To promote technological innovation, knowledge and foster in-demand skills among young people, Talent Land 2019 is scheduled from April 22 to 26 at Expo Guadalajara.
Big data, artificial intelligence and Robotics will take center stage, the local media were told at a press conference held at the Governor’s Palace March 26.
“We want to develop and orient youth so that they identify areas of work that have a big future and that they become the talent that companies are going to need in the upcoming years,” said Jalisco Governor Enrique Alfaro, whose administration has contributed 16 million pesos to this year’s event.
With over 30,000 young people expected to participate, the objective of the convention is to promote job development and prepare the forthcoming generation to meet future business demands.
At the same time, Talent Land is expected to attract technological investments to Jalisco, a state that is often referred to as Mexico’s “Silicon Valley.”
Attendees will have ample networking and employment opportunities since presenters are offering around 800 vacancies at their respective tech companies.
Businesses are organized into seven industry groups that include iron, gamer, blockchain, business, developer, creative, and the newest, agriculture.
Iván Millán, general director of Talent Network, said the new “Agro Land” has support from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The official hopes young people recognize the importance of technology and innovation in the agricultural sector.
“We want them to see the field from another perspective,” said Millán.
Prior to the agricultural focus, one of the newest areas of expertise was blockchain, referring to anything involving cryptocurrencies and their economic or governmental use.
Organizers also hope to obtain a few new Guinness Records, such as the largest group of people simultaneously taking a math test led by Youtuber Julio Profe. Additionally, planners expect to hold the biggest artificial intelligence software class with over 1,000 students present.
“We are very excited to reach these record numbers, and we are working hand in hand with the Jalisco Secretary of Education,” explained Millán.
Another novelty will be a “Superpowers” space to teach participants about “soft skills,” such as public speaking, crisis aversion and mastering a second language.
Guadalajara Mayor Ismael del Toro said the city council will participate in conferences and workshops. It also intends to offer 1,600 scholarships to entrepreneurs.
“The commitment is to generate productive chains and industries in technology and give youth a new starting point,” said Ismael del Toro.
Programming is expected to last for an accumulative 1,700 hours throughout the seven thematic areas, in addition to sub-committees for jobs (Talent Jobs), women (Talent Women) and teachers (Talent Education).
There is also going to be a hackathon where young people will debate over solutions for social problems laid out in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
This year, the University of Guadalajara (UdG) may have decreased its budget for Talent Land from four to two million pesos, but the educational institute will still provide scholarships to 2,500 students to attend the event.
“We had a significant budget cut,” said Luis Alejandro León Dávila, UdG’s general administrative coordinator. “However, we are making the effort because the beneficiaries are the young people.”