UNITAR and UTPL Join Efforts to Create a CIFAL Training Centre in Miami
13 June 2018, Miami, USA – UNITAR signed a partnership agreement with the Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL) to establish the International Training Centre for Authorities and Leaders in Miami (CIFAL Miami) with the objective of providing training activities related to economic and cultural development, social inclusion, environmental sustainability and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Latin America.
UTPL is a higher education institution with headquarters in the City of Loja, Ecuador and with more than 80 university centres in Ecuador and international centres in Rome, Italy; Madrid, Spain; New York and Miami, USA. Through teaching, research and linkages with the society, UTPL aims to promote an innovative and active education model that fosters leadership and concrete actions. The University has 6,000 students enrolled in face-to-face programmes, 30,000 students enrolled in distance education programmes, and 4,000 students in postgraduate degrees in modalities, distance, and face-to-face learning.
The signing of the agreement took place in the framework of the Inter-American Conference of Mayors and Local Authorities sponsored by the International University of Florida and the Miami-Dade County which took place on 10-14 June in Miami, USA. The Conference brought more than 600 mayors, councilors and experts on local governance from Latin America and the Caribbean who witnessed the signing of the agreement between UTPL and UNITAR to establish CIFAL Miami.
In the framework of the Conference, CIFAL Miami hosted its inaugural activity titled “Challenges of Education for the Development of Sustainable Local Governments” which took place on 13 June 2018. The key objectives of the activity were to provide a venue for discussing public policies that strengthen local governments and to identify the best local practices which are successful, to improve the quality of education. Special emphasis was placed on how academic institutions can contribute to improving the quality of education and building resilient cities through education and tolerance.
Dr. José Barbosa Corbacho, Rector of UTPL highlighted the important role that CIFAL Miami will have in providing training to leaders and authorities on key issues related to sustainable development in cities. Training activities offered by CIFAL Miami will include face-to-face and online activities.
Mr. Camilo Pinzón, Director of CIFAL Miami – UTPL thanked UNITAR for selecting UTPL as the host of its training centre and mentioned that this partnership will leverage the University’s expertise in online education and UNITAR’s strength in training and adult education to expand the training offer in Latin America.
Launching event of CIFAL Miami with representatives from UTPL, CIFAL Miami CIFAL Quito and CIFAL Malaga.
Photo 2: Presentation of CIFAL Miam with representatives from UTPL, CIFAL Miami, CIFAL Quito and CIFAL Malaga.