The UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (El Instituto Internacional para la Educación Superior en América Latina y el Caribe - IESALC) is an organization of UNESCO devoted to the promotion of higher education, helping to implement in the Latin American and Caribbean region the program that, as for higher education, approves biannually the UNESCO General Conference.
Its fundamental mission is to contribute to the development and transformation of the tertiary education through the reinforcement of a work plan that, among other purposes, attempts to be an instrument to support the management of change and the required transformations in order that higher education in the region becomes an effective promoter of a culture of peace that allows to make viable - in an age of globalization - the human sustainable development based on principles of justice, equity, freedom, solidarity, democracy and respect of the human rights.
The Institute, beside taking part in the conceptualization, production and formulation of programs, objectives and strategies of the UNESCO as for higher education, particularly recounted to the regional area, contributes in narrow collaboration with the governmental and not governmental specializing agencies as well as the academic local community, to the attainment of the above mentioned objectives. This is accomplished essentially through networks and the production and diffusion of research studies on relevant aspects related to the sector of higher education in Latin America and the Caribbean, and the advice to the Members states in the formulation of public policies at national, sub-regional and regional level.
