COMEXUS +Talento Chihuahua students excel in Eller Generative AI Program

During the month of July, a cohort of students traveled to Tucson from Chihuahua, Mexico to participate in the COMEXUS +Talento Chihuahua Eller Generative AI Group initiative—a four-week residential program hosted by the University of Arizona Eller College of Management. Through a collaboration between Arizona International and the Eller Partnerships Office, this program was designed to introduce students to the technical and ethical aspects of Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI). 

Throughout the program, students were immersed in a rigorous curriculum that combined lectures, lab visits, and practical assignments on large language models (LLMs), prompt engineering, real-world applications of AI across various industries, and exploration of frameworks for ethical AI implementation. Highlights included visits to the Systems and Industrial Engineering Advanced Manufacturing Lab, and a talk with researcher Enrique Noriega from the Machine Learning for Artifical Intelligence Lab (M4AI), reinforcing the hands-on learning that defines this experience. 

“I had the opportunity to explore the gamut of ethical issues with students, including bias, privacy, and environmental concerns associated with nuclear powered datacenters for AI,” said Paul Melendez, University Distinguished Outreach Professor and founder of the Center for Leadership Ethics. “The students proved to be advanced on their technical, social, and philosophical understanding of the ethical considerations associated with AI.”

Hsinchun Chen, Regents Professor and Director of the Eller AI Lab, leads one of the only artificial intelligence laboratories housed within a business school globally, making this program a unique offering for international participants seeking advanced, business-oriented AI training.

“This program reflects the transformative potential of international collaboration in higher education,” said Justin Dutram, assistant vice president for Mexico and Latin American affairs in Arizona International. “By welcoming these talented students and investing in their exposure to emerging technologies, we strengthen our cross-border partnerships and help shape the next generation of AI leaders.”

In addition to academic engagement, students have explored the cultural and natural landscapes of Arizona, including a two-day excursion to Grand Canyon National Park, and local visits to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and the Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium. Participants also enjoyed access to U of A’s vibrant Student Success District, Campus Recreation Center, and world-class residence halls, offering a full collegiate experience.

Funded in part by the U.S. Embassy in Mexico and the State Government of Chihuahua and coordinated by COMEXUS Fulbright-García Robles, the initiative showcases a scalable model for binational education in science and technology, with students selected through a competitive process and responding to a workforce development priority for the State of Chihuahua.

A recognition ceremony celebrating the students’ achievements took place at the end of the program in McClelland Hall, with the State of Chihuahua Secretary for Innovation and Economic Development, Ulises Fernández, the Executive Director of COMEXUS Fulbright-García Robles, Hazel Blackmore, and the Public and Economic Affairs Officer from the U.S. Consulate General in Ciudad Juárez, Matthew B. West attending as guests of honor.