Author: mario de leon

VI Biennial Research and Postgraduate Meeting

Central America, November 15, 2023

Today has begun the VI Biennial Research and Postgraduate Meeting of Central America and the Caribbean, based in Nicaragua by the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua, Managua (UNAN-Managua), as part of the actions of the Regional System Central American and Caribbean Research and Postgraduate Program (SIRCIP). The purpose of the event is to contribute to the achievement of the strategic objectives included in Program 2 of research, science, technology and innovation for regional integration and development, contained in the Fifth Plan for the Regional Integration of Higher Education in Central America and the Republic Dominican, (PIRESC V).

To begin the activity, Luis Alfredo Lobato Blanco, general vice-rector of UNAN-Managua, expressed: "We are sure that in this VI Biennial Meeting, priority research topics established by the CSUCA will be addressed, thus constituting mechanisms of articulation between the member universities. for the dissemination of the research work of professors, researchers and graduate students?

 For his part, Carlos Alvarado Cerezo, general secretary of CSUCA, mentioned: "We must promote, generate and disseminate knowledge through research and provide the appropriate technical skills that respond to the needs that today's society demands; it has been proven that education is necessary. to achieve better levels of social well-being and economic growth?

The biennial meeting aims to promote the exchange of experiences in research with topics of regional interest of an inter, multi and transdisciplinary nature between researchers, teachers and postgraduate students. And it will be developed through multiple virtual rooms, within which topics of regional importance are addressed such as climate change, territoriality and environmental management; technologies, innovation and renewable energies; public health, food security, chronic and infectious diseases; social development, population, social inclusion, education, interculturality and democracy; economic growth, productivity, competitiveness and sustainable development; as well as digital transformation, automation, artificial intelligence and data science.

The event will last 3 days, if you are interested in being part of the development, we invite you to visit the official Facebook pages of CSUCA and UNAN Managua, to be able to follow up on the VI Biennial Research and Postgraduate Meeting of Central America and El Caribbean.

Links: https://www.facebook.com/csuca Y https://www.facebook.com/UNAN.Managua

PROJECT FOLLOW-UP MEETING: CSUCA-IDRC; SENACYT-CDS-IDRC

Central America, November 6, 2023

With the purpose of supporting collaborative research in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), today a follow-up meeting was held on the projects "Strengthening inclusive science and innovation systems in Latin America through a collaborative research network?" , led by the Central American Higher University Council (CSUCA) and ?Central American Policy for open CTI and mechanisms to measure its impact on society? led by the National Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation (SENACYT) of Panama and the City of Knowledge Foundation of Panama (CDS), both streams financed by the International Development Research Center -IDRC- of Canada.

Both projects are executed in coordination with the National Science Councils of the countries of the region and support capacity-building activities that allow the Councils and regional science coordination bodies to effectively fulfill their mandates and improve national systems. and regional science, technology and research (CTI).

The activity was inaugurated by Carlos Alvarado Cerezo, Secretary General of CSUCA, who pointed out: "These projects strengthen the region in research and innovation issues, with a gender focus, this being a fundamental issue that must be implemented in the development of each one." of the proyects?.

The meeting included the presentation of the status of both projects, by their coordinators Carlos Aguirre and Yen Caballero, as well as the presentation of the study on inclusive innovation with gender equity by Kemly Camacho, consultant of the project led by CSUCA.

It should be noted that on the part of the CSUCA-IDRC project, in February 2023, the public call for the presentation of project proposals was enabled, a call in which 73 proposals were received, 16 of which were selected for execution, which will have an execution duration of 22 months, with said designers as the main guests for the development of this meeting.  

It should be noted that the 16 projects to be developed are designed under the following thematic axes:

·         Territoriality, risk and local development,

·         Economic growth, productivity, competitiveness and sustainable development,

·         Digital transformation, automation, artificial intelligence and

·         Data science, and climate change and environmental management.

With the purpose of strengthening the innovation-inclusion nexus in the Central American region, in its two complementary aspects: Innovation for inclusion when the focus is on the results of the process; and inclusive innovation when it refers to a participatory process through which innovation emerges.

Development of the CXXI Ordinary Session of CSUCA

On October 9 and 10, the CXXI ordinary session of the Central American Higher University Council took place, held in a hybrid manner with in-person attendance at the Specialized University of the Americas -UDELAS- in Panama.

