The Beginnings

In January 1995, the Mónica Herrera School of Communication opened its doors, bringing to life a project developed by a group of marketing and communications entrepreneurs. Their goal was to establish a higher education institution that would train the professionals their industries needed. At the time, most leadership positions in these fields were occupied by foreign professionals. The objective was to change this reality by equipping the country with professionals capable of bringing creative thinking into organizations.

The project was developed with the guidance of Mónica Herrera C., a Chilean communicator and educator who had previously founded communication schools in Chile (1980) and Ecuador (1992).

The “Mónica Herrera” Philosophy

Years before competency-based education became a global trend, Mónica Herrera had already developed an educational model based on the integration of being, doing, knowing, and coexisting. She believed that the combination of these pillars was fundamental in preparing individuals who could excel in diverse fields and adapt to an evolving world.

For Mónica Herrera, "The school's emphasis is not on preparing individuals for standard roles, static situations, a single moment in life, a specific profession, or a conventional career path."

Her vision shaped an educational approach that prioritizes strategic thinking, creativity, and the ability to respond to change, values that remain at the core of the institution today.

Institutional evolution

In 2001, the school graduated its first class in Social Communication, a program that was later renamed Integrated Marketing Communications.

A key milestone in the institution’s development was the need to certify the quality of its processes. In 2005, this effort led to the school obtaining accreditation from the Commission for Higher Education Quality Accreditation, under the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology of El Salvador. Since then, the school has undergone three reaccreditation processes, consistently demonstrating institutional growth and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Over the following years, the school continued to evolve, launching:

The Strategic Design undergraduate program in 2006, expanding its focus on innovation and problem-solving.
The Executive Education division in 2009, further strengthening its role in professional development and business training.

In 2016, the Communication and Digital Strategy undergraduate program was introduced to align with emerging trends in the creative industries. That same year, the institution developed a structured model for training and assessing transversal competencies, ensuring that students graduate with critical thinking, innovation, problem-solving, effective communication, and teamwork skills.

By 2023, this model enabled graduates to receive a certification recognizing their proficiency in these five key areas—a pioneering initiative in the country and the region. This achievement reflects one of Mónica Herrera’s central aspirations: education for life.

A new era

At the end of 2023, as the school approached its 30th anniversary, an internal reflection process was conducted to assess its most significant achievements.

One of the main conclusions was that the school had successfully fulfilled its founding mission: to train professionals capable of leading in the advertising and marketing communications industries. Over the years, it became evident that Mónicos (graduates of the school) had not only occupied these professional spaces but had also successfully responded to broader market demands, proving their adaptability and strategic creativity.

Recognizing this evolution, it became clear that the Mónica Herrera School of Communication had grown beyond being just a communication school. As a result, in January 2024, the institution officially changed its name to Escuela Mónica Herrera.

Additionally, when analyzing what defines and distinguishes its graduates in the professional world, the conclusion was clear: their commitment to creativity and their ability to approach challenges from a strategic perspective. To reflect this unique identity, the institution adopted the tagline:

“School of Strategic Creativity”, effectively capturing the differentiating Mónico DNA.

And so, a new chapter begins—one that will undoubtedly continue to shape the lives of those who are part of our educational community.