Meeting with the Head of Stockholm University to explore cooperation potential between SARAS and Sweden.
The event took place in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, on April 11 and 12. The event was advanced by Matilda Baraibar (Department of Economic History, Stockholm University) and Henrik Österblom (Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University); members of SARAS Advisory Board.
Participants included Néstor Mazzeo, SARAS Executive Director, Micaela Trimble, Research and Cooperation Coordinator, Astrid Söderbergh Widding, Stockholm University President, together with an official delegate team formed by Ken Benson (Department of Romance Studies and Classics), Andrés Rivarola (Institute of Latin American Studies), Viviana Stechina (Research Support Officer) and Maria Wicze (International Affairs Chair).
The event was organised as part of the tour that Stockholm University is carrying around various Latin American institutions as an attempt to broaden connections. The meeting launched with a reception offered by Barbro Elm, Swedish Ambassador to Argentina, who highlighted the importance of research and education for development, and her interest in fostering cooperation between Sweden and the countries of this region. The Swedish Ambassador visited SARAS in May 2017, together with Ardalan Shekarabi, Sweden’s Ministry of Public Administration accompanied by an official delegation. On that occasion, different actions were discussed as an attempt to advance academic cooperation mechanisms between the countries, which included the promotion of doctoral scholarships in Sweden.
During the meeting held on April 12, discussions included potential agreements to formalise and boost the already cooperation between SARAS and Stockholm University, in particular, with the Stockholm Resilience Centre and their Institute of Latin American Studies.
After a presentation given by Trimble on the past and present trajectory of SARAS Institute, some actions were explored so as to strengthen research and education collaboration initiatives such as mobility options for researchers and students. Next steps will include SARAS and Stockholm University’s analysis of different possibilities for signing agreement memos between said institutions.