Universidad del Medio Ambiente (UMA)

What Universidad del Medio Ambiente (UMA) does

Universidad del Medio Ambiente (UMA) is a private Mexican educational institution founded in 2009 and headquartered in Valle de Bravo, Estado de México, operating as a specialized sustainability university serving the Latin American market. The institution delivers a portfolio of 17+ programs across one undergraduate degree (Licenciatura en Emprendimiento y Proyectos Socioambientales), six master's programs (including the Green MBA in socioenvironmental business administration, plus programs in agroecology, sustainable architecture, environmental law, educational innovation, and socioenvironmental projects), three specialization tracks, and seven diploma/workshop programs covering permaculture, circular economy, water management, and related topics. UMA also operates a consulting services vertical (Consultoría UMA), an impact assessment service, the Radio UMA podcast, and the Revista UMANA academic journal.

UMA's core technology is a semi-presencial educational model that combines three intensive in-person workshops per semester (Friday through Monday) at its Valle de Bravo campus — a Pueblo Mágico functioning as a living sustainability laboratory — with virtual sessions, independent activities, and communities of practice between workshops. The pedagogy is project-based, requiring students to develop real socioenvironmental projects in their own professional context from the first semester, with faculty who are themselves active practitioners running their own sustainability ventures. Revenue is generated primarily through tuition fees for multi-semester programs (Green MBA priced at 341,100 MXN, payable in 24 monthly installments), supplemented by diploma/workshop fees, consulting engagements, and impact assessments. Scholarships covering 10-40% of tuition and early-payment discounts (5-12%) are widely deployed to support enrollment. Each program opens one cohort per year, and the GTM motion is sales-led, relying on the website, blog and podcast content, alumni testimonials, and participation in climate conferences (e.g., COP21 preparations with the European Union). Customer segments span mid-career sustainability professionals, entrepreneurs and business leaders, NGO and community organizers, agricultural practitioners, and public-sector policymakers across Mexico and Latin America.

Name

Universidad del Medio Ambiente (UMA)

Legal name

Universidad del Medio Ambiente (UMA)

Website

https://umamexico.com.mx

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Universidad del Medio Ambiente (UMA) is a private Mexican sustainability university founded in 2009 in Valle de Bravo, delivering 17+ programs (undergraduate, master's, specializations, diplomas) via a semi-presencial model for mid-career professionals, entrepreneurs, and changemakers across Latin America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Valle de Bravo

HQ country

Mexico

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Graduate Education (Master's Programs): Revenue from tuition fees for semi-presencial master's programs including Green MBA, Agroecology, Architecture, Environmental Law, Educational Innovation, and Socioenvironmental Projects. Programs span four semesters over two years.
2. Specialty Programs and Diplomas: Revenue from specialty programs (Incidencia en Conflictos Socioambientales, Restauración Ecosistémica, Arquitectura Bioclimática) and diploma/certificate programs for non-degree seekers.
3. Workshops and Short Courses: Revenue from workshops and short courses covering topics like Herbolaria y Biocosmética, Permacultura, Economía Circular, Manejo Integral del Agua, Impacto Ambiental.
4. Consulting Services: UMA offers consulting services for organizations seeking sustainability expertise, utilizing faculty expertise and student involvement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Universidad del Medio Ambiente (UMA) is a private sustainability-focused university founded in 2009 in Valle de Bravo, Mexico, offering undergraduate, master's, specialization, diploma, and workshop programs in socioenvironmental fields (Green MBA, agroecology, sustainable architecture, environmental law, educational innovation). The institution delivers a semi-presencial learning model combining three intensive on-campus workshops per semester with virtual sessions and project-based work in students' own professional contexts, and complements its academic offerings with consulting services and impact assessments for organizations.

