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CSUCA strengthens student integration and leadership during the XXXVIII CEUCA Congress in the Dominican Republic

The Central American Higher University Council (CSUCA), through its regional student articulation spaces, accompanied the development of the XXXVIII Central American and Caribbean University Student Congress (CEUCA), held from May 4 to 8, 2026 at the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD).

The Congress brought together student representatives from CSUCA member universities in Central America, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba, solidifying its role as a space for dialogue, integration, and collective development in support of regional public higher education. During the working sessions, the student delegations reviewed and approved the Statutes of the Federation of Central American University Students (FEUCA) and its respective regulations.

Among the main topics addressed by the students were the challenges related to the economic situation of universities in Central America, as well as the need to strengthen student participation, youth leadership and the defense of public higher education in the region.

The opening ceremony was attended by university authorities, student representatives, and regional delegations, including FEUCA President Mario Mancia; Vice President Alicia Víquez; representatives from the Federation of Dominican Students (FED); and student presidents from CSUCA member universities. Also present was CSUCA Deputy Secretary of Student Affairs, Mirna Jiménez.

In a virtual address, MSc. Carlos Guillermo Alvarado Cerezo, Secretary General of CSUCA, addressed the participating delegations, highlighting that CEUCA represents "one of the most valuable expressions of our regional integration," as it constitutes a space for dialogue, reflection, and collectively building the present and future of regional public higher education.

In his remarks, the Secretary General emphasized that university students play a fundamental role in addressing contemporary challenges, noting that student congresses strengthen leadership, critical thinking, democratic participation, and social commitment among new generations. He also reiterated that these forums are an essential part of the heritage of Central American university integration.

 

As part of the Congress activities, the delegations held meetings with university authorities of the UASD, including Rector Editrudis Beltrán Crisóstomo and members of the University Council, in addition to touring the university facilities.

Through these types of spaces, CSUCA reaffirms its commitment to strengthening regional student participation and building more inclusive, relevant universities that are committed to the realities and needs of the people of Central America, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba.

CSUCA strengthens regional academic work in inclusive innovation for the development of Central American communities

Within the framework of the regional project “Strengthening inclusive science and innovation systems in Latin America through a collaborative research network” (CSUCA-IDRC), the Central American Higher University Council (CSUCA) is developing a regional follow-up workshop aimed at strengthening scientific collaboration, knowledge exchange and the articulation of academic capacities for the benefit of the territories and communities of Central America, the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean.

This academic workspace brings together coordinators of collaborative research projects from the first and second calls of the program, as well as representatives of regional entities linked to science, technology and innovation, with the purpose of analyzing progress, sharing learnings and projecting strategies that contribute to the sustainability and impact of the results achieved.

The workshop is conceived as an environment for academic dialogue and collective construction that strengthens a regional learning community focused on transforming knowledge into relevant solutions for the territories, especially for the most vulnerable populations. Within this framework, inclusive innovation processes are promoted with a focus on gender equity and education for sustainable and inclusive science in the region.

During the working sessions, spaces are developed for analysis of evidence-based public policies, exchange of methodologies between research teams, co-construction of regional inclusive innovation strategies and strengthening of academic communities of practice, contributing to consolidating a regional network oriented towards the generation of knowledge with social impact.

The results achieved within the framework of the CSUCA-IDRC project demonstrate the direct contribution of university research to territorial development. Through the implemented projects, rural and indigenous communities have been strengthened through applied research, social innovation, and contextualized technological development, including community information systems, risk management tools, territorial digital platforms, educational materials, technology showcases, food security strategies, and community dialogue spaces aimed at informed decision-making.

Likewise, the project has promoted the active participation and leadership of women, indigenous peoples, youth, researchers and diverse community actors in scientific and territorial processes, strengthening their capacities to influence educational, productive and social areas from an inclusive and intercultural approach.

These advances reflect CSUCA's strategic contribution to strengthening regional collaborative research networks and consolidating an academic agenda focused on generating sustainable solutions to the region's shared challenges, through university cooperation processes, production of relevant knowledge, and promotion of science as a tool for equitable development.

Through these types of regional academic spaces, CSUCA reaffirms its commitment to strengthening collaborative research, inclusive innovation, and building regional responses that contribute to the well-being of communities and the sustainable development of Central American and Caribbean countries.

