OBREAL Global has transformed over the past years from an association that primarily promotes European Union-Latin America cooperation in higher education and research, to one with a broader inter-regional mandate and membership scope, committed to strengthening South-South- North cooperation within and between regions.

2020/21 has been a busy time period, whereby, in the midst of a global pandemic, OBREAL Global has consolidated ‘Chapters’ in South America, Central America, the Caribbean, India and Africa, each of which is driven by membership and has shaped its own needs and priorities.

OBREAL Global has taken steps to promote inter-regional dialogue and exchange on key topics of common interest, ranging from the internationalisation of learning, digitalisation, international research management and the role of universities in local development

OUR HISTORy

OBREAL was created as an association in order to implement a cooperation project of the European Commission (DG RELEX y EuropeAid). At that moment, the European Commission pointed out in its call that the relationship between the European Union and Latin America had become closer as a result of bi-regional summits, existing association agreements (i.e. México and Chile) and association agreement negotiations. Therefore, more and more advices were required for decision-making in the area of bi-regional relationships. OBREAL was born in this context, with the aim of contributing to the creation of a network of institutions and organizations from both regions which had no coordination mechanisms and/or limited visibility. As a result, OBREAL was set up by 23 academic institutions, research centers in Europe and Latin America, and their own networks.

Between 2004 and 2016, OBREAL’s research was organized in five thematic areas:

  • Trade and financial relations and regional integration
  • Democracy, human rights and the rule of law
  • Social and development cooperation
  • Global governance and multi-regionalism
  • Civil society and institution’s building

In 2017 OBREAL become OBREAL Global, re-defining its former thematic areas and extending its outreach from Europe to Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, incorporating new members and supporting institutions in the association.

OBREAL Global Goals

OBREAL Global Goals

PRESIDENCY

Ramon Torrent
President

BIO

Kiran Gopakumar Rajalekshmi
vicepresident

BIO

INTERREGIONAL BOARD

VIDYA YERAVDEKAR
Indian Chapter Chair - SYMBIOSIS INTERNATIONAL UNITERISTY (india)

BIO

OLUSOLA OYEWOLE
African chapter chair - AAU (ghana)

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Oscar Domínguez
South American Chapter Chair - ASCUN / enlaces (colombia)

BIO

Myriam Moïse
Caribbean Chapter Chair - Universities Caribbean (Jamaica)

BIO

Management Team

Paulo Speller
Representative in Brazil

BIO

Elizabeth K. Colucci
Director | International Projects

BIO

Nicolas Patrici
Director | Development & Strategy

BIO

Agustina Calabrese
Director | Finance

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Pablo Beneitone
Senior Project Expert | Higher Education Policy

BIO

Jimena Estrella
Strategic Advisor | innovation and institutional development

BIO

Jaume Fortuny
Senior Project Manager

BIO

Ángel Manuel Rafael
Project Manager

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Apiyo Okwiri
Project Manager

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Eloi Espósito
Communication Manager

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Nicole Font
Project Manager

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Wail Benjelloun
Senior Adviser Higher Education Policy - Africa

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Kibrome M. Haile
Africa Project Manager

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Lika Glonti
Senior Adviser Higher Education and Eastern partnership

BIO

Daniel King
Strategic partner in Digitalisation

BIO

Jenny Delos Reyes
Administrative Officer

BIO

Presidency

Ramon Torrent
President

BIO

Kiran Gopakumar Rajalekshmi
vicepresident

BIO

Interregional Board

VIDYA YERAVDEKAR
INDIAN CHAPTER CHAIR - SYMBIOSIS INTERNATIONAL UNITERISTY (INDIA)

BIO

OLUSOLA OYEWOLE
AFRICAN CHAPTER CHAIR - AAU (GHANA)

BIO

OSCAR DOMÍNGUEZ
SOUTH AMERICAN CHAPTER CHAIR - ASCUN / ENLACES (COLOMBIA)

BIO

MYRIAM MOÏSE
CARIBBEAN CHAPTER CHAIR - UNIVERSITIES CARIBBEAN (JAMAICA)

BIO

MANAGEMENT Team

Paulo Speller
Representative in Brazil

BIO

Elizabeth K. Colucci
Director | International Projects

BIO

Nicolas Patrici
Director | Development & Strategy

BIO

AGUSTINA CALABRESE
DIRECTOR | Finance Department

BIO

Pablo Beneitone
SENIOR PROJECT EXPERT HIGHER EDUCATION POLICY

BIO

JIMENA ESTRELLA
STRATEGIC ADVISOR | INNOVATION AND INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

BIO

Jaume Fortuny
Senior Project Manager

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Ángel Manuel Rafael
Project Manager

BIO

Apiyo Okwiri
Project Manager

BIO

Eloi Esposito
Communication Manager

BIO

Lika Glonti
Senior Adviser Higher Education and Eastern partnership

BIO

Daniel King
Strategic partner in Digitalization

BIO

JENNY DELOS REYES
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

BIO