Between January 26 and 28, Bogotá hosted the Kick Off sessions for the COL_DECISIONSEED project, a key milestone that officially marked the beginning of its implementation and enabled the collective development of this initiative through collaborative work among stakeholders from the higher education ecosystem, international cooperation, and public policy sectors.
The COL_DECISIONSEED project is being developed through a national and international consortium that brings together higher education institutions, academic networks, and strategic stakeholders, with the aim of strengthening the internationalization of Colombian higher education through a territorial, intersectoral, and inclusive approach.
The project partners are Universidad Católica de Manizales, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, Ministry of National Education, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, ASCUN, RCI ASCUN, CCYK, FODESEP, and REDTTU.
As associated partners, the project also includes the participation of APC Colombia, ICETEX, and Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.
During the Kick Off sessions, a collaborative working agenda was carried out to align visions, methodologies, and commitments for the coming years of project implementation. Activities included integration and contextualization sessions, a general presentation of the project, awareness sessions on the DECISIONSEED approach, as well as mapping and benchmarking exercises of complex ecosystems aimed at building value networks and strengthening territorial development.
One of the central moments of the meeting was the panel on intersectoral governance, which advanced discussions on multilevel coordination models for a more cohesive, inclusive, and sustainable Colombian ecosystem. This session was complemented by a co-creation workshop on the Ecosystem for cohesive, sustainable, and transformative internationalization, where project partners defined joint work pathways and strategic priorities.
The international dimension of the project was strengthened through presentations of internationalization experiences and best practices in Europe by The Hague University of Applied Sciences and Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, providing a comparative perspective that will enrich the project’s implementation in Colombia.
Key aspects for project management and execution were also addressed, including quality and financial guidelines, budget structure, work package strategies, and dissemination strategies, ensuring implementation aligned with Erasmus+ standards. From CCYK, a session on renewable energy in Colombia was also led, connecting internationalization with the green transition and sustainable development.
A major milestone of the sessions was the discussion dedicated to Colombia’s internationalization strategy from a governmental perspective, with the participation of the Ministry of National Education and APC Colombia, reaffirming the project’s alignment with national public policy and international cooperation objectives.
About the COL_DECISIONSEED Project
COL_DECISIONSEED is a three-year Erasmus+ CBHE (Strand 3) project focused on public policy impact and the systemic strengthening of higher education internationalization. The initiative promotes the development of the Empathetic Ecosystem as a cohesive environment that connects higher education institutions, public entities, the productive sector, and international stakeholders to foster cooperation, public policy development, and sustainable growth based on education, science, technology, and innovation.
The project represents a milestone for the country as the first Colombian consortium to receive co-financing from the European Commission, through the European Union, for this type of Strand 3 structural action. It is aligned with strategic priorities such as Global Gateway, EU–LAC bi-regional cooperation, impact-driven internationalization, and the green transition.
From CCYK, we reaffirm our commitment to an articulated, inclusive, and transformative internationalization that connects territories, strengthens cooperation between Europe and Latin America, and generates sustainable impacts for Colombian higher education.