Category News

CSUCA develops its CXXVIII Ordinary Session with a vision of the future for regional higher education

Tegucigalpa, Honduras, July 27, 2026

The Central American Higher University Council (CSUCA) is holding its One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Ordinary Session today, hosted by the National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH). The meeting brings together the highest authorities of the public universities that are members of CSUCA, along with regional student representatives, to analyze strategic issues that guide the strengthening of higher education, university integration, and the construction of a shared vision for the future of Central America and the Caribbean.

The opening ceremony began with remarks from Dr. Odír Fernández, Rector of UNAH, who stated that: “Today, the National Autonomous University of Honduras is definitely filled with pride; we have a full house, and today the unionist thought of Francisco Morazán is reflected in higher education.“He also highlighted that this week the university is hosting three important events for strengthening higher education in Central America and the Caribbean.

For his part, MSc. Carlos Alvarado, Secretary General of CSUCA, mentioned “Each session of this council represents much more than the fulfillment of an agenda; it is the expression of a regional project that, for more than 75 years, has demonstrated that university cooperation and teamwork are the most effective tools for facing the shared challenges of our societies.”, starting from the fact that in this session the bases for the development of the X Central American University Congress are defined.

Likewise, MSc. Juan Rosa Quintanilla, Rector of the University of El Salvador and President of CSUCA, stated:“Higher education is a transformative factor in societies…“In his speech, he highlighted the importance of strengthening investment in public higher education and emphasized the collaborative work promoted by universities in the region to foster integration, expand training opportunities, and contribute to the development of their societies.

During the session, the plenary session addressed an agenda focused on high-impact issues for the development of the regional university system. These included the presentation of reports from the CSUCA Presidency, the General Secretariat, and the Federation of University Students of Central America (FEUCA); the analysis of the institutional budget for 2027; the election of the Deputy General Secretary for the 2026-2030 term; the strengthening of university outreach; and the approval of regional instruments that contribute to strengthening strategic communication and crisis management in higher education institutions.

Towards the X Central American University Congress

One of the central themes of this session is the proposal to convene the X Central American University Congress (X CUC), the main regional space for analysis, reflection and building agreements of the Central American University Confederation, which periodically brings together higher education institutions to evaluate the progress of university integration and define the priorities that will guide the development of higher education in the coming years.

The proposal suggests that this tenth edition should promote a broad regional reflection process under the theme "University, region and future: towards a transformative higher education 2036", taking as a starting point the evaluation of the Fifth Plan for the Regional Integration of Central American Higher Education (PIRESC V) and the construction of an agenda that responds to the academic, scientific, social, technological and environmental challenges facing the region.

Summit of Rectors promotes regional dialogue

As part of the activities surrounding this meeting, the CSUCA Rectors' Summit will take place on Tuesday, July 28. This summit is conceived as a forum for academic and strategic dialogue among the highest university authorities of Central America and the Dominican Republic. Under the theme "The Public University: Engine of Development and Integration in Central America," this meeting promotes reflection on the role of public universities in addressing present and future challenges, as well as the exchange of experiences and the development of joint proposals to strengthen regional cooperation, innovation, university autonomy, and the commitment of higher education to the sustainable development of the Central American peoples. As a result of this dialogue, the groundwork will be laid for activities leading up to the 10th Central American University Congress.

FICCUA 2026 begins

Simultaneously, the Central American Interuniversity Festival of Culture and Art (FICCUA 2026) also begins this Monday, with its opening ceremony taking place at the National Autonomous University of Honduras. This regional event brings together student artists from CSUCA member universities to promote cultural exchange, strengthen Central American identity, and recognize art and culture as essential components of a well-rounded university education. Details of this important event will be covered in a separate publication.

The CXXVIII Ordinary Session reaffirms CSUCA's commitment to an articulated, relevant and innovative public higher education, capable of promoting regional solutions to common challenges and consolidating university integration as an engine for sustainable development, well-being and social transformation in Central America and the Caribbean.

 

Annual Report 2022 – 2026

The 2022–2026 Activity Report of the Central American Higher University Council (CSUCA) This document presents a summary of the main achievements, progress, and actions undertaken during the management period. It highlights the strengthening of regional integration among Central American public universities, the promotion of scientific research, innovation, internationalization, and the digital transformation of higher education. Furthermore, it underscores CSUCA's commitment to academic quality, inter-university cooperation, and its contribution to the region's sustainable development through programs and projects with regional impact.

Icon

Annual Report 2022-2026

1 file(s) 8.08 MB
Download

CSUCA inaugurates the XXX Annual Assembly of the Central American Integrated Documentary Information System (SIIDCA)

Panama City, Panama, June 25, 2026

The Central American Higher University Council (CSUCA), in coordination with the Technological University of Panama (UTP), launched the XXX Annual Assembly of Directors of the Central American Integrated Documentary Information System (SIIDCA), a regional integration space that brings together the people responsible for the library systems of the public universities that are members of CSUCA to strengthen knowledge management, open access to information and academic cooperation.

The opening ceremony was attended by the Rector of the Technological University of Panama, Dr. Ángela Laguna Caicedo; the Secretary General of CSUCA, Dr. Carlos Guillermo Alvarado Cerezo; and the Coordinator of SIIDCA, Ms. Fabiola Campos Jara, as well as university authorities, representatives of higher education institutions in the region, and members of the System. The Assembly is being held in a hybrid format, allowing for both in-person and virtual participation by delegations from CSUCA member universities.

