Virtual academic mobility, UNAN-Managua's experience in the PILA program

Abstract

Internationalization is a macro-process that UNAN-Managua, from its mission and vision, has declared in institutional policies and strategies, this has allowed incorporating the international and global dimension at the level of strategic, key and support processes. In correspondence with this guideline, as of 2021, the University joins the Latin American Academic Exchange Program (PILA), as a favorable space to promote the internationalization of higher education and the strengthening of cooperation with foreign educational institutions. A systematization of the experience of UNAN-Managua in this program is presented, for which a qualitative methodology was applied, through documentary analysis, interviews and questionnaire applied to students who have participated in this academic mobility. It is concluded that the PILA program makes important contributions to the development of knowledge in the professional development of students, strengthens institutional identity and promotes the development of intercultural competencies. Important challenges are posed to the institution, among them: training students from an intercultural perspective, taking advantage of the opportunities offered by the PILA program for internationalization at home and internationalization of the curriculum, consolidation of the process of articulation between the different administrative, academic and management units, and signing cooperation alliances, in order to incorporate an international vision in the university's educational practices.