Erick Mita

Educator/Teacher, Marketer

My name is Erick Mita Arancibia, and I currently serve as the Vice chancellor of Universidad Mayor Real y Pontificia de San Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca (USFX). I am an Comercial Engineer with a Doctorate in Educational Sciences, and I’ve also completed graduate studies in Higher Education Didactics, Marketing Management, and Scientific Research Management. My professional journey spans more than 16 years across education, research, and academic leadership including roles as Head of Research for the Commercial Engineering program, Editor of the scientific journal Investigación y Negocios, Director of the Commercial Engineering program, and Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Business Sciences. Since taking on the Vicerrectorship in late 2022, I’ve focused on strengthening academic quality, supporting research initiatives, and expanding accreditation efforts across our university’s programs. Under my leadership, we have advanced curricular redesigns, boosted research output, increased international presence, and helped secure key achievements like the ISO 21001:2018 certification for our postgraduate studies a first for a public university in Bolivia. I remain committed to academic excellence, institutional growth, and community impact, working to position USFX not only as a leading university in Bolivia but as a respected institution throughout Latin America.

I believe education is not only about acquiring knowledge, but about discovering purpose, strengthening character, and developing the skills needed to lead in an ever-changing world. When we invest in education, we invest in opportunity, social mobility, innovation, and hope. My passion lies in building an academic environment where students are challenged intellectually, supported emotionally, and inspired to contribute meaningfully to their communities. Education, when guided by values and excellence, has the power to shape responsible professionals and conscious citizens.

An idea worth spreading is that young people should not only be trained to find a job, but to create meaning, innovation, and solutions for their communities. Higher education must go beyond transmitting knowledge; it must cultivate critical thinking, ethical leadership, emotional resilience, and social responsibility.

Education, Marketing

My TED story began during my early years as a university professor at Universidad Mayor, Real y Pontificia de San Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca. From that stage, I actively supported students in organizing TEDx events, believing that these platforms create powerful spaces for young voices to be heard. We started with TEDx El Guereo, a student-driven initiative that demonstrated the creativity, leadership, and commitment of our youth. More recently, we strengthened that vision with TEDx USFX 2025, consolidating a culture of ideas, dialogue, and innovation within our university. I also had the opportunity to be a speaker at a TEDx event, an experience that allowed me to deeply understand the transformative power of sharing ideas under the philosophy of TED. Standing on that stage showed me how a single idea can inspire, challenge perspectives, and motivate action, especially among young people searching for purpose and direction. Through these experiences, I have come to realize how essential it is for universities to foster initiatives like TEDx. They empower students to think critically, communicate effectively, and believe in the value of their own ideas. More than an event, TEDx becomes a formative experience that strengthens leadership, confidence, and social responsibility. For me, supporting TEDx has never been just about organizing an event, it has been about cultivating a generation capable of transforming society through ideas worth spreading.