Universidad de Lima brought together over 30 public and private universities at the First National Conference on Higher Education (CONES 2025). The event also included authorities from the Ministry of Education (MINEDU), SUNEDU, SINEACE, and UNESCO, as well as national and international experts. The event concluded with a joint declaration outlining key challenges and shared commitments to strengthen the quality, innovation, and sustainability of Peru’s higher education system, supported by a 2025–2026 roadmap structured around five pillars: artificial intelligence, educational quality, internationalization, research and innovation, and sustainability.
“The decision to organize this conference emerged in the context of key discussions on education policy, particularly as the electoral process approaches. From Universidad de Lima, we recognized the importance of universities speaking with a collective voice at this pivotal moment,” said Patricia Stuart, Rector of Universidad de Lima, during the opening session of CONES 2025.
Over two days (October 23–24), the conference featured keynote lectures, expert panels, and thematic roundtables with speakers including Ezequiel Molina (World Bank), Leandro Folgar (Universidad Católica del Uruguay), Marisol Hernández (Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación), and Germán Gallego (Universidad Autónoma de Occidente). During these sessions, representatives from each thematic pillar developed verifiable proposals aimed at informing future public policy for higher education in Peru.
Challenges and Commitments
- Promote the ethical and reflective integration of artificial intelligence, prioritizing digital literacy and critical thinking in faculty development.
- Foster a culture of academic quality grounded in evidence, learning outcomes, and flexible educational pathways that respond to a changing world.
- Advance inclusive internationalization through academic partnerships and global initiatives that strengthen cooperation and student mobility.
- Connect research and innovation with social impact, directing knowledge toward sustainable solutions and the common good.
- Integrate sustainability into teaching, research, and university governance to reinforce social responsibility and civic engagement.
The active participation of our academic community and invited delegations fostered a collaborative forum in which best practices and shared challenges across the higher education system were openly discussed.
As the host institution, Universidad de Lima reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening interuniversity collaboration and supporting future initiatives to consolidate a higher education system that is relevant, innovative, and aligned with Peru’s development goals.