Product overview

Universidad del Medio Ambiente (UMA) is an educational institution specializing in sustainability education in Latin America, founded in 2009 in Valle de Bravo, Mexico. The institution offers a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs including one undergraduate degree (Licenciatura en Emprendimiento y Proyectos Socioambientales), six master's programs (Green MBA, Innovación Educativa para la Sostenibilidad, Agroecología y Sistemas Alimentarios Regenerativos, Arquitectura Diseño y Construcción Sostenible, Derecho Ambiental y Política Pública, and Proyectos Socioambientales), three specialization programs (Incidencia en Conflictos Socioambientales, Restauración Ecosistémica, Arquitectura Bioclimática), and seven diploma/workshop programs covering topics such as Herbolaria y Biocosmética, Permacultura, Economía Circular, and Manejo Integral del Agua. The institution also provides consulting services, impact assessment, and publishes Radio UMA audio content and the UMANA journal. UMA operates a semi-presential model with three in-person workshops per semester at its campus, complemented by virtual learning through its Campus Virtual platform and UMASIS admissions system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Licenciatura en Emprendimiento y Proyectos Socioambientales Undergraduate degree program focused on developing entrepreneurial skills and socioenvironmental project management to create sustainable businesses and initiatives. Aimed at individuals seeking foundational credentials in socioenvironmental entrepreneurship.
• Maestría en Administración de Empresas Socioambientales (Green MBA) Interdisciplinary master's program based on project-based learning, strategic systemic thinking, and socioenvironmental business knowledge, integrating sustainability as a strategic business guide. Total program cost of $341,100 Mexican pesos with 24-month payment plans. Aimed at professionals seeking to lead sustainability-integrated businesses.
• Maestría en Innovación Educativa para la Sostenibilidad Master's program focused on developing educational innovations that promote sustainability and environmental consciousness in learning environments. Aimed at educators and instructional designers.
• Maestría en Agroecología y Sistemas Alimentarios Regenerativos Master's program centered on agroecological practices and regenerative food systems for sustainable agriculture and food sovereignty. Aimed at agricultural professionals, farmers, and food-system practitioners.
• Maestría en Arquitectura, Diseño y Construcción Sostenible Master's program covering sustainable architecture, design, and construction with emphasis on bioclimatic and regenerative building practices. Aimed at architects, designers, and construction professionals.
• Maestría en Derecho Ambiental y Política Pública Master's program focused on environmental law, policy development, and public policy frameworks for environmental protection. Aimed at lawyers, policy analysts, and public servants.
• Maestría en Proyectos Socioambientales Master's program focused on designing and managing socioenvironmental projects with measurable social and environmental impact. Aimed at NGO leaders, community organizers, and sustainability project managers.
• Especialidad en Incidencia en Conflictos Socioambientales Specialization program addressing socioenvironmental conflict resolution, advocacy strategies, and community engagement in environmental disputes. Aimed at advocates and conflict-resolution practitioners.
• Especialidad en Restauración Ecosistémica Specialization program focused on ecosystem restoration techniques, ecological monitoring, and regenerative land management practices. Aimed at restoration practitioners and environmental managers.
• Especialidad en Arquitectura Bioclimática Specialization program covering bioclimatic architecture principles, passive design strategies, and climate-responsive building techniques. Aimed at architects and building designers.
• Diplomado en Herbolaria y Biocosmética Workshop/diploma program covering medicinal herb cultivation and natural biocosmetics production for sustainable personal care. Aimed at individuals interested in natural products and personal-care entrepreneurship.
• Diplomado en Cumplimiento Empresarial de la Normatividad Ambiental Workshop/diploma program focused on corporate environmental regulatory compliance and sustainable business practices. Aimed at compliance officers and corporate sustainability managers.
• Diplomado en Permacultura Workshop/diploma program teaching permaculture design principles for sustainable land use and agricultural systems. Aimed at farmers, land designers, and sustainability practitioners.
• Diplomado en Economía Circular Workshop/diploma program covering circular economy principles, waste reduction strategies, and regenerative business models. Aimed at entrepreneurs and corporate sustainability teams.
• Diplomado en Manejo Integral del Agua

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of students starting 4th semester complete graduation within 4-5 months
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• European Union (Delegation in Mexico)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Union invited UMA to host civil society climate change dialogue between Mexico and Central American organizations in preparation for COP21 in Paris. Event brought together 40+ representatives from NGOs and universities across seven countries.
• Manual Vegara (Pireos Power) - Advisory CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManuel Vegara, founder of Pireos Power and Green MBA graduate, serves on the UMA advisory council, contributing strategic direction and connecting university with renewable energy sector opportunities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• EGADE Business School: Tecnológico de Monterrey's business school offering a Green MBA and other sustainability programs. Most direct competitor in the Mexican master's in sustainability market with overlapping target customer segments.
• INCAE Business School: Central American business school with sustainability focus and Latin American reach. Competes in the same sustainability MBA space across LatAm with similar practitioner faculty and applied learning approach.
• EARTH University: Costa Rica-based university focused on agricultural sciences and natural resources with a strong sustainability mission. Similar Latin American context, comparable focus on hands-on sustainability education, and small-cohort model targeting similar student profiles.

Regional players

• Presidio Graduate School: US-based graduate school offering MBA and MPA programs in sustainability and management. Similar small-cohort, mission-driven model in a different geography; represents an alternative for international students seeking sustainability credentials.
• Bard College MBA in Sustainability: US-based MBA program with concentrations in sustainability. Similar focus on values-driven business education and small-cohort model, primarily serving North American students.
• Arizona State University School of Sustainability: First dedicated school of sustainability at a major US research university. Offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in sustainability with a similar interdisciplinary focus, but operates at much larger scale.

Broad incumbents

• Tecnológico de Monterrey: Large Mexican private university with multiple campuses and a broad sustainability curriculum. Competes in the broader Mexican higher education market and offers sustainability programs through EGADE Business School.
• Universidad Anáhuac: Large Mexican private university with sustainability programs and similar private institution structure. Competes in the broader Mexican private higher education market for similar mid-career professional students.
• Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM): Mexico's largest public university with environmental and sustainability programs across multiple faculties. Competes for sustainability-focused students in Mexico at significantly lower price points due to public funding.

Others

• University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership: Global sustainability education provider offering executive education and programs through the University of Cambridge. Represents the global benchmark for sustainability leadership education and could compete for senior international students.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/uma_mexico

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Universidad del Medio Ambiente (UMA)