University rectors meet to create a common Ibero-American space
In 2006 the Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State, held at University of Salamanca, included the creation of an institutional project to promote an Ibero-American area of knowledge with the indispensable participation of universities.
07/04/2010
For this purpose Universia has once again summoned rectors and presidents of the 1126 member institutions with the aim of exploring opportunities and possibilities in creating a macro collaboration area for universities as could be the Ibero-American area of knowledge, and debating ways of consolidating this project. Universia also has invited to the meeting universities from China, Morocco, Russia, United Kingdom and United States.
The meeting will be a chance to discuss challenges faced today by Ibero-American universities wanting to improve the quality of teaching and research, to project further their internationalisation, and grow in social commitment and responsibility. All this in addition to acquiring more scientific and technological knowledge in face of an ever growing globalised context.
Debates will include internet forums before the conferences and during the plenary sessions and group workshops. The following issues will be on debate:
- Universities and society in crisis.
- Responsibilities of universities as agents of social cohesion and inclusion.
- The contribution of macro collaboration areas between universities, such as the Ibero-American area of knowledge.
- The role of universities in the generation and transfer of knowledge.
- Universia in the society of knowledge, scope and projections.
Declaration of Seville
Universia thus continues the dynamics born in the First International Meeting of Rectors, organised in 2005 at University of Seville. Attending the meeting were 360 rectors from Latin America, Portugal and Spain. The meeting's conclusions, included in the "Declaration of Seville", focused in the promotion of joint forces to improve the quality of higher education, the internationalisation of Ibero-American universities and the degree of collaboration between academic and productive sectors.
The conference is part of the commemorations of 200 years of independence in Latin America. Guadalajara was chosen as the site for the second meeting due to its position as an international cultural city. The meeting coincides with the tenth anniversary of Universia, the largest network of universities from Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries.
More information:
Second International Meeting of Universia Rectors