Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM) (English: Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education), also known as Tecnológico de Monterrey or just Tec, is a secular and coeducational private university based in Monterrey, Mexico, which has grown to include 35 campuses throughout the country. One of only 45 universities in the World to be ranked with 5 QS Stars, it is widely recognized as one of the most prestigious universities in Latin America.Founded in 1943 by Eugenio Garza Sada, a prominent, MIT-educated industrialist, the university has always had close links with the Mexican business elite; as of 2019, it is the 15th university in the world with the highest number of billionaire alumni according to the Times Higher Education and the only university in Latin America to appear in the ranking. ITESM is also known as being the first university to be connected to the Internet in Ibero-America, having the top-ranked business school in the region according to the Economist, and being one of the leaders in patent applications among Mexican universities. The medical school offers the only MD-PhD program available in Mexico, in partnership with the Houston Methodist Hospital.