The Future of Higher Education in Latin America: Knowledge, Engagement, and Gobal Partnerships
October 02 – 03, 2025 — University of Bern — Spanish, English, and Portuguese
The Swiss Society of Latin American Studies (SSLAS) and the Ibero-American Studies at the University of Bern will host a workshop on 2–3 October 2025, with the support of the Swiss Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences (SAGW). The event will explore the future of higher education in Latin America and its relevance within global academic debates. It will critically examine the role of universities as agents of so cial transformation, taking into account their historical legacies, contemporary innovations, and emerging challenges. Drawing on pedagogies, theories, and key concepts from the region, participants will reflect on how Latin American institutions foster civic engagement, address epistemic injustices, and integrate diverse systems of knowledge. The workshop will also consider threats to academic freedom, state inter ventions, and restrictive policies under different political regimes, as well as the potential of transnational collaborations. Furthermore, it will ask what European universities might learn from the innovative ap proaches developed in Latin America. Bringing together diverse disciplinary perspectives, the event aims to promote equitable partnerships and alternative academic models that transcend the traditional North South hierarchies