ISTEC’s Impact on the Development of Science and Technology Education in Latin America

1. ISTEC’s Impact on the Development of Science and Technology Education in Latin America

2. Collaborators: Ramiro Jordán, University of New Mexico, USA Wilfrido Moreno, University of South Florida, USA Roberto Murphy, INAOE, México DulceGarcía, ISTEC, Miami, USA Marisa De Giusti, Universidad de la Plata, Argentina Hundreds of people in Ibero America

3. Vision ISTEC will be a leading force in fostering socio-economic and educational change in Ibero-America, by creating prosperity and improving the quality of life in the region.

4. Mission • ISTEC’s mission is to foster sustainable socio-economic development in Ibero-America by carrying out programs focused on: • Advancing the state of higher education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) • Promoting the culture of quality, innovation and sustainability • Generating and disseminating knowledge and information • Establishing cost-effective vehicles for technology transfer • Encouraging joint international research and development • Fostering an environment for entrepreneurship and collaboration • Promoting leadership models that adhere to the principles of responsibility and accountability.

5. Birth of an Idea June 1990 University of New Mexico Electrical and Computer Engineering Department (ECE-UNM) Proposal: Use Science and Technology (S&T) as a catalyst for social, cultural, political and economic development

6. Explored Opportunities Explored Opportunities Is Science & Technology a priority? Does R&D (innovation and creativity) play a role in socio-economic development? Level of undergraduate and graduate programs, accreditation and certification? Mobility of talent and work? Investment and incentives for R&D? Interdisciplinary and international collaboration? Entrepreneurial activities? Public & private funding opportunities?

7. Identified Obstacles December 1990, UNM Organizational meeting between UNM and participants from universities, industries, governments, and foundations throughout Ibero-America Identified obstacles that had to be addressed immediately to allow S&T Collaboration in socio-economic development

8. Obstacles in 1990 ... Lack of current information for planning and developing technology Lack of expertise in the use of information Lack of international cooperation in developing the critical mass needed for projects and joint efforts Lack of interaction and confidence among universities, industries, governments and multilateral organizations Lack of availability of technology for social, cultural , and economic development Lack of entrepreneurship to bring technology and intellectual property to the market place

9. ISTEC was Born Explored Opportunities Identified Obstacles Developed Initiatives ISTEC was born

10. Values • ISTEC is based on human values: • Quality of life. • Sharing. • Trust. • Collaboration and networking. • Social responsibility.

11. Values • ISTEC is Sharing • ISTEC forms strategic alliances among academia, industry, governmentagencies, and multilateral organizations to foster socio-economic development • Has fostered collaboration for 22 years within & among more than 30 countries

12. Values ISTEC’s Success is Based in TRUST Transparency Efficiency Effectiveness Professionalism Competitiveness Competence Knowledge Accountability

13. Evolution • R&D Effort initially funded by Motorola, Inc. • Initial regional focus: Countries in Ibero-America. • Current focus: International collaboration. • Work with officials from governments, academia, research facilities, industrial firms and multilateral organizations to gauge interest in improving international collaborations in S&T. • Identify areas of common interest for employing state-of-the-art technology for hands-on education, research, technology transfer and entrepreneurship.

14. Developed Initiatives Create a gateway for Information, R&D, Education, and Entrepreneurial activities Digital Library Linkages (DLL) Information Technology Advanced Continuing Education (ACE) Los Libertadores (LL) R&D Laboratories

15. Principal Activities • Library Linkage and digital information (Celsius). • Establishment of laboratories (R&D; Motorola, Xilinx,…). • Evaluation for accreditation (Grana). • Health (ISTEC-Salud). • Social inclusion (La Plazita). • Networks (Nanotechnology, Complex Systems, Embedded Systems; Distributed Control; …) • Entrepreneurship (Los Libertadores). • Student contest

16. Future Challenges ISTEC’s future: We have a well-established network in the region, and our next step is to work with this network to guarantee sustainable socio-economic development in Ibero-America and the world globally. Meet and defeat challenges: • Clean Energy. • Water Conservation. • Environmental Protection and natural resource management. • Innovative solutions for health issues and local problems. • Social Responsibility as a common shared value in the region. • Culture of Quality: accreditation. • Innovative, homogeneous and practical curricula. • Improving quality of life overall.

17. Future Scope • More intense networking, in Ibero America and the world. • Innovation and Creativity to place Latin America in the world’s development map. • People working for the benefit of people with an altruistic approach. • Involving students from early stages on to better their competences and form highly-prepared human resources. • Collaboration with all actors involved in Education, Science, Technology and Development.

18. Conclusion • ISTEC’s impact in the region is evident and tangible. • This impact is due to the collaborative work of many people, with an altruistic, philanthropy approach —Champions and Leaders. • Much has been done, but much more needs to be done. • The global challenges affect the planet as a whole; Latin America has to be a principal actor in their solution.

19. Thanks! Thank you very much for your attention! ¡Muchísimas gracias por su amable atención! http://www.istec.org