During his inaugural message, the Secretary General of CSUCA highlighted that university libraries have evolved to become dynamic centers for knowledge management, promotion of open science, support for research, teaching and innovation, playing a strategic role in strengthening Central American public higher education.

He also noted that the rapid technological development and the advancement of artificial intelligence represent an opportunity to enhance the work of library systems, through the integration of innovative tools that strengthen their services, always preserving their essence as spaces for training, critical thinking and democratization of knowledge.

Dr. Alvarado reiterated the commitment of the General Secretariat of CSUCA to continue accompanying and supporting the work of SIIDCA, recognizing that equitable access to knowledge is a fundamental driver for human development, regional integration and the building of more just, democratic and inclusive societies.

For her part, the Coordinator of SIIDCA, Mtra. Fabiola Campos Jara, highlighted that the Assembly marks three decades of collaborative work among the public universities of Central America, consolidating a network that has turned information management into a shared effort to strengthen research, teaching and library services in the region.

She also invited the participants to take advantage of this meeting as a space for reflection, dialogue and collective construction in the face of the challenges that university libraries face in a context characterized by digital transformation, artificial intelligence and the growing demand for open access to knowledge.

The Rector of the Technological University of Panama welcomed the participating delegations and highlighted that university libraries have become strategic actors in promoting open science, responsible information management, and the strengthening of institutional repositories. She also emphasized that regional cooperation is essential for continuing to promote initiatives that strengthen public higher education and knowledge management in Central America.

As part of the Assembly's academic agenda, participants will develop specialized conferences on artificial intelligence applied to university libraries, governance, sustainability and open science, in addition to analyzing the progress and challenges of library systems in each country, reviewing the 2026–2027 work plan and defining the actions that will continue to strengthen the regional integration of SIIDCA.

The XXX Annual Assembly of SIIDCA takes place from June 24 to 26 at the Technological University of Panama, consolidating itself as a strategic space to promote inter-university cooperation, the exchange of experiences and the strengthening of the documentary information systems of Central American public universities as fundamental pillars for the generation, preservation and democratization of knowledge.

 

The UNED Electronic Journal of Quality in Higher Education dedicates a special edition to the CSUCA Simple and Fruitful Innovation Network

As a result of the collaborative work promoted by the Central American Higher University Council (CSUCA) to strengthen innovation and quality in higher education in the region, the Electronic Journal Quality in Higher Education (CAES), from the Institute of Academic Quality Management (IGESCA) of the State Distance University (UNED) of Costa Rica, presented a special edition developed in conjunction with the Simple and Fruitful Innovation Network (RISYF) of CSUCA.

The publication, entitled “Quality Management Processes, Excellence and Academic Innovation in Higher Education Institutions in Central America”, brings together fifteen academic articles prepared by specialists from the region, who share research, experiences and proposals aimed at responding to the contemporary challenges of higher education.

The works address strategic themes such as curriculum transformation, quality management and evaluation, the use of educational technologies, artificial intelligence applied to teaching and learning processes, the administration of virtual platforms, the internationalization of learning, and the design of more participatory, inclusive, and innovative educational experiences.

Likewise, the edition presents experiences related to active methodologies, gamification, educational data mining, laboratories adapted to non-face-to-face modalities, international collaborative online learning (COIL), new forms of organizing academic work and remote access to specialized laboratories, demonstrating the commitment of the region's universities to the transformation of their educational processes.

This special edition highlights the value of regional academic cooperation as a mechanism to promote continuous improvement, the exchange of best practices, and the joint development of innovative solutions that contribute to strengthening the quality of Central American higher education.

The Simple and Fruitful Innovation Network (RISYF), promoted by CSUCA, constitutes a space for articulation between teachers, researchers and academic managers that fosters the generation and dissemination of innovative experiences with impact on the processes of teaching, learning and university management.

With this initiative, CSUCA and the Electronic Journal Quality in Higher Education They reaffirm their commitment to academic excellence, educational innovation, and the strengthening of relevant, collaborative public higher education that is geared towards responding to the needs and challenges of Central America.

Those interested in learning about this publication can access the website of the Electronic Journal Quality in Higher Education (CAES), corresponding to the regular edition of May 2026, through the following link: https://revistas.uned.ac.cr/index.php/revistacalidad/issue/view/397. At the bottom of the page you will find the section “Special Edition CAES Magazine and the Simple and Fruitful Innovation Network (RISYF) of the Central American Higher University Council (CSUCA)”, where you can consult the articles that make up this publication dedicated to innovation, excellence and quality in regional higher education.

INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONGRESS ON QUALITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FROM RESEARCH

Submission of proposals for scientific presentations and posters:

  • Proposals for scientific papers and posters will be accepted until June 5, 2026  to the email: ccices.2026@ues.edu.sv
  • The Scientific Committee of the Congress will receive proposals between May 29 and June 5, 2026.
  • The acceptance notification will be made between June 5 and 12, 2026.
  • The deadline for submitting papers and posters accepted by the Scientific Committee will be the June 26, 2026 to the email: ccices.2026@ues.edu.sv

The congress provides the opportunity to general participation to teachers, researchers, students and interested parties.

Participant registration is now open at: https://ccices2026.ues.edu.sv/congreso/formulario-de-inscripcion/

Icon

Call for Papers for the CCICES Congress 2026

1 file(s) 1.33MB
Download