The session began with words from Eduardo Flores, Rector of the University of Panama and President of CSUCA, who thanked the members of the council who participated in person, with the opportunity to visit Panama. For his part, Juan Bosco Bernal, Rector of UDELAS, expressed his gratitude for allowing the ordinary session to take place in the facilities of the university he represents, being the first occasion in which they can host.

Carlos Alvarado, Secretary General of CSUCA, thanked all the members of the council who participated in person and virtually. Starting the session with the representation of 30 members, the quorum was validated and the agenda was approved.

After the reading and approval of the minutes of the CXX ordinary session, the report of the CSUCA Presidency was presented, who reported on the opportunity for a new Doctorate at the University of Panama, making it available to the university community of the University. region. Through the presentation of the report of the General Secretariat of CSUCA, a project that has the support of the International Development Research Center of Canada -IDRC- with a duration of 5 years was approved, at the same time, an agreement was reported with the National Interuniversity Council of Argentina (CIN of Argentina), which aims to facilitate access to academic, scientific, technological and cultural services to teachers, graduates, students and technical or administrative staff of CSUCA member universities, as well as as an agreement with the Coordination of the Training of Higher Level Personnel of Brazil (CAPES), with the opportunity for full scholarships for master's and doctoral degrees in Brazil, also reported on the progress in carrying out a project that is being promoted from the General Secretariat with the support of the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB) and the International Institute for Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (IESALC) regarding the implementation of the Supplement to the Higher Education Degree, a proposal that was unanimously approved by the honorable Council.

Another important point that was made known during the session was the report on the Central American University Games -JUDUCA- which were held in July at the University of El Salvador, through Jorge Cortez, president of CONREVE. . For his part, Juan Rosa Quintanilla, Administrative Vice Chancellor of the University of El Salvador, announced the progress on the creation of the SICA plaza, which has a physical space at the University of El Salvador, with the representation of a character who represent higher education in each SICA member country, through a bust.

Regarding the representation of the Central American Council for Accreditation of Higher Education -CCA-, after the unfortunate death of Rutilia Calderón, who represented the CSUCA before said body, during the CXXI ordinary session of CSUCA, he has been elected by acclamation Juan Bosco Bernal, Rector of UDELAS, as representative of CSUCA before said Council.

Within the development of said ordinary session, starting on October 10, it was announced that during the year 2024 the Technological University of Panama -UTP- will be the headquarters for the FICCUA Festival; while Juan Bosco Bernal, Rector of UDELAS gave a presentation on the history and advances of said university. Likewise, Juan Carlos Martínez, president of SIREICU, made a proposal for a contest by the Regional University Information and Communication System, which was unanimously approved by the Council.

For her part, Arianna Becerril, executive director of Redalyc, gave a presentation on the advances of open science and publishing as a heritage of humanity, as a prelude to reading the proposed CSUCA declaration on Open Science, which was presented by Jorge Herrera Murillo as former president of SIRCIP, it was later approved unanimously by the Council.

To conclude the ordinary session, the president of the UNACHI student federation, Walter Batista, requested support from the authorities so that the Student Congress could be held, which they have not held for several years.

The XVIII edition of the Rubén Darío Award for Academic Excellence will be held in October in Costa Rica

The activity is organized by the five public universities, as happened in 2020, when the first virtual ceremony was held

As part of the award ceremony, there will be the 50th Ordinary Session of the Regional Student Life Council (CONREVE)

Costa Rica will host the 2023 Rubén Darío Academic Excellence Award ceremony in October, under the organization of the five public universities of the country. This award recognizes at the regional level students who show outstanding academic performance in public higher education institutions.

The 18th edition of the award will be held on October 25 and for this reason, the Student Life Commission (COMVIVE), of the National Council of Rectors (CONARE), finalizes the details to offer students an extraordinary academic and cultural experience, in addition to preparing the 50th Ordinary Session of the Regional Student Life Council (CONREVE).

EI CONREVE is the body of the Central American Higher University Council (CSUCA) that promotes and generates initiatives, programs and projects for the development of the Student Life area of public universities, strengthening the comprehensive training of the student population, social commitment and development. and Central American integration.

This regional body created in 2005 the delivery of the award as a recognition to those distinguished students at an academic level and who excel in the development of scientific, technological and humanistic knowledge in different areas of knowledge. Last year, Panama hosted the award ceremony.

For the organization of the 2023 ceremony, different subcommittees were installed, made up of representatives of the University of Costa Rica (UCR), the Technological of Costa Rica (TEC), the National University (UNA), the State Distance University (UNED ) and the National Technical University (UTN).

