The CAEI (Conference of the Americas on International Education) was held in Bogota between 23rd and 25th October at which Gál Ferenc College was represented by Dr. Endre Hamvas, associate professor. Representatives of the Hungarian higher education institutions and the Tempus Public Fund presented themselves at the Study in Hungary booth. CAEI provided an excellent opportunity for each institution to establish broad partnerships with South American colleges and universities in line with their internationalization goals. The event was a particularly important opportunity for Gál Ferenc College, as many Catholic institutions attended the conference.
In addition to discussions on partnerships, plenary and section meetings focused on expanding the development of mobility programs, the latest issues of innovation and ways to finance education, as well as how educational outcomes benefit society. In this regard, several church universities in Colombia presented interesting practical examples, highlighting how many church institutions are able to reach societies that would be left alone without such assistance. This, these universities can be the engines of social inclusion and poverty eradication.
In addition, an important lesson learned from attending the conference was that representatives of South American institutions welcomed the opportunity for Hungarian contacts and mutual scholarship programs, which provides a promising prospect for the future.
