Working Paper

AI Implementation in Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean

Publication Date
1 Sep 2026
Author
Arianna Valentini
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This publication was developed by the UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNESCO IESALC) in collaboration with UNU-IAS and with important contributions from Jonghwi Park and Jerome Silla.

This working paper maps AI adoption and implementation across universities in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) across five dimensions: (i) teaching and learning, (ii) research, (iii) community engagement, (iv) administration and (v) governance. Drawing on a regional survey conducted among 200 higher education institutions in 19 countries of LAC between August and October 2025, it offers an institution-level picture of where AI is being used, how it is being governed, what capacities exist and what challenges remain. The findings are meant to inform institutional leaders and national policy-makers working to integrate AI responsibly, ethically and inclusively, and to support regional and international cooperation in advancing a shared agenda on AI in higher education.

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