 

CSUCA promotes the regional integration of university communication at the XI General Assembly of SIREICU

Guatemala, April 23, 2026

The Regional System of University Information and Communication (SIREICU) of the Central American Higher University Council (CSUCA) is holding its XI General Assembly, taking place on April 23 and 24 at the University of San Carlos of Guatemala, with the purpose of strengthening the regional articulation of the communication offices of the public universities of Central America and the Caribbean.

The opening ceremony began with remarks from Mr. Edwin Medina, president of SIREICU, who stated, “I am very pleased because at this assembly we are presenting the first edition of an academic journal, a contribution to help showcase our universities, highlighting the collective work of all of us, creating a space that unites us and strengthens us as universities.”.

At the same time, the Secretary General of CSUCA, MSc. Carlos Alvarado, highlighted that “SIREICU constitutes a strategic platform to make visible the contribution of public higher education to society and consolidate regional narratives that demonstrate its role as an engine of social transformation,” noting the importance of the work carried out by the system before the university community of the region.

For his part, Luis Fernando Cordón Lucero, Secretary General of USAC, mentioned “SIREICU is a regional communication engine in the deepest sense, since it becomes a space of convergence where public universities project their impact and their vocation of service for the development of our countries.”.

The assembly's work agenda includes progress on initiatives such as strengthening the Red and Radio Comunica network, developing regional communication manuals to support teaching and crisis situations, creating a regional inventory of university media, and promoting joint campaigns among CSUCA systems.

The Assembly's program also includes the opening conference on public image and strategic media planning, the presentation of reports from technical committees, collaborative work spaces, and the specialized conference on communication for cultural and gender inclusivity, followed by a workshop focused on building a regional manual on this subject.

It is important to highlight the work done by university communication offices in the region, often with limited resources, but with a firm commitment to university integration.

The XI General Assembly of SIREICU thus consolidates a regional space for strategic coordination aimed at strengthening university communication as a cross-cutting axis of academic cooperation, regional integration and the linking of public universities with society.

CSUCA strengthens the regional research and postgraduate agenda during the LXV General Assembly of SIRCIP

San José, Costa Rica, April 22, 2026

Within the framework of the 65th General Assembly of the Central American and Caribbean Regional System of Research and Postgraduate Studies (SIRCIP), the Central American Higher University Council (CSUCA) reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening research, innovation and advanced training as strategic pillars for the sustainable development of the region.

During the inaugural session, the Secretary General of CSUCA, Dr. Carlos Alvarado Cerezo, highlighted that this space constitutes a key meeting point to advance in the construction of regional responses to the contemporary challenges of higher education, especially in areas such as the governance of artificial intelligence in research, scientific diplomacy, open science, internationalization and the development of microcredentials in postgraduate programs.

She also highlighted the importance of the participation of Dr. Viktoria Bodnarova, Euraxess coordinator for Latin America and the Caribbean at the European Commission, whose presence helps to strengthen academic and scientific cooperation between the region and the European Union, particularly within the framework of the Horizon Europe program.

The Assembly, held from April 20 to 22, 2026 at the University of Costa Rica (UCR), brought together university authorities, research and postgraduate officials, as well as international specialists, who addressed strategic issues aimed at consolidating regional capacities, promoting academic cooperation and strengthening institutional articulation in Central America, the Dominican Republic and Cuba.

Among the main points of the agenda were the keynote lectures on artificial intelligence in research and postgraduate studies, the panel on science diplomacy and the global agenda, the progress of Program 2 of the Fifth Plan for the Integration of Higher Education in Central America and the Dominican Republic (PIRESC V), as well as the work aimed at defining the governance strategy of the Regional Research and Postgraduate Agenda to 2040.

Similarly, the sessions of the Regional Research Council (CORI) and the Regional Postgraduate Council (COREP) allowed for deeper exploration of topics such as the governance of open scientific information, ethics in the use of artificial intelligence, the Regional Observatory of Research and Postgraduate Studies, the construction of regional postgraduate programs, and the development of reference frameworks for academic micro-credentials.

The Secretary General of CSUCA highlighted that these actions are aligned with the strategic objectives of PIRESC V, aimed at consolidating the regional research and postgraduate agenda, strengthening institutional capacities, promoting innovation, fostering internationalization and encouraging the transfer of scientific results for the benefit of the societies of the region.

He also emphasized that the joint work promoted by SIRCIP contributes directly to building a long-term regional vision, reflected in the process of formulating the Regional Research and Postgraduate Agenda to 2040, a strategic instrument to project the future of public universities in Central America, the Dominican Republic and Cuba.

The General Secretariat of CSUCA reiterated its recognition to the University of Costa Rica for organizing this Assembly, as well as to the presidency of SIRCIP and the member universities of the system for their commitment to strengthening regional university integration.

CONREVE strengthens regional student integration at its 55th Ordinary Session in Honduras, within the framework of CSUCA actions

Siguatepeque, Honduras, March 18 and 19, 2026

The 55th Ordinary Session of the Regional Council for Student Life (CONREVE) is being held at the facilities of the National University of Forest Sciences (UNACIFOR), consolidating itself as a key space for strengthening student life in the region, as part of the actions of the Central American Higher University Council (CSUCA).

The meeting brings together university authorities, student representatives and technical teams from Central America and the Caribbean, with the aim of advancing the coordination of policies, programs and actions for the benefit of university students.

The opening ceremony included welcoming remarks from the Rector of UNACIFOR, Miguel Ángel Velásquez Gonzáles, who emphasized the fundamental role of students in building a high-quality, inclusive, and transformative higher education system. In his address, he underscored the importance of strengthening academic processes, expanding the inclusion of historically excluded sectors (especially those from rural areas), and promoting institutional transformation aligned with the challenges of regional development.

For his part, the Secretary General of CSUCA, Carlos Alvarado Cerezo, emphasized the challenges facing higher education in a globalized context, highlighting the need to strengthen regional information systems. He noted that there is currently limited availability of consolidated data on more than 150,000 graduates from higher education institutions, which underscores the importance of developing mechanisms for monitoring and coordinating the human talent trained in the region.

He also stressed that the sustained growth of higher education since 2000 poses new challenges that require coordinated responses between universities, regional systems and public policies.

During the session, Mirna Jiménez, Deputy Secretary for Student Affairs of CSUCA, participated for the first time in this regional space in her capacity as SAAE, reiterating her commitment to work in an articulated manner with CONREVE and to strengthen student participation in regional processes.

During the session, the president of CONREVE, Jorge Eduardo Cortez Martínez, highlighted the importance of consolidating this space as a strategic mechanism for strengthening student life in the region.

The work agenda designated for two days includes the presentation of reports from the Presidency of CONREVE, the Deputy Secretariat for Student Affairs (SAAE) of CSUCA and the Federation of University Students of Central America and the Caribbean (FEUCA), as well as the analysis of strategic initiatives such as university volunteering, the progress of the Central American Interuniversity Festival of Culture and Art (FICCUA) and the planning of regional meetings for the year 2026.

Also, relevant topics will be addressed, such as the election of the Second Member of the CONREVE Steering Committee, the review of regulations of the regional student life system, and the planning of academic, cultural, and sporting activities in the region.

The session's development also incorporates more dynamic and flexible working methodologies, aimed at fostering more active participation and substantive exchange among participants, thus strengthening regional dialogue processes.

With this meeting, CSUCA reaffirms its commitment to continue promoting spaces for integration that contribute to strengthening student life, fostering a more inclusive, high-quality higher education committed to the sustainable development of Central America and the Caribbean.

 

USAC obtains International Institutional Accreditation granted by HCÉRES

The General Secretariat of CSUCA congratulates the University of San Carlos of Guatemala for this important recognition of the quality of higher education.

Guatemala City, March 5, 2026

The University of San Carlos of Guatemala (USAC), a member university of the Central American Higher University Council (CSUCA), received International Institutional Accreditation granted by the High Council for Evaluation of Research and Higher Education of the French Republic (HCÉRES).

The accreditation was awarded on February 2, 2026, at an event held at the Museum of the University of San Carlos of Guatemala (MUSAC), as part of the commemorative activities for the 350th anniversary of the institution's founding.

Furthermore, the accreditation granted by HCÉRES opens new opportunities to strengthen international academic cooperation, student and faculty mobility, and participation in global research networks, contributing to the international recognition of the degrees issued by the university.

For CSUCA, this achievement represents an important step forward for public higher education in the region, demonstrating the capacity of universities in our region to successfully undergo international quality assessment and assurance processes.

The General Secretariat of CSUCA reiterates its recognition to the university community of the University of San Carlos of Guatemala for this significant institutional achievement and reaffirms its commitment to continue supporting member universities in their processes of quality assurance, accreditation and internationalization of higher education.