Under the slogan “Transforming knowledge into development,” and following the CAEI-2023 edition in the United States, various actors and decision-makers involved in the internationalization of higher education in the Americas gathered at the San José Convention Center in Costa Rica from October 15 to 17.
CAEI-2025 Costa Rica welcomed more than 750 attendees from 35 countries, including higher education institutions (HEIs), international education professionals, academics, researchers, representatives of central and local governments, and civil society.
The congress featured the participation of renowned international experts whose contributions are representative of the national and international arena and the advancement toward better multi- and interdisciplinary educational practices. The peer exchanges and reflections that originated at CAEI will contribute to the construction of more internationalized and inclusive education systems, as well as to international and inter-institutional updating and collaboration in line with trends and challenges in the current context of higher education.
The CAEI began with the opening address of the congress by the Executive Secretary General of the Inter-American University Organization, Dr. David Julien, who highlighted the leadership and commitment of CONARE in making this event possible and celebrated the realization of the dream of holding the CAEI in Central America.
During the event, three plenary sessions, nine panels, and 40 parallel sessions were held, in which experts offered an overview of current trends and challenges affecting the higher education sector and provided stakeholders with the opportunity to position their priorities and vision for the internationalization of higher education in the context of the Americas.
The ninth edition of the Congress of the Americas on International Education (CAEI) also included the 94th meeting of the Board of Directors and 45th General Assembly of Members of the OUI, the 7th EMULIES 2025 Meeting: Women in STEM, and the first edition of the Inter-American School of Higher Education (ESIES).
During the Congress, Dr. David Julien presented the Interamerica 2025 Award to Dr. Sandra Cauffman, former deputy director of NASA’s Astrophysics Division, for her outstanding commitment to inclusive education. In her acceptance speech, she said: “The greatness of our planet depends on the courage with which we dare to dream together.”
CAEI 2025 ended on October 17 with closing remarks by Dr. David Julien, who said: “In this turbulent period for our sector, I am pleased that so many of you responded to our invitation, mobilized, and came to share your knowledge and success stories in the internationalization of higher education. Thank you again to all our partners in Costa Rica for a successful ninth edition. See you soon for the tenth anniversary of CAEI in 2027!”