Eramus+ Cluster Meeting and Contact

Abstract: By invitation of the European Commission, Universidad Privada Boliviana (UPB) coordinator of the EU-BEGP Project, participated during this meeting held in Montevideo, Uruguay in October 2024.

More than 200 representatives from universities in Latin America and the Caribbean participated in this meeting, which presented opportunities for international collaboration. The central theme was “digitalization in education”, highlighting initiatives supported by the Erasmus+ Program, which address global challenges through examples of digital transformation and research.

During the event, Omar Omarchea PhD, Director of the Center for Optics and Energy Research (CIOE) of the UPB, presented the EU-BEGP project to congress participants and authorities of the European Commission. Juan Rodríguez from UNI-Perú was also present as part of the EU-BEGP project team, contributing to the exchange and discussions on collaborative efforts in the region. In total, 19 Capacity Building in Higher Education projects were presented in the meeting, among them (EU-BEGP), 6 projects in Capacity Building in Vocational Education and Training, as well as 2 projects in the Jean Monnet Actions.

Presenter: Omar Omarchea (UPB)

Conference: Erasmus+ Cluster Meeting and Contact – Making Seminar for Latin America and The Caribbean

Location: Montevideo, Uruguay

Date: 01-02 October 2024

Ibero-American Symposium on Thermal Efficiency and Industrial Technology.

Abstract: As a key speaker, Dr. Peralta took the opportunity to present the EU-BEGP Project, sharing its significant achievements and the long-term benefits it offers in the realm of education and technology. He highlighted how the EU-BEGP Project is driving forward educational modernization by implementing remote laboratories, carrying international collaboration, and providing students with access to advanced learning tools. Dr. Peralta also underscored the project’s broader impact, noting that the benefits extend beyond the immediate participants, as the initiatives developed under the EU-BEGP Project are designed to have a lasting influence on the educational landscape.

Presenter: Juan Peralta (ESPOL)

Conference: Ibero-American Symposium – Thermal Efficiency and Industrial Technology

Location: Asunción, Paraguay

Date: 22-23 August 2024

Modernization of Collaborative Digital Education in Energy with Active Learning Methodologies

Abstract: Ph.D. Alex Villazón, Dean of Research in Energy and Architecture at the UPB Cochabamba Campus divered a lecture at the conference highlighting the importance of applying active learning methodologies in the educational environment, the “educator to educator” collaboration to develop, co- create, share, reuse and translate digital educational material. In addition, he highlighted how digital platforms have transformed the way students access information and perform their tasks, also emphasizing the importance of research and project development.

Presenter: Alex Villazón (UPB)

Conference: Modernization of Collaborative
Digital Education with Active Learning

Location: Cochabamba, Bolivia

Date: 23 August 2024

EU-BEGP participation in the booth of the Delegation of the European Union to Bolivia at the National Climate Crisis Congress in La Paz

Abstract: Dissemination activity to promote the Erasmus+ Programme and the EU-BEGP Project in the National Cimate Crisis Congress held in La Paz, Bolivia (03-05 May 2023). EU-BEGP partners from Universidad Mayor de San Andres (UMSA) and Universidad Privada Boliviana (UPB) had the opportunity to disseminate information about the project, including the programs and course, digital learning material, challenges, and remote laboratories that will be developed during the project duration.

Presenter: Luis Lopez (UMSA), Alex Villazón (UPB), and Omar Ormachea (UPB)

Conference: National Climate Crisis Congress (Congreso Nacional Crisis Climática)

Location: La Paz, Bolivia

Date: 03-05 May 2023

Modernizing collaborative digital education in emerging regions with active learning methodologies

Abstract: Collaborative development of digital learning ma- terials in emerging regions often hinders their widespread adoption due to resource constraints, limited infrastructure, skills gaps, lack of training for educators, and cultural or linguistic diversity. To overcome these limitations, we applied a collaborative development of digital learning materials, applying active learning methodologies such as the flipped-classroom perspective, challenge-based learning, and the use of remote laboratories. Educators from different regions around the world co-create learning modules that can later be reused, adapted, or translated for implementing various courses and programs. Before publication, all learning materials are peer-reviewed to ensure high quality. Several postgraduate programs in Energy are under development in different emerging regions, following an innovative educational approach. More than 43 universities collaborate across 21 countries on 4 continents with the support of 5 Erasmus+ Projects of the European Commission, aiming towards a global network of educators to modernize collaborative digital education.

Presenter: Alex Villazón (UPB)

Conference: IEEE World Engineering Education Conference – EDUNINE 2024

Location: Guatemala City, Guatemala

Date: 10-13 March 2024

1st. Face-to-Face M12 Meeting

“One important activity in international projects, such as those in the Erasmus+ Programme, is the
realization of face-to-face meetings. Even though, we had tenths of on-line meetings during the first
year of the Project, meeting people in person is very important, not only to know somebody who was behind a screen, but also to engage participants in the activities of the project, create friendship, clarify doubts, solve issues, and to perform training activities that are difficult to perform in an on-line mode (e.g., working in group).”

– Alex Villazón – EU-BEGP Coordinator

Location: Guatemala City, Guatemala

Date: 05-09 February 2024