Julio Cotler Program

2026 EDITION

about the julio cotler program

The Julio Cotler Program, launched in 2024 as part of the celebration of the 20th anniversary of Obreal, pays tribute to Professor Julio Cotler (1932–2019). A central intellectual figure during Obreal’s early years, Cotler firmly believed in the transformative power of higher education as a means to address social inequalities—an idea that continues to inspire this initiative.

The program aims to promote critical analysis and dialogue on the main challenges facing democracies in Latin America, with a particular focus on education, inequality, and social transformation.

How the Program Works – 2026 Edition

PARTICIPANTS

Information on who can apply to the Julio Cotler Program and the eligibility criteria.

The Julio Cotler Program is open to young people from Latin America and the Caribbean who are at an early stage of their academic or professional trajectories, across all disciplines. Eligible profiles include:

Advanced undergraduate students (including final-year students)
Recent graduates
Early-career researchers
Young activists and youth leaders
Professionals working in public policy and social action

Special consideration will be given to recent graduates and final-year undergraduate students, as well as to young people taking their first steps in academic writing and research or in political and social engagement, within the context of contemporary democratic challenges in the region.

The program aims to foster the development of first essays or academic articles. For this reason, it is primarily intended for young people who do not yet have prior publications in indexed academic journals or peer-reviewed edited volumes. However, this is not an exclusionary criterion: the Academic Committee may consider exceptional cases based on the applicant’s trajectory and the relevance of the proposal.

Call for Applications

Details on the application process, the selection procedure, and the awards.

Abstract submission (up to 400 words): Participants must submit an abstract presenting their central idea or thesis on Education, Social Inequality, and Strengthening Democracy.
Selection of participants: A committee of experts will select 15 to 20 participants, who will develop a paper of approximately 8,000 words to be discussed during a program workshop/conference.
Final evaluation, awards, and publication: The three most outstanding articles will receive special recognition, a €2,000 grant each, and will be published open access.

Beyond recognition, the Julio Cotler Program is committed to strengthening an intellectual exchange network by fostering connections, collaboration, and community among participants. The initiative aims to serve as a platform for emerging voices in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Apply now