For more than 30 years, we have been committed to excellence in higher education in Latin America. We not only want to keep up this claim, but also be a role model in our work.
Accordingly, we organized a working conference with the aim of exchanging ideas and experiences between the Foundation's various stakeholders, improving our work with fresh impulses, sharpening our best practices and strategy and celebrating 30 years of the Foundation's work in Latin America.
Participants included members of the Swiss Foundation Board, members of the five local committees, representatives of 10 associated universities, representatives of the alumni organizations and individual scholarship holders, each representing their countries.
The program began with visits to our long-standing partner institutions in Medellín, the Instituto Pedro Justo Berrio (technical secondary education) and the EAFIT University. An aperitif riche including a panel discussion to celebrate the 30th anniversary concluded the first day.
Next came two days of intensive workshop work, moderated by José Betancur, the specialist for idea development at EAFIT. We had the privilege of using the beautiful and well-equipped premises of EAFIT for this purpose. New initiatives and ideas emerged at all levels and, above all, the great motivation and joy of all participants was palpable and evident.
The highlight was the celebration of the 25th anniversary of our alumni organization in Colombia. The evening event, which was organized with great passion by President Marcela Yepes and her team, looked back, but also into the future: it showed how the potential of the alumni can be leveraged for the future development of the Foundation!
From Saturday evening onwards, dancing, games and fun took over! Young and old danced to salsa and merengue until late into the night and on Sunday, all participants together with the EAFIT scholarship holders visited a Hacienda, where we were initiated into the secrets of the Tejo, the national game of Colombia.
Many thanks to the Local Committee of Colombia as well as the alumni and scholarship holders who ensured a perfect organization, a smooth running, many great surprises and a warm and stimulating atmosphere.
¡Mil gracias a todos! ¡Estuvo demasiado chévere!
