The UPB brought together 17 authorities from eight institutions in the Bolivia 2026 International Deans' Course, developed over four days in La Paz to strengthen leadership, academic management, and cooperation in the face of the challenges of higher education.

From August 24 to 27, the UPB Postgraduate Building in La Paz hosted the second module of the Bolivia 2026 International Deans' Course, a meeting that gathered 17 university authorities from eight institutions to jointly reflect on current challenges and the future of higher education. This stage continued the work started in February in Cochabamba and concluded a training process aimed at strengthening the leadership and management capacities of academic authorities.

Over four days, participants addressed topics related to adaptive leadership, internationalization, academic management, curriculum development, research, university-industry relations, and artificial intelligence applied to higher education. The sessions combined presentations, dynamics, discussion spaces, and the review of Strategic Action Plans, allowing the participating authorities to share experiences and analyze alternatives applicable to their own institutions.

A central component of the program was the work of the Academic Committee, made up of four alumni of the International Deans' Course (IDC): Oliver Saavedra, Ph.D.; Vivian Verduguez, Ph.D.; Alex Villazón, Ph.D.; and Ricardo Nogales, Ph.D. Based on their experience in the international program, they contributed to the design of a training proposal contextualized to the needs of Bolivian higher education. The meeting also featured the participation of M.Sc. Ana Cárdenas, Vice Minister of Higher Education of Professional Training, and the Rector of the UPB, Oscar Molina, Ph.D., who developed a session focused on adaptive leadership and institutional reflection.

The international dimension was present with the participation of M.Sc. Xia Qin, international education project coordinator at the Center for Quality Development in Teaching and Study of the University of Potsdam, Germany, and Prof. Joaquín Marhuenda, from the University of Alicante, Spain. Their contributions made it possible to incorporate international perspectives on academic management, curriculum development, knowledge transfer, and internationalization, which enriched the exchange among the participating institutions.

The Bolivia 2026 International Deans' Course was organized by the UPB with the support of the University of Potsdam and funding from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), within the framework of the DIES National Multiplication Trainings (NMT). Through these types of initiatives, the UPB strengthens spaces for cooperation and training that contribute to the development of university leadership, innovation in academic management, and the joint construction of a higher education prepared to respond to new challenges.