How do we turn our young talent into one of the island’s greatest competitive advantages?
A Column By Agustín González Castelló, Vice President of Innovation and Student Affairs, Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico
The question above is one that Puerto Rico can no longer postpone. The question is urgent. Puerto Rico’s population was estimated at 3.18 million in 2025, representing a 3.1% decline from its 2020 census base. The island also continues to face demographic challenges associated with population decline, migration, and an aging population.
In this context, every university student represents much more than an enrollment number, a student ID, or a future graduate. That student represents talent, productive capacity, innovation, and a potential answer to Puerto Rico’s economic needs.
That is why we must change the way we talk about higher education.
Universities cannot limit themselves to preparing students to earn a degree. We must prepare them to create value.
Employability begins long before graduation. It begins when students can participate in a real-world project, develop a digital competency, work with an industry partner, solve an actual business problem, build a professional network, or take on leadership responsibilities.
The relationship between universities and businesses cannot be limited to recruiting students when they are about to graduate. We need to ensure that academic programs meet the needs of the job market and that businesses actively participate in preparing our students for the workforce.
That means expanding internships, cooperative education, industry projects, mentoring, certifications, and microcredentials. It means systematically listening to employers to understand the skills they need and using that information to strengthen academic programs.
We also need to recognize that our students are entering a job market that is changing rapidly due to artificial intelligence, automation, and the digital economy. Technical skills remain essential, but we must also help our students develop critical thinking, communication, leadership, and the ability to adapt and continue learning throughout their careers.
Puerto Rico needs more than graduates. It needs professionals who are prepared to address challenges, identify opportunities, and develop solutions that contribute to the country’s growth. And it needs to create the conditions that encourage that talent to build its future here.
Universities have a responsibility that goes beyond the classroom. We play an important role in developing the talent Puerto Rico needs. The experiences we provide, the partnerships we establish with businesses, and the projects we develop can open doors to professional opportunities and encourage innovation. When we help young people build their careers here in Puerto Rico, we are also investing in the island’s economic future.
The conversation, therefore, should go beyond how many students we enroll. We must ask a more consequential question: How many students are we preparing to contribute, innovate, create businesses, and lead?
Puerto Rico’s economic future will depend, to a large extent, on how well we prepare our students to develop their skills, create new ideas, and take advantage of opportunities to grow professionally and contribute to the island’s economy.
The student is not simply the recipient of an education. The student is the talent that will drive our economy tomorrow. The responsibility of universities, industry, and the broader community is to ensure that this talent is prepared to do so here, with the skills, opportunities, and vision necessary to build the Puerto Rico we want.
