ModESPAR and Internationalization: first steps toward academic mobility and credit recognition in Paraguay

Abstract

The Higher Education Modernization Project in Paraguay (ModESPar), funded by the European Union's Erasmus+ program, aims to structurally transform the Paraguayan higher education system by aligning it with international standards and promoting more inclusive, relevant, and high-quality training. The initiative involves six Paraguayan universities, the Ministry of Education and Sciences (MEC), the National Council of Higher Education (CONES), the National Agency for the Evaluation and Accreditation of Higher Education (ANEAES), as well as European partners such as the University of Montpellier (France), the University of Porto (Portugal), and the University of Groningen (Netherlands). The project is structured around three main pillars: the development of reference frameworks and graduate profiles; the implementation of a national academic credit system based on the student’s actual workload; and the definition of teaching profiles focused on student-centered learning and openness to internationalization. In addition to strengthening curriculum management, ModESPar seeks to create structural conditions that facilitate academic mobility and mutual recognition of studies, positioning Paraguayan universities within international cooperation networks. This article is based on sources, including analysis of institutional and regulatory documents, and technical reports prepared by the National University of Caaguazú (UNCA), one of the leading institutions in the project. The findings suggest that the effective integration of the components proposed by ModESPar will significantly contribute to the improvement of higher education quality in Paraguay, strengthening its international projection and its capacity to address contemporary challenges.