Researchers, academics, and institutional representatives from Guatemala and Spain gathered at the Centro de Formación de la Cooperación Española in La Antigua Guatemala for the VIII International Congress on Relations between Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe. The event took place on October 28 and 29 under the theme “Cultures and Identities in the Ibero-American Space: The Contribution of Spain.”
The congress was organized by the Fundación Academia Europea e Iberoamericana de Yuste, the Centro de Estudios de Iberoamérica (CEIB) at Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, and Universidad Rafael Landívar (URL), with support from Junta de Extremadura, Diputación de Badajoz, and Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID).
Attendees at the opening ceremony included Juan Manuel Asturias, mayor of Antigua Guatemala; María Clara Girbau, Spanish ambassador to Guatemala; Martha Pérez de Chen, academic vice-rector of URL; Elena Diego, director of AECID’s training center in Antigua; Juan Carlos Moreno Piñero, director of Fundación Yuste; and Mariana Quezada, director of Campus P. Antonio Gallo Armosino at URL.
Dr. Cástor Díaz Barrado delivered the inaugural lecture titled “A Quick Overview of Europe.” He commented: "Thanks to collaborating with Universidad Rafael Landívar and Fundación Yuste in congresses like this one, we have put the stamp of Universidad Rey Juan Carlos in Latin America, promoting a sharing of elements that unite us such as language, cultural legacy and sense of identity."
During two days of sessions, discussion panels focused on cultural diversity, cooperation, and heritage. Representatives from Guatemalan and Spanish universities participated. Jorge Aragón from URL’s Institute for Research in Socio-Humanistic Sciences presented research on Santiago de Guatemala’s socio-ecological metabolism in the 16th century.
Another panel addressed cultural cooperation as well as tangible and intangible heritage. Cecilia Zurita from URL’s Center for Arts discussed her university’s cultural policy.
On the second day Cristina Bailey—dean of URL’s Faculty of Environmental and Agricultural Sciences—spoke about new mechanisms for cultural cooperation in Ibero-America with a presentation titled “Promoting Protection and Valorization of the Environment.”
A key moment during the congress was signing a letter of intent between Fundación Academia Europea e Iberoamericana de Yuste and Universidad Rafael Landívar. The agreement aims to strengthen academic, cultural, and scientific cooperation between both institutions.
The document was signed by Father Miquel Cortés Bofill S.J., rector of URL, and Dr. Juan Carlos Moreno Piñero from Fundación Yuste. It sets out plans for joint research initiatives, academic exchanges, and training programs to reinforce ties between Europe and Ibero-America—especially between Guatemala and Spain.
The signing represents what organizers describe as an ongoing commitment by Universidad Rafael Landívar to academic diplomacy that fosters internationalization as well as dialogue among cultures. The university says it is reaffirming its active role in cooperative spaces while contributing to global citizenship education.
With its participation in this event—and through agreements like this—Universidad Rafael Landívar continues efforts to strengthen an agenda for Ibero-American cooperation across culture, education, and science originating from Guatemala.
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