Centro Interuniversitario de Desarrollo CINDA

Overview

The Centro Interuniversitario de Desarrollo (commonly known as CINDAor in English the “Center for Interuniversity Development”) is an international, non‑profit, inter‑university network headquartered in Santiago, Chile. Founded in 1971, it now comprises nearly 40 higher education institutions across Latin America and Europe. CINDA’s primary purpose is to promote institutional collaboration, policy analysis and innovation in university management, governance, internationalisation and quality assurance. Recognised by UNESCO as an international non‑governmental organisation, CINDA is regarded as a strategic partner in shaping higher education policy across Ibero‑America.

According to uniRank, CINDA functions as a private non‑for‑profit entity based in Chile, working to foster cooperation and professional development among Latin American universities in academic management, student mobility and quality assurance.

History and Legal Framework

CINDA emerged on 22 November 1971 when the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú and the Universidad de los Andes in Colombia formalised a joint initiative to advance inter‑university research and policy dialogue in the Andean region. Originally named “Centro Interuniversitario de Desarrollo Andino,” it expanded to include other Latin American universities through the 1980s and 1990s, eventually reaching institutional membership from Spain and Italy by the early 21st century.

By its 50th anniversary in 2021, CINDA reported a membership of 39 universities across 14 countries in Latin America and Europe. It operates under Chilean law as a private corporation with legal personality and its own governance organs, while holding recognition from UNESCO as an international non‑governmental organisation and from the Chilean State.

Mission, Vision and Objectives — Role in Higher Education

CINDA’s core mission is to:

• Promote networks of cooperation among universities in Latin America and Europe.
• Sustain, systematise and disseminate knowledge on higher education policy, governance and management.
• Support institutional capacity-building in areas such as quality assurance, innovation and academic leadership.
• Facilitate mobility programmes for students, academics and institutional staff.

Its vision is to serve as the leading inter‑university platform in the Ibero‑American world for shaping inclusive, innovation-driven and quality-centric higher education systems. Operating through working groups and thematic networks, CINDA designs strategic lines of action to address sectoral challenges like regional equity, digital transformation, sustainable development goals (SDGs) and international credentials.

Governance, Structure and Independence

CINDA is governed by an annual Board of Rectors (Junta Directiva), made up of the presidents or rectors of member universities. This assembly sets CINDA’s mission, vision, strategic pillars and institutional priorities. Geographic and institutional diversity are ensured by including representatives from Latin American countries and one from Europe.

Day‑to‑day leadership and project execution fall under the responsibility of an independent Executive Directorate, headed by a Director Executive who manages teams dedicated to policy studies, professional formation, internationalisation, quality assurance and communications. The Executive Directorate is organisationally separate from its member institutions, ensuring autonomy and operational independence.

CINDA also has a six‑member Executive Committee (Comité Ejecutivo), drawn from the Board of Rectors. This committee oversees specific sectors such as the Network of Vice‑Rectors of Research and Innovation (VRII), the Network of Vice‑Rectors of Administration and Finance (VRAF) and the Observatorio de Administración y Finanzas Universitarias (OAF), among other initiatives.

Accreditation and Quality Evaluation Role in Higher Education

While CINDA does not function as a statutory accreditation agency, since 1999 it has operated an internal body—IAC‑CINDA (Instituto de Aseguramiento de la Calidad)—that consults and supports member universities in developing internal quality assurance systems, peer reviews, programme evaluation processes and self‑assessment tools.

IAC‑CINDA is regularly evaluated by RIACES (Red Iberoamericana para el Aseguramiento de la Calidad en la Educación Superior), which in 2024 awarded it a seven‑year accreditation based on recognised good practices. The institute participates in peer‑review evaluation forums, consults on quality system design and provides capacity‑building workshops on evaluation criteria, governance and institutional improvement.

International Cooperation and Network Memberships

CINDA maintains active engagement in multiple international networks:

• RIACES – where IAC‑CINDA is certified and CINDA’s Director Executive sits on its board.
• INQAAHE – through collaborative forums and biennial peer exchange on principles of quality assurance in higher education.
• GUNi Network – as a strategic institutional member fostering global engagement themes like internationalisation and future policies for higher education.
• Partnerships with UNESCO‑IESALC (Latin‑American & Caribbean Higher Education Office) in capacity building, research and publication on trends in quality assurance, funding, equity and governance.

