SAIH will support the rehabilitation of some modules of the Bilwi campus, reaffirming its commitment to higher education on the Caribbean Coast.

URACCAN authorities held a momentous meeting with the Norwegian International Student and Academic Assistance Fund (SAIH), represented by its programme officer, Kathrine Ringhus, as part of the two projects sponsored by this agency: "Dialogue of Knowledge and Does: Strengthening the Exercise of Autonomy", implemented from the Directorate of External Cooperation and the UNESCO Chair , and "Decolonization and Depatriarcization for Transformation from Education", directed through the Center for Multi-Ethnic Women's Studies and Information (CEIMM). The agreements reached through this strategic dialogue are vital for the walk of this intercultural house of studies.  

On behalf of the rector of URACCAN, Dr. Alta Hooker, who is addressing the difficult situation of the North Caribbean Coast after the sweeping passage of hurricanes Eta and Iota, participated the Secretary-General, Dr. José Luis Saballos, as well as the Directorate of External Cooperation, the Coordination of the UNESCO Chair, the Directorate of CEIMM, the Directorate of Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the Financial Directorate of this Caribbean educational institution.

The agenda of this meeting was intended to follow up on the projects identified, offering a report of everything that has been done this 2020 by the educational community of URACCAN, despite the complex crisis that this institution and the peoples of the Caribbean Coast have faced so far this year. The new SAIH strategy for the next 5 years and the recent tragedy in the North Caribbean were also addressed.

In this sense, Ringhus emphasized the immense capacity of URACCAN, under the wise leadership of The Rector Hooker, to deal with the multiple adversities, reaffirming SAIH's support and commitment to continue contributing to regional development through the relevant and quality education offered by this university.

The External Cooperation Officer and Coordinator of the UNESCO Chair of URACCAN, PhD. William Flores, assured that the indicators of both projects scheduled for 2020 have been met, advancing from institutional philosophy in complementarity with SAIH's vision of the decolonization of intercultural gender thinking and perspective fostered by this institution. In addition, he reported that SAIH will support with funding to rehabilitate some modules of the Bilwi compound.

What is SAIH support?

SAIH is not only a strategic ally, but also a partner agency of URACCAN, whose support, solidarity and accompaniment have been fundamental since the birth of this university.

SAIH collaborates in strategic planning, in the design of new curricules, in internationalization, in training programs for researchers; workshops organized within the framework of the CCRISAC (Culture and Breeding of Wisdoms and Knowledge) research paradigm; strengthening institutional policies and URACCAN's own communication systems and scientific and cultural publications.

In addition, it contributes to the UNESCO Chair and the activities carried out around it to strengthen the autonomy of the peoples; promotes URACCAN's intercultural gender perspective, as well as workshops and other actions promoted from THEC; fosters the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship cultivated by this university among its students; and supports the realization of student congresses, to create bonds of interculturality.

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has accompanied URACCAN in the safety strategy, allocating resources to enable hygiene spaces and prevention measures (awareness-raising materials). At this point, SAIH has collaborated with equipment for the manufacture of hygiene products in URACCAN science laboratories.

It has also strengthened the institution's servers for educational purposes, as well as the competencies of students and teachers. He recently funded the Certification course in Virtual Teaching and trained teachers to continue their graduate studies, developing research that contributes directly to URACCAN and the Caribbean Coast.