Dr. Iñaki Elío, academic director of the degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics (NHD) of the European University of the Atlantic (UNEATLANTICO) and Dr. Marianela Pía Bastías Pérez, a professor at the University of the Americas (UDLA), met with the objective of strengthening collaboration between both institutions in academic and research aspects.
During the meeting, the double degree agreement was revised with the objective of facilitating complementary training itineraries and student mobility between Chile and Spain, strengthening the network of bilateral agreements of UNEATLANTICO and the internationalization programs of UDLA.
Both entities agreed to foster new opportunities for collaboration in research focusing on nutrition, public health and food sciences, articulating the work of UNEATLANTICO’s Group on Food, Nutritional Biochemistry and Health, with the Nutrition and Food Science Research Unit of UDLA. Priority themes include prevention of obesity and other non-communicable diseases, translational research with human biology-based methodologies, and transfer of knowledge to clinical and community settings.
We also explored the implementation of doctoral programmes under co-supervision, which allows for a single defence and two degrees with co-direction between universities in different countries, subject to specific agreements and minimum stays at each institution. As immediate actions, the teams will promote joint seminars, short research stays and the preparation of proposals to competitive calls, aligned with the institutional priorities and international projection of UNEATLANTICO.
This collaboration consolidates a strategic alliance that boosts the internationalization of teaching, academic exchange and collaborative scientific production, in line with UNEATLANTICO’s international agreements and mobility policy.