SANLAT TASK FORCE COORDINATOR

Prof. Dr. Alberto Sereno University of Porto Email: sereno@albanprogram.org   Professor Alberto Sereno is the Vice-President of the Santander Group European Universities' Network and director of the AlBan Programme, coordinated by the SGroup. He is also coordinator of the ALFA III Observatory project. Both projects are focused on EU-Latin American cooperation. He is an Associate Professor at the University of Porto and holds a Doctorate in Chemical Engineering.

 

SANLAT TASK FORCE was created during the General Assembly held in Malta on 7-8 May 2005 with the aim to reinforce academic cooperation with Universities in the Latin America and to offer some kind of continuation of the successful experience of EU Programme AlBan of High Level Scholarships for Latin America that the Santander Group has been coordinating since 2002.  More information about the Task Force activities are available on the dedicated SANLAT WEBSITE .

 

 

SG-Latin American cooperation

The Santander Group has a long history of cooperation with Latin America. Indeed, the Santander Group is coordinator of the AlBan Programme (2000-2010) which offers high level scholarships to Latin American students wishing to study in Europe. Also, the SG is the only European partner in the Alfa III Observatory project that is responsible for identifying/promoting synergies among all 14 projects selected in the scope of the first Call for Applications of the Alfa programme. Both these projects are funded by the European Union.

This long-standing cooperation enabled the Group to sign agreements with three major Latin American networks:
FAUBAI – the Forum of Brazlian Association of International Relations Offices (175 members)
UDUAL – the Union of Universities of Latin America and the Caribbean (180 members)

ASCUN – the Colombian Universities' Association (80 members)

 

 The Santander Group is therefore a gateway to over 400 Latin American Universities and offers a priviliged channel for exchange of information through our Latin-American Cooperation WEBSITE and dedicated NEWS BULLETIN .

 

 

What services will be offered?

• Regular consult on policy issues and matters of common interest.
• Information exchange on development in relevant fields and projects.
• Facilitated access to local experts.
• Exchange of expertise and experience to promote a better understanding of Latin American and European higher education systems.
• Promotion of the exchange of good practices in higher education between the Networks.
• Review, at either of the partner’s request, of relevant international co-operation projects.
• Co-operation, when required, in evaluation of such programmes, projects and activities of common interest
• Access to office facilities and services of each partner as appropriate.
• Assistance, as appropriate, in the organisation of relevant conferences, seminars and meetings.

Presentation of current Latin American partners

 

	The Forum of Brazlian Association of International Relations Offices (FAUBAI) was founded in 1988 with the aim to promote integration of international relations co-ordinators at institutions of higher education in Brazil. Through the exchange of experience and common activities such as seminars, workshops, participation in national and international projects, the FAUBAI Association strengthens operational capacities to manage international relations and consequently to improve education and research activities of its member universities.
	The Union of Universities of Latin America and the Caribbean (UDUAL) was created in 1949 and is an organisation representing  180 Universities in 21 countries. Their aim is to defend the autonomy of universities, to promote the exchange of knowledge through meetings of professionals, seminars and assemblies. UDUAL has also been a forum for the reflection on the problems Latin American universities are faced with in order to improve Higher Education in the continent.
	The Colombian Association of Universities (ASCUN) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that brings together the universities in Colombia. It is a body of representation and dialogue and is a space of integration and interaction of the academic community fostering the principles of academic quality, autonomy and social responsibility that are the founding values of Colombian universities.

 

 

 

The Programme of High level Scholarships in the European Union addressed to Latin America provides for around 3900 scholarships for Latin American students and professionals for postgraduate studies, and professional training or upgrading, in the European Union from 2000 till 2010.

A Consortium led by the Asociación Grupo Santander has been selected to implement the Programme in close co-operation with the European Commission, Directorate General EuropeAid - Office of Co-operation. The other partners in the Consortium are UDUAL - Unión de Universidades de America Latina, AUGM - Asociación de Universidades Grupo Montevideo and the University of Porto

Through the Office located at the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal managed by Prof. Alberto Sereno, the Consortium implements and develops the scholarship programme. The responsibility for the Programme remains always with the European Commission. More information of the of the Programme available at the ALBAN WEBSITE.

 

 

The Programme aims to contribute to the development of the Higher Education in LA through cooperation between the EU and the 18 eligible countries of Latin America by helping them improve accessibility, quality, and relevance of higher education in LA, contribute to the process of regional integration in LA, foster progress towards the creation of a joint higher education area in the region and exploiting its synergies with the EU system. The project duration is foreseen for 48 months. More information is available on the ALFA OBSERVATORY WEBSITE.

 

 

SANLAT DOCUMENTS:

 

From the SANLAT Meeting in Brussels, December 2, 2008:

• the PASCAL AlfaIII Proposal, presentation delivered by SG Secretary-General Prof. Victor de Kosinsky 
• Alfa III Observatory, presentation delivered by prof. Alberto Sereno, director of the AlBan Programme and SANLAT Task Force Coordinator

 

 

 

 

                                                                          These programs are co-funded by the European Union