IAUP Leadership Contributes to Key International Higher Education and Policy Forums in Latin America and Europe
The International Association of University Presidents (IAUP) continued to play an active role in shaping global dialogue on higher education and bi-regional cooperation through the participation of its leadership in several high-level academic and policy events across Latin America and Europe in 2025.
On October 9–10, 2025, IAUP took part in the Sixth Summit of the Permanent Academic Forum Latin America and the Caribbean–European Union (FAP ALC-UE), held at Universidad Externado in Bogotá, Colombia. The Summit brought together academic leaders, policymakers, and institutional representatives to reflect on the present challenges and future directions of bi-regional cooperation in higher education, research, and innovation.
At this Summit, Fernando Galván, Former Secretary General of IAUP, delivered a plenary presentation addressing the challenges and future of bi-regional higher education cooperation between Latin America, the Caribbean, and the European Union. His contribution emphasized the strategic role of universities in fostering dialogue, strengthening academic mobility, and responding collectively to global challenges. IAUP was also represented by Juan Camilo Montoya Bozzi, President of Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga (Colombia) and member of the IAUP Executive Committee, who participated actively in the Summit’s discussions.
IAUP engagement continued in Europe at the Forum on the Future of the European Union, organized by Team Europe and IE University, held from November 14–16, 2025, in Madrid, Spain. As part of this forum, Fernando Galván participated as a panelist in the session titled “Education and Culture as a Strengthening Link in Bi-regional Relations” on November 15. The panel explored the role of education and cultural exchange in reinforcing cooperation between Europe and other world regions, highlighting higher education as a key driver of mutual understanding, innovation, and sustainable development.
Further strengthening IAUP’s presence in international academic dialogue, Fernando Galván also participated in the Ninth International Conference of Business Schools, organized by the Spanish Association of Business Schools (AEEN), held on November 20, 2025, in Madrid. During this conference, he contributed as a panelist to a discussion on “Challenges in Higher Education”, with a particular focus on comparative perspectives between Latin America and Europe, including institutional transformation, quality assurance, internationalization, and the evolving role of business schools.
Through these engagements, IAUP reaffirmed its commitment to fostering international collaboration, advancing dialogue between regions, and contributing to strategic discussions on the future of higher education worldwide.
