In September 2026, Cardano participated as an ecosystem sponsor of the UNLOCK University Tour in Puebla, Mexico, in collaboration with UNLOCK Summit, Cripto UNAM, and other Web3 communities.
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Between September 7–9, the initiative brought blockchain education to four higher education institutions through six talks and activations, reaching university audiences in Puebla and Zacatlán.
As part of the initiative, I had the opportunity to deliver a session at the Instituto Tecnológico Superior de la Sierra Norte de Puebla (ITSSNP), introducing students to Cardano, its real-world applications, and the educational opportunities available through Cardano Academy.
From awareness to onboarding
One of our objectives was to encourage students to begin the Cardano Blockchain Certified Associate (CBCA) learning pathway.
Following my session at ITSSNP, eight students registered their interest in receiving scholarships to access the course.
While this was a positive first step, the original target of 25 active learners was not achieved. The scholarship applications are still awaiting institutional follow-up, and those students have not yet been onboarded to Cardano Academy.
What did we learn?
University outreach is about more than organizing talks and introducing blockchain technology.
There is a significant difference between generating awareness, capturing interest, and achieving meaningful educational onboarding.
Institutional coordination, clear responsibilities, and sustained follow-up are essential to bridge that gap.
These lessons are helping shape a more structured approach to university engagement, with an emphasis on turning initial interest into actual participation in the Cardano ecosystem.
What’s next?
I’m continuing conversations with ITSSNP to support the eight interested students and help them begin their learning journey.
I also hope the experience can be useful to other Cardano Ambassadors exploring university partnerships in their regions.
Special thanks to UNLOCK Summit and Cripto UNAM for the collaboration and for bringing Web3 education to university communities in Puebla.
Resources:
For other Ambassadors working with universities: What has helped you turn student interest into actual participation in Cardano educational programs?
Looking forward to exchanging experiences and improving how we approach university onboarding. 