Noelia Madrigal Barrantes, UTN Vice Chancellor for Student Life, highlighted the approval that the five higher education institutions receive as hosts of this important regional university event.

?For COMVIVE it is a pride and a pleasure to act as hosts in this event in which we will recognize the effort and commitment of students from all the Universities of Central America and the Caribbean, which are part of the CSUCA, to be able to pursue their university studies from excellence, without a doubt all of them are and will be an example for many other people who are currently studying or even making the decision to start their university studies next year. We hope, in addition to giving them that well-deserved recognition, that they enjoy our country and take home a memory that will positively mark their lives,? said the COMVIVE coordinator.

The last time that Costa Rica organized the delivery of the Rubén Darío was in 2020, when the five public universities assumed the challenge of celebrating the XV award ceremony, for the first time virtually, due to the isolation conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Agenda 2023. During the last week of October, different activities will be carried out aimed at the student population that has the best academic performance of the 24 public universities in the region. The program includes an academic day and a student integration or coexistence activity so that they have the opportunity to strengthen the bonds of friendship and fellowship.

The CONREVE session is scheduled for October 24, where different issues related to student life in Central America will be reviewed and analyzed.

?We are also pleased to be the Headquarters of the Regional Student Life Council, the body in which decisions are made to promote, reinforce and develop student life from all the Universities that are part of this body, all with the firm conviction of brotherhood and Solidarity between Central American and Caribbean universities is a core part of the development of our region,? added Madrigal Barrantes.

If you want more information about these activities, you can follow the social networks of the Rubén Darío Costa Rica Award at Facebook and in Twitter.  

 

UDELAS assumes presidency of SIRCIP

Central America, August 31, 2023

On July 1 of this year, the country Panama assumed the presidency of the Central American Higher University Council -CSUCA-, with Eduardo Flores, Rector of the University of Panama -UP-, who assumed the role of President representing the five public universities. from the country. With this, four of the systems of the Central American University Confederation assume the leadership role, with the Specialized University of the Americas -UDELAS-, which assumed this role before the Central American and Caribbean Regional Research and Postgraduate System -SIRCIP-.

During the months of July 2022 to June 2023, the National University of Costa Rica -UNA- assumed the presidency of this system, with Jorge Herrera Murillo leading the actions of SIRCIP.

To begin the activity, Juan Bosco Bernal, Rector of UDELAS, offered a few words in which he expressed: "It is important to carry out research projects that have meaning for each of our countries; for UDELAS, postgraduate degrees constitute a degree of raise the levels of specialization of our university professionals, which makes us follow up on the work carried out by the previous presidency, proposing to create new opportunities for postgraduate studies and research.

While Carlos Alvarado, Secretary General of CSUCA pointed out: "A very important and fundamental system for the development of our societies, the SIRCIP must ensure that each of the 25 universities that make up the CSUCA strive to professionalize the university community, with the purpose of facing the problems that affect our societies. I want to thank Jorge Herrera Murillo and each of the representatives before this system for the work they do, so we value that commitment and effort, just as we wish many successes to Arturo Rivera Aguilar, current president of SIRCIP, we tell him that he counts with our support and commitment to the development of the activities that occur within the framework of the system?

For his part, Jorge Herrera Murillo, outgoing President of SIRCIP, thanked: "For me, having presided over SIRCIP was a very gratifying personal experience. I am grateful for the support of Carlos Alvarado and Francisco Alarcón of the General Secretariat of CSUCA. I continue with the leadership in the objective." 1 of program 2 of PIRESC V and I put myself at the entire disposal of the UDELAS team, with the purpose of allowing us to incorporate this introspective dimension that is so important in research and postgraduate subjects for our region.

For his part, Arturo Rivera Aguilar, dean of postgraduate studies at UDELAS and current President of SIRCIP, mentioned: "We thank our Rector for the trust delegated to be able to preside over this system, as well as the willingness to support Jorge Herrera of UNA, we very much assume responsibility and commitment, we are very sure that with the support of the authorities of our university, together with the support of Francisco Alarcón and Carlos Alvarado, we will be able to meet the goals proposed for this system.

This activity provided the space for the coordinators of the committees to promote and monitor the strategic objectives of program two of the Fifth Plan for the Integration of Higher Education in Central America and the Dominican Republic -PIRESC V-.

It should be noted that SIRCIP is an organ of the Central American Confederation that strengthens, guides, supports, coordinates, harmonizes and integrates research and postgraduate studies, with a regional focus in CSUCA member universities.