AMHERST, Mass. and BOGOTÁ, Colombia – The University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) and the Externado University of Colombia are pleased to announce a formal partnership aimed at fostering collaboration in research and education in the social sciences. The partnership, initiated by UMass Amherst Sociology & Afro-American Studies Professor and Director of the Latinx and Latin American Studies Program Agustin Lao-Montes, builds upon a long-standing informal relationship between the two institutions and seeks to create a vibrant community of scholars and students engaged in critical inquiry on pressing social issues related to inequalities, ancestral knowledge, and decolonization in education, and the defense of all living things.
During the 2024 spring semester, Professor Lao-Montes and Associate Professor of Political Science Angélica María Bernal traveled to Bogotá to celebrate the inauguration of the formal Memorandum of Agreement and to participate in full day symposium entitled “Systems of Intertwined Inequalities, Popular Economies, and Alternative Practices for the Defense of Life”, with an eye towards the future. Speakers and panels of academics, social organizations, and government entities debated and reflected on the questions, “Where are we going and where do want to go?”
The symposium was the launch pad for a partnership that will focus on several key areas of mutual interest, including inequality, decoloniality, ancestral communities, memory and social activism, and local centers of knowledge. In addition to Professors Lao-Montres and Bernal, engaged faculty from UMass Amherst include Professor Stephanie Fetta, Associate Professor of Latinx Literature and Culture & Director of the Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies, and from Externado University’s faculty of Social Sciences, Research Professor and Director of the Sociology Program Laura Escobar, and Professor Monica Alvarado.
The universities will collaborate on research projects and educational initiatives that examine the root causes of social, economic, and political inequalities, with a particular emphasis on the interconnected nature of these issues. Recognizing the importance of decolonizing knowledge production and teaching practices, the partnership will promote critical perspectives that challenge dominant narratives and center the experiences of marginalized communities. The universities will work together to create a transnational academic community that connects people from across hemispheres to advance equity and justice. The partnership will foster cross-cultural understanding and reciprocity through joint research projects, faculty and student exchanges, and collaborative teaching initiatives.
"We are thrilled to formalize our partnership with the Externado University of Colombia," said Eric Wirth, Manager of Global Partnerships at UMass Amherst. "This collaboration represents a unique opportunity to bring together diverse perspectives and expertise to address some of the most pressing challenges facing our societies today."
Lao-Montes added, "There is a strong institutional foundation for our relationship, an example of which has been the formation of a working-group focused on the African concept of “ubuntu” and centering around decolonial perspectives, ancestral, and afro-indigenous knowledge. Originally driven by a joint group of professors and students, with this new memorandum of agreement we are excited to see such an initiative now take shape in a more formal manner."
The partnership will be supported by a range of activities, including joint research projects, faculty and student exchanges, collaborative teaching initiatives, webinars, and conferences to address critical social issues, while promoting cross-culturalism. Faculty from both universities hope to develop and teach joint courses and workshops that explore critical social issues from community centers of knowledge.
Escobar highlighted the potential impact of the partnership, stating, “We have a wealth of collective experience in our faculty and with indigenous communities of Colombia that will amplify the work and initiatives we are doing together.”
The partnership is expected to have a significant impact on both institutions, as well as on the broader communities they serve. By bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise, the universities will be able to generate new knowledge and insights that can inform policy and practice. Additionally, the partnership will provide students and faculty with valuable opportunities for international exchange and collaboration, which will enrich their educational and professional experiences.
About the University of Massachusetts Amherst
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public research university committed to excellence in teaching, research, and public engagement. With a diverse student body and a world-renowned faculty, UMass Amherst is a leader in addressing critical social issues through innovative research and educational programs.
About the Externado University of Colombia
The Externado University of Colombia is a private university committed to academic excellence and social responsibility. With a strong focus on the social sciences and humanities, Externado is a leader in promoting critical thinking and social engagement among its students and faculty.
Learn more about the launch event:
March 7, 2024- “Inequalities are not isolated phenomena, they require in-depth analysis and transformative action”: Dean Jorge Martínez Cotrina
March 7, 2024 – Opening Session (recording), Systems of intertwined inequalities, historical reparations, and equality policies in the framework of the event intertwined inequalities, popular economies, and alternative practices for the defense of life”
March 7, 2024 – Panel 1 (recording) Interlaced systems of inequity, historical reparations, and politics of equality.