CINDA also collaborates with regional and European universities through formal programmes such as PIU‑CINDA (inter‑university exchange) and Transformative Internationalisation initiatives, strengthening transnational academic ties and pedagogical innovations.

Current or Future Impact on Higher Education

Although CINDA does not accredit universities, its influence extends deeply into Latin America’s higher education ecosystem. It plays a major role in:

• Policy influence by producing periodic flagship reports (e.g. “Informe de Educación Superior en Iberoamérica”) which provide stakeholders and governments with evidence-based analysis.
• Networked leadership through its convening power—annual Board meetings, Vice‑Rectors Networks, international seminars on digital transformation, gender equity, sustainability, teaching innovation.
• Quality assurance culture via IAC‑CINDA, which helps universities build self‑evaluation systems aligned with regional and global standards.
• Student and staff mobility through PIU‑CINDA, which fosters semester‑long exchanges (both physical and virtual) among member institutions.

Looking forward, CINDA plans to:

• Scale double‑degree programmes across European and Latin American universities.
• Support digital and hybrid teaching models via its Transformative Internationalisation & TAEE initiative.
• Catalyse open science and responsible research metrics through its VRII network and observatories.
• Advise national governments on implementing inclusive quality assurance policy frameworks grounded in sustainable development principles.

Summary

The Centro Interuniversitario de Desarrollo (CINDA) is a Chile‑based, UNESCO‑recognised higher education network founded in 1971. With nearly 40 member universities in Ibero‑America, it fosters inter‑institutional cooperation, policy analysis, academic mobility and institutional capacity building—particularly in internal quality assurance systems through its IAC‑CINDA entity. Its governance by rectors and independence from political authorities underpin its credibility. A hub for strategic innovation, CINDA has become a pivotal actor in shaping the future of higher education in Chile, Latin America and beyond.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is CINDA?
  The Centro Interuniversitario de Desarrollo (CINDA) is an inter‑university network based in Santiago, Chile that promotes collaboration, policy research and quality assurance innovation among universities in the Ibero‑American region.
• When was CINDA founded?
  CINDA was founded on 22 November 1971 by three Andean universities; it has since expanded to include institutions from across Latin America and Europe.
• Is CINDA a public or private organisation?
  CINDA is a private, non‑profit corporation with legal personality under Chilean law, operating independently from the government with its own governing organs.
• What does CINDA do?
  It fosters institutional coordination, produces policy research, offers professional development and exchange programmes (e.g. PIU‑CINDA) and through IAC‑CINDA assists universities in building their own quality assurance systems.
• How many universities are members?
  As of its 50th anniversary in 2021, CINDA had 39 member universities in 14 countries across Latin America and Europe.
• Does CINDA accredit universities?
  CINDA itself does not grant formal accreditation. However, its Institute for Quality Assurance (IAC‑CINDA) offers consultative peer-review services and it has received a seven-year good‑practices recognition from RIACES.
• Is CINDA internationally recognised?
  Yes. CINDA is recognised by UNESCO, participates in networks such as INQAAHE, GUNi and RIACES and its members collaborate with European counterparts in bilateral and multilateral projects.
• How does CINDA contribute to student mobility?
  Through PIU‑CINDA, a managed exchange programme that supports academic mobility for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as institution‑level exchanges of staff and administrators.
• Why is CINDA important for quality assurance?
  CINDA’s influence lies in its facilitation of peer‑based evaluation capacity, leadership networks (such as VRII and VRAF) and publicly accessible diagnostic tools and observatories — all of which strengthen the internal quality assurance culture across Ibero‑American universities.

Organization Name

Centro Interuniversitario de Desarrollo
Center for Interuniversity Development

Acronym

CINDA

Year of Establishment

1/01/2002

Control Type

Private

Entity Type

Non-Profit

Geo Focus and Coverage

International

Recognized by

n.a.

Affiliations or Memberships

n.a.

Number of Member Universities or Accredited Institutions

n.a.

Address

Santa Magdalena 75 Piso 11, Providencia
Santiago
Región Metropolitana Chile

Phone

+56 (2) 234 1128

Fax

+56 (2) 234 1117

n.a.

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Wikipedia Article

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