Una Europa Talk | The future of the university in a changing global order

Una Europa Talks are designed to foster dialogue between academia and the public. In this edition, experts from Latin America and Europe come together for a bi-regional discussion on the role of universities in today's global context, marked by challenges we must address through scientific cooperation, strong academic networks, and strategic international partnerships.

Drawing on the expertise and distinct perspectives of our panellists, representing leading higher education institutions in Latin America and Europe, the Talk will examine shared challenges for our universities and contribute to building a common higher education area between the two regions, paving the way for more inclusive, collaborative, sustainable academic cooperation.

Recognising the cultural and linguistic diversity of our panel, the discussion will be conducted in Spanish, Portuguese, and English, with simultaneous interpretation provided.

The Una Europa Talk will feature a roundtable discussion with Rectors from Latin American and Una Europa universities:

• Carlos Gilberto Carlotti is the Rector of Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil. A medical doctor and neurosurgeon trained at Ribeirão Preto Medical School, he earned his PhD in 1998 and pursued postdoctoral research in Toronto. Carlotti is a Full Professor of Neurology at Universidade de São Paulo and directs the Division of Neurosurgery, leading internationally recognised research on brain tumours and epilepsy.

• Leonardo Lomelí has served as the Rector of Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México since 2023. He holds a degree in Economics and a master's and doctorate from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, all with Honours. Lomelí received the Alfonso Caso Medal in 2002 and the National University Distinction Award for Young Scholars in both teaching (2006) and research (2009). He has taught continuously at the Faculty of Economics since 1994.

• Christine Neau-Leduc is the President of Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, first elected in 2021 and re-elected in 2025. She is a Professor of Private Law at the Sorbonne Law School. A graduate of Université de Montpellier and Université Paris-Panthéon-Assas, Neau-Leduc has held several key academic leadership roles at Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, including Vice-President for Institutional Affairs.

• Sir Peter Mathieson is the 35^th Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, joining the University in 2018 after serving as the President of the University of Hong Kong. A British academic and physician, Mathieson received his MBBS (Hons) from the University of London and PhD from the University of Cambridge. A nephrology specialist and Honorary Professor at the universities of Bristol and Hong Kong, he was knighted in 2023 for his services to higher education.

The event will begin with opening remarks from:

• León de la Torre, Director of Casa de América
• Andrés Allamand, Secretary-General of the Ibero-American General Secretariat
• Joaquín Goyache, Rector of Universidad Complutense de Madrid
• Keynote address by Josep Borrell, President of the Barcelona Centre for International Affairs (CIDOB)