The UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (IESALC) was created by the UNESCO General Conference in 1997, replacing the Regional Center for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (CRESALC for its Spanish abbreviation) established in 1974. It is the sole specialized institute of the United Nations system with the mission to contribute to the improvement of higher education in member States.
Its biennial work program and budget are approved at the UNESCO General Conference. The Institute is governed by a Governing Board whose members are appointed by the Director General of UNESCO, based on proposals from States and Higher Education networks and organizations. The director of the Institute is responsible for its routine operations.
The priorities of the Institute for the biennium 2020-2021 have been set, based on needs and the expectations of the leadership role of UNESCO in the development of Sustainable Development Goal 4, the guidelines and recommendations of the III Regional Conference of Higher Education (CRES 2018), as well as consultations with ministries, university agencies, higher education specialists, including UNESCO Chairs, higher education networks and other international organizations.
The Institute has established one crosscutting and four thematic priorities for the biennium 2020-2021:
Promotion, ratification and dissemination of regional and global Conventions for the recognition of studies
Promotion, ratification and dissemination of regional and global Conventions for the recognition of studies
This priority focuses on the promotion, ratification and dissemination of regional and global Conventions for the recognition of studies, degrees and diplomas, as well as on the creation of ideas and dissemination of information on trends in internationalization and academic mobility.
Analysis of public policies and mechanisms that target the improvement of quality and equity in
Analysis of public policies and mechanisms that target the improvement of quality and equity in higher education.
Analysis of public policies and mechanisms that target the improvement of quality and equity in higher education, promoting alignment with a global quality criteria framework for higher education institutions and an increase in the percentage of lecturers at the doctoral level.
Production of knowledge to inform public policies and mechanisms to improve the equity and inclusion
Production of knowledge to inform public policies and mechanisms to improve the equity and inclusion
Generate knowledge to inform public policies and mechanisms to improve the equity and inclusion of higher education, in particular, in terms of financial support mechanisms for students and support for multicultural higher education
Promotion of higher technical and professional education and institutional sustainability programs
Promotion of higher technical and professional education and institutional sustainability programs
Promotion of higher technical and professional education and institutional sustainability programs, as well as pedagogical updating through studies that contribute to a better understanding of the impact of emerging technologies.
Promote consensus among the actors of the CRES 2018 to ensure that its principles and guidelines are
Promote consensus among the actors of the CRES 2018 to ensure that its principles and guidelines are implemented in a coordinated manner. A follow-up exercise of the CRES 2018 Action Plan as a region’s contribution to the next World Conference on Higher Education.
Like the other specialized institutes of UNESCO, IESALC carries out its activities through four programs:
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