-Tamayo will be named honorary rector of UCJC.
