Guatemala City, September 11 and 12, 2025
The thirty-sixth Ordinary Regional Assembly of the Central American System of University-Society Relations (SICAUS) is being held at the facilities of the University of San Carlos of Guatemala.
The Regional University System of the Central American University Confederation (CSUCA), which, by its academic and technical nature, contributes to the processes of integration and regional development in a sustainable way through linkage activities that respond to the demands of society and the priorities of the member universities.
The session began with remarks from Dr. Lesbia Arrocha, President of SICAUS, who highlighted the importance of the work carried out by the system as part of university social service, its contribution to public policies and the 2030 Agenda. “SICAUS works through various committees to fulfill its stated aims and objectives. Furthermore, in a spirit of transparency and accountability, we have prepared a report reflecting the progress achieved.”, points out.
The opening ceremony featured the participation of Dr. Carmen Molina, Vice Minister of Extension at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology of the Dominican Republic, who cordially invited SICAUS members to participate in an upcoming event on best practices in extension being organized by her ministry. She also emphasized the importance of these types of forums for strengthening higher education in the region.
For his part, MSc. Carlos Alvarado Cerezo, Secretary General of CSUCA, called for strengthening collaborative work within SICAUS:“This is an opportune moment to reflect on the progress and challenges of the system, because while we have made significant strides in integrating our core functions, there is still a long way to go. This should be a space for reflection, where we continue working towards a high-quality, integrated, equitable, and inclusive public higher education system.”.
Likewise, Ms. Wendy López, Director of Extension at USAC, emphasized the university's social commitment: “We have a university social responsibility through sustained processes of social training, rooted in the realities of our communities. The university cannot simply act as a bearer of knowledge; citizen science challenges us to learn alongside communities and recognize their capacity to generate knowledge.”.
During the Assembly, the reports of the different commissions appointed in the previous session were presented, as well as the offer of free virtual courses: “Central America learns with public universities”, by Dr. Nery Caballero (UTP); “Teacher Update”, by Mtra. Inés Esquivel (UNACHI) and “Spaces for Dialogue and Exchange”, presented by Mtro. Marcelino Espinal (UNAG).
The proposal for the implementation of the Regional University Extension Award will also be addressed, which will be presented by Dr. Javier Ureña Picado (UNED), and the presentation of the SICAUS logo and institutional image, designed by Aracely Moreira (University of San Carlos of Guatemala), will be made official.
Among the topics under development are the election of the Board of Directors, the presentation of the Supervised Professional Practice Program by Ms. Flor de Abril Estrada (USAC), the proposal and analysis of reform to the SICAUS Regulations by Ms. Astrid Montero, and the analysis of the current situation of the universities of the Confederation, by Ms. Inés Esquivel (UNACHI).
The work agenda also includes a prospective analysis of the progress and setbacks of SICAUS in complying with PIRESC V and the declaration of the XXXVI Ordinary Assembly, with the aim of strengthening the commitment of Central American public universities to building higher education with social impact.
The XXXVI SICAUS Assembly reaffirms its commitment to promoting academic and scientific dialogue, strengthening the transfer of knowledge and university services, and consolidating inter-institutional cooperation for the benefit of the sustainable development of Central America and the Caribbean.
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