Tag: CENTRAL AMERICA

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.

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Annual Report 2022-2026

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CSUCA develops the 1st Central American and Caribbean Biennial with more than 103 presentations on innovation and educational quality

Panama City, Panama, May 20-22, 2026

With broad participation from university authorities, teachers, researchers, students and specialists from the region, the development of the I Central American and Caribbean Biennial of Innovation, Academic Harmonization and Quality Assurance of Higher Education began at the International Maritime University of Panama (UMIP), an academic space promoted by the Central American System of Evaluation and Harmonization of Higher Education (SICEVAES), which takes place on May 20, 21 and 22.

The Biennial brings together more than 103 academic presentations, consolidating itself as one of the most relevant regional spaces for the exchange of experiences, research, good practices and proposals aimed at strengthening public higher education in Central America and the Caribbean.

During the academic sessions, universities and institutions from Panama, Honduras, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba participate, addressing strategic issues related to educational innovation, academic harmonization, internationalization, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, microcredentials, quality assurance, and institutional strengthening.

The program includes keynote lectures, specialized panels, interdisciplinary discussion tables, virtual and in-person presentations, audiovisual exhibitions, and collaborative spaces aimed at strengthening academic networks and new regional alliances.

Among the experiences presented, the following stand out: initiatives related to innovation in teaching-learning processes, internationalization strategies through COIL methodologies, artificial intelligence applied to higher education, digital transformation, development of 21st century skills, institutional evaluation, and regional experiences linked to the improvement and accreditation of university quality.

The Biennial is developed within the framework of a regional agenda aimed at strengthening the Regional Harmonization and Quality Assurance Program for Higher Education, promoting processes of reflection and collective construction that allow public universities to respond to the current challenges of the region.

This first regional meeting also represents a strategic space to consolidate a more innovative, articulated and relevant higher education, strengthening university cooperation and academic exchange as pillars for regional development.

 

CSUCA promotes regional agenda and unanimously re-elects Carlos Alvarado Cerezo as general secretary

Panama City, Panama, May 18, 2026

University authorities from Central America, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba are participating in the 127th Ordinary Session of the Central American Higher University Council (CSUCA), a regional forum focused on strengthening university integration, analyzing strategic issues, and building agreements for the development of public higher education in the region. The session is being held at the International Maritime University of Panama (UMIP), solidifying its position as a key space for decision-making and the coordination of regional initiatives.

The work agenda includes addressing issues related to institutional reports from the CSUCA Presidency, the General Secretariat, and the Federation of University Students of Central America and the Caribbean (FEUCA), as well as strategic processes related to academic cooperation and institutional strengthening.

Among the points addressed were the signing of the CYTED-CSUCA agreement; the presentation of the final report of the COIL course; the situation of the CSUCA Presidency for the period 2026–2027; the regional declaration on university scientific publication; the proposal of the Regulations of the Regional University Extension Award promoted by SICAUS; as well as requests for admission of new university institutions to the regional body.

The session also included the presentation of awards to former members of the organization and various points aimed at continuing to strengthen the Central American and Caribbean university agenda.

Furthermore, as part of the decisions adopted during the session, university authorities approved the incorporation of the Technological University of Eastern Cibao (UTECO), from the Dominican Republic, as a full member of CSUCA, strengthening the Caribbean's presence and participation in the regional body. Likewise, the incorporation of the Higher University Institution of Cartagena (UMAYOR), located in the Colombian island region of San Andrés, Providencia, and Santa Catalina, as an observer member was approved, expanding the spaces for academic collaboration, exchange, and regional cooperation promoted by the Central American Higher University Council.

Furthermore, university authorities approved establishing June 21 as the official date for the commemoration of Central American and Caribbean University Volunteer Day. This initiative aims to recognize and highlight the commitment, participation, and contributions of university communities to solidarity and social transformation projects carried out in the various countries of the region. The approval reaffirms the value of university volunteering as a mechanism for strengthening social responsibility, regional citizenship, and the connection between public universities and the needs and realities of their communities.

As part of the strategic agreements reached during the day, the university authorities that are members of CSUCA unanimously re-elected MSc. Carlos Alvarado Cerezo as secretary general of the organization for the period 2026–2030, a decision that reflects the support of the universities of the region for the management developed from the General Secretariat and the efforts promoted to strengthen university integration, academic cooperation and the articulated work between the member institutions.

The decision also reaffirms the confidence placed in a regional agenda aimed at continuing to strengthen academic, scientific and institutional development initiatives that contribute to responding, from public higher education, to the challenges and needs of Central America and the Caribbean.

Furthermore, in accordance with the institutional rotation mechanism that strengthens the organization's regional governance, the authorities agreed that the CSUCA Presidency for the period July 2026–June 2027 will be assumed by El Salvador, represented by Eng. MSc. Juan Rosa Quintanilla, Rector of the University of El Salvador (UES). Likewise, it was approved to transfer the Presidency to Belize for the following period, in response to a request submitted by the University of Belize, a decision that reaffirms the spirit of dialogue, consensus, and cooperation that characterizes the regional organization.

The CXXVII Ordinary Session reaffirms the commitment of the region's public universities to an articulated work agenda, focused on academic strengthening, regional cooperation, and building joint responses to the current challenges of Central America and the Caribbean.

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SICEVAES strengthens regional agenda on innovation, academic harmonization and quality assurance

Panama City, Panama, May 18, 2026

University authorities and regional specialists participate in the LX Meeting of the Central American System of Evaluation and Accreditation of Higher Education (SICEVAES), a space aimed at strengthening regional strategies for innovation, academic harmonization and assurance of educational quality.

The meeting is being held at the International Maritime University of Panama and brings together the Regional Coordination Committee and the Technical Commission of the system to address strategic issues related to the quality and transformation of higher education.

Among the main agenda items are the progress of the strategic commissions of Program 3 of PIRESC V, innovation in teaching and learning processes, regional academic harmonization and the strengthening of accreditation and quality management mechanisms.

The meeting also incorporates the organizational follow-up of the 1st Central American and Caribbean Biennial of Innovation, Academic Harmonization and Quality Assurance of Higher Education, strengthening spaces for exchange and regional cooperation.

The activities developed seek to continue consolidating an innovative, articulated regional higher education committed to the needs of the Central American and Caribbean peoples.