JUFA 2026 in Argentina: Strengthening and Diversifying University Partnerships
On this page :
- Franco-Argentine Cooperation and Academic
Challenges - Double Degrees and the Development of Academic
Partnerships - International Outreach and Student Mobility
From April 8 to 14, 2026, Laura-Juliana Mendoza Romero, Incoming International Mobility Officer at the engineering school CESI, travelled to Buenos Aires to participate in the Franco-Argentine University Days (JUFA 2026), a pilot event dedicated to strengthening academic cooperation between France and Argentina.
This institutional mission brought together universities, higher education stakeholders, and international cooperation organizations with the aim of fostering academic exchanges and identifying new opportunities for collaboration between the two countries.
Franco-Argentine Cooperation and Academic Challenges
The opening day brought together key stakeholders involved in international educational cooperation, including the French Embassy in Argentina, Campus France, the French Institute, and France Universités, alongside Argentine and French institutional representatives.
Discussions highlighted several shared priorities, particularly the development of student mobility, the strengthening of scientific collaboration, and support for academic partnerships within an evolving international context.
The following days featured workshops and round-table discussions focusing on student mobility programs, funding mechanisms, joint doctoral supervision programs, and research collaborations. These exchanges also highlighted the challenges arising from differences between the French and Argentine higher education systems, while emphasizing the opportunities they represent for the development of sustainable academic partnerships.
Double Degrees and the Development of Academic Partnerships
Special attention was given to double-degree programs, considered a major driver of international academic cooperation. A dedicated workshop notably showcased the experience of an existing partnership between a French institution and an Argentine university, representing the first double-degree program developed by the institution with a Latin American university.
Discussions focused on the development of the partnership, the academic and administrative challenges associated with the program, as well as its attractiveness to both French and Argentine students.
The mission also included institutional meetings with around ten Argentine universities from various regions of the country, including Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Mendoza, and Rosario. Organized as short and targeted meetings, these exchanges helped identify new potential partners, initiate several cooperation projects, and strengthen the international visibility of the engineering school CESI in Latin America.
International Outreach and Student Mobility
As part of the mission, a student fair organized with the support of Campus France Argentina brought together a large audience of high school and university students, ranging from undergraduate to doctoral level.
This event provided an opportunity to present the academic programs offered by CESI, discuss international mobility opportunities with prospective students, and promote study opportunities in France. Several qualified contacts were established with a view to supporting international recruitment and developing future student mobility initiatives.
Beyond the institutional exchanges, this mission confirmed the importance of maintaining a strong on-the-ground presence in fostering international cooperation and building sustainable academic partnerships.