International cooperation as a training tool in higher education

Abstract

Internationalcooperationinhighereducationhasgainedrelevance in an interconnected world, although academic mobility in Latin America remains limited. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated virtualization and opened the possibility of new forms of internationalization, overcoming geographicalbarriersandfosteringinclusiveandinterculturalexperiences. In this context, since 2021 the National University of Salta has developed a virtual cooperation with German universities (Heidelberg, Ludwigsburg, and Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg), becoming an innovative formative device. The initiative, articulated through digital platforms, involved students from different disciplines and promoted multilingual dialogues on global issues such as inequality, migration, climate crisis, and transformations in the world of work. Beyond academic exchange, the experience strengthened transversal competences such as creativity, resilience, and critical thinking, while also fostering empathy and collaboration. Thus, a democratizing model of internationalization was consolidated, one that recognizes cultural diversity and promotes the training of critical, sensitive, and socially committed professionals to contemporary challenges.