Mexico City, January 27, 2026 — With the aim of promoting sustainable development strategies grounded in biocultural identity, Universidad Panamericana hosted the 3rd SUS-TER Totlal Yoltoc International Meeting, a hybrid academic forum that brought together researchers, students, local stakeholders, and representatives from more than 20 institutions across Mexico, Latin America, and Europe.
Held at the Mexico City campus (Mixcoac), the event welcomed 63 participants — 34 in person and 29 virtually — fostering a diverse academic exchange with international reach.
International Academic Collaboration and Research Networks
Participating institutions included the University of Florence (Italy), with which the School of Business maintains an active collaboration through the Erasmus+ KA171 project, as well as representatives from France, Spain, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru.
At the national level, institutions such as Universidad Iberoamericana, Tecnológico de Monterrey, and UNAM—longstanding partners in the SUSTER project—also took part.
The event was organized by Dr. Marisol Velázquez-Salazar, Research Secretary of the School of Business at the Mexico City campus, who, in collaboration with the University of Florence (UNIFI), facilitated the exchange of experiences derived from the SUS-TER project and outlined new lines of work to strengthen future international collaborations.
Thematic Areas and Academic Cooperation
The meeting was structured around four thematic blocks designed to integrate research, territorial experiences, and actionable proposals:
- Key Factors for Successful Biocultural Territorial Development Projects: experiences from Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Italy were shared, highlighting the value of local knowledge, community participation, and educational approaches such as SUS-TER courses and diploma programs.
- Research Inspired by the SUS-TER Approach: action-research projects were presented, focusing on public markets, coffee-growing territorial heritage, and territorial schools.
- Network-Based Institutional Exchanges: academic ties were strengthened through international seminars, joint training programs, and academic mobility initiatives.
- Future Perspectives: discussions emphasized the importance of expanding youth participation, strengthening research networks, and promoting bilateral exchanges.
International Presence and Strategic Partnerships
The University of Florence played a prominent role, with the participation of Cristina Gagliani, Research Manager at the Department of History, Archaeology, Geography, and Performing Arts; Michela Calabrese, Research Manager at the Department of Economics and Management; and Professors Giovanni Belletti, Andrea Marescotti, and Matteo Mengoni from the same department.
As part of this visit, the Office of the Vice President for Research at Universidad Panamericana convened academics from its three campuses to share best practices in Erasmus+ project management, as well as opportunities for funding and international collaboration—strengthening the institution’s strategic focus on attracting external research funding.
A Platform Advancing Global Academic Dialogue
The 3rd SUS-TER Totlal Yoltoc Meeting reaffirms Universidad Panamericana’s role as a key convening hub in the international dialogue on sustainability, biocultural identity, and academic collaboration, linking research, education, and territorial experiences through a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach.
Learn more about Universidad Panamericana’s research initiatives: https://www.up.edu.mx/investigacion-noticias/
