USS Takes Part in International Meeting to Strengthen Cooperation between Europe and Latin America

Universidad San Sebastián took part in an international training program hosted by Sorbonne Université in Paris as part of the Erasmus+ NANOMER project. The event brought together universities from Europe and Latin America to strengthen internationalization, academic mobility, and opportunities for collaborative projects supported by the European Union.

Mariana Hott, Head of Communications at the International Affairs Office at Universidad San Sebastián (USS), represented the University at an international meeting held at  Sorbonne Université in Paris as part of the  NANOMER Consortium. Funded through the Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) program, the initiative brought together representatives of higher education institutions from Europe and Latin America to strengthen institutional capacity for internationalization and academic cooperation.

The meeting gave international relations professionals from participating universities an opportunity to exchange best practices, develop their expertise, and explore new avenues for cooperation between the two regions.

Hosted by  Sorbonne Université, in collaboration with ENS de Lyon and Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV, Spain), the program included representatives from Universidad San Sebastián (USS, Chile), Universidad Nacional de Cuyo (Argentina), Escuela Politécnica Nacional (Ecuador) and Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (Ecuador).

Five Days of Intensive Training

Over five days, participants completed more than 20 hours of intensive training led by 16 specialists from the host universities and other European institutions, including Campus France.

Through presentations, workshops, and collaborative sessions, participants exchanged experiences and identified new opportunities for joint initiatives and international cooperation.

The program covered key areas of international higher education, including the organization and management of international relations offices, academic mobility, strategic partnerships, funding opportunities through Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education and Horizon Europe, quality assurance in international projects, and inclusion strategies, one of the cross-cutting priorities of the Erasmus+ program.

Building Connections and Inspiring Collaboration

For Mariana Hott, the experience provided an opportunity to strengthen her professional expertise while expanding connections with European and Latin American institutions.

“Participating in this meeting was an inspiring experience. We confirmed that collaboration and the exchange of experiences are the foundation for building strong international partnerships. I am taking away new knowledge and the conviction that initiatives such as Erasmus+ can have a real impact on our educational communities and the territories where we are present,” she said.

Sylvain Briens, Associate Vice-President for Erasmus+ and International Mobility at Sorbonne Université, emphasized the strategic value of initiatives such as NANOMER in advancing international cooperation.

“These meetings are not simply training opportunities; they are opportunities to build lasting partnerships, develop new research and teaching initiatives, and strengthen cooperation between Europe and Latin America. Our aspiration is for internationalization to become part of the university’s DNA, involving students, researchers, academics, and administrative staff throughout their entire journey,” he said.

Strengthening a Collaborative Network

In addition to the academic program, participants visited Sorbonne Université’s scientific facilities and took part in cultural and networking activities designed to strengthen professional ties among the consortium’s partner universities.

These activities helped consolidate a collaborative network connecting institutions across Europe and Latin America while creating new opportunities for future academic and institutional cooperation.

The NANOMER project brings together universities that are members of the Nanoandes Network, which focuses on research and innovation in nanotechnology. The project aims to promote excellence in nanoscience education, pedagogical innovation, and international cooperation.

Beyond its academic goals, NANOMER supports initiatives designed to strengthen institutional capacity and build sustainable networks among its partner universities.