Origins
Forum on Europe is an institutional program of Universidad del Norte, created in 1997 as an initiative of the Academic Secretary in response to the project of internationalization of our Institution conceived and led by its President, Doctor Jesús Ferro Bayona. The program’s main goal is to share the European culture with our academic community and public in general, trough the accomplishment of scientific, academic, cultural and artistic activities.

This forum is also part of Universidad del Norte internationalization strategy, which seeks to strengthen the academic activity and to consolidate links with International institutions. Taking this into consideration, it is necessary to recognize the enormous importance of the European culture in the conformation of the ideal of higher education institutions in the contemporary society, which justifies the attempt of approaching this cultural world area.
Universidad del Norte has always believed in the major role of arts and sciences in the education of professionals in all fields. Europe is, with no doubt, one of the most important centers of the current globalization process, and that is why events like Forum on Europe are essential to promote international bows of cooperation.

Aims and Objectives

Forum on Europe’s major objective is to facilitate an encounter between European culture and our community, through academic, scientific and cultural activities.

This institutional program, which has successfully developed recognition both at national and international levels, seeks to display European knowledge advancements in order to strengthen international bonds, to stimulate projects, and to promote academic exchange.

Methodology

Forum on Europe is held once a year, during one week between March and April.
Until 2005, the activities of the forum were developed around a specific group of European countries.

The countries invited to the forum by year, were:

1998: France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Great Britain
1999: Greece, France, Russia
2000: Germany, France, Portugal
2001: Sweden, France, Spain
2002: Austria, France, Great Britain, Spain
2003: