Zamorano University participated in the Future Universities Alliance Global Summit, held at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, as part of the inaugural Innovation Sandbox, an international initiative connecting universities committed to transforming higher education.
The inaugural cohort brings together 49 institutions from 23 countries across five continents, organized into three innovation pathways focused on launching new institutions, transforming existing universities, and expanding high-impact educational models. Zamorano University is one of only two Latin American institutions participating in this global network for learning and collaboration.
Zamorano University is part of the New Initiatives in Existing Institutionspathway, which includes 27 institutions working to develop new academic structures and fundamentally reshape aspects of their existing educational models. This opportunity allows the university to exchange experiences, explore innovative approaches, and strengthen initiatives aimed at advancing higher education.
During the summit, Dr. Jorge Cardona and Emily Moradel represented Zamorano University and shared the institution’s ongoing efforts to enhance its educational model by integrating experiential learning, interdisciplinary approaches, and competency development. These efforts aim to build stronger connections between foundational sciences and the real-world challenges facing agrifood systems.
The summit also provided opportunities to exchange ideas and experiences with representatives from institutions in Nepal, China, Spain, the United Kingdom, and other countries. Discussions explored key factors in driving meaningful innovation in higher education, including engaging university communities in institutional change, empowering faculty and staff to champion new initiatives, adapting institutional structures, and implementing changes that can be sustained and scaled over time.
For Zamorano University, joining this international alliance is also an opportunity to contribute insights from its own educational experience. Its Learning-by-Doing model, developed and refined over more than eight decades, demonstrates how experiential learning can become deeply embedded in a university’s identity, extending beyond the classroom to shape the entire educational experience.
Participation in the Future Universities Alliance reinforces Zamorano University’s commitment to continuously evolving its approach to education while preserving the values and strengths that make its model distinctive. It also creates opportunities to build international partnerships, share best practices, and contribute fresh perspectives on the future of higher education.
Zamorano University extends its appreciation to the Future Universities Alliance, Duke University, and all participating institutions for fostering an environment of shared learning, collaboration, and collective progress.
From Honduras, Zamorano University continues to contribute to the transformation of higher education while advancing its mission to develop leaders who serve the Americas.
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