LACCEI 2026 High-Level Meeting of Authorities
Driving Strategic Decision-Making in Engineering Education
(Exclusive Event – By Invitation Only)
The LACCEI 2026 High-Level Meeting of Authorities (Encuentro de Altas Autoridades:) is an in-person gathering of presidents, and rectors (provosts and vicerectors preguntar a coordinadores) from leading engineering institutions across the Americas, held within the framework of the LACCEI 2026 Multiconference in Santiago, Chile.
Participation is directed primarily at presidents and rectors. Other institutional officials (such as vice-rectors or provosts) may participate upon prior coordination with the event coordinators (see below).
This high-level forum is designed to foster strategic dialogue and the exchange of experiences aimed at strengthening decision-making in higher education through accreditation frameworks, artificial intelligence, and capability-based approaches linked to productive development.
Agenda
Thursday July 16th, 2026
- 14:00-16.00: Workshop
- 20:00-23.00: Gala Dinner
Format: In-person & Dress Code: Formal
A certificate of participation will be awarded to all attendees
Request Invitation: info@laccei.org
Send CV to info@laccei.org
Fees
- Members: FREE
- Non-members: 250 USD
Methodology and Expected Outcomes
The session will be conducted through a structured, participatory format designed to generate concrete outcomes and strategic insights for university leadership.
1. High-Level Strategic Framing Segment
A high-level discussion on the main challenges and opportunities in higher education, relevant to all participating institutions. This segment will address the role of international organizations such as: OAS, UNESCO, WIPO, IDB, ECLAC, among others.
Coordination 1:
Harvard’s Growth Lab (USA) – Dr. Christian Chacua
2. International Accreditation and Quality Assurance Segment
Analysis of international certification and accreditation processes for universities, including experiences and perspectives from experts. Key topics:
- International accreditation frameworks
- Quality assurance mechanisms
- Strategic value of global recognition
Coordination 2:
European Network for Accreditation of Engineering Education (ENAEE) – Europe
Dr. José Carlos Quadrado
3. Participatory Dynamics and Strategic Outcomes Segment
Collaborative group work focused on key topics related to university transformation:
- University governance and management
- Institutional sustainability
- Alignment of academic offerings with student demand and the impact of AI
- Quality of education and impact of extension and outreach
Working methodology (segment 3):
- 5 working groups will be formed
- Each group must appoint a secretary
- LACCEI will provide 5 computers for real-time documentation
- Each group will receive support for structured documentation of results
Expected outcome (segment 3): A set of strategic recommendations will be produced, serving as input for the
LACCEI 2026 Declaration of Commitments
Coordination 3:
LACCEI Standing Committee on Prospective and Future Studies – Dr. Jhon Zartha
General Coordinators:
- Dr. Jenny Basantes. LACCEI Board Member & Vice Rector, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo (ESPOCH), Ecuador. jenny.basantes@espoch.edu.ec (cc: texier@laccei.org).
- Dr. Ivaldo Torres Chávez. President (Rector), Universidad de Pamplona, Colombia. rectoria@unipamplona.edu.co (cc: texier@laccei.org).
For additional information, please contact: info@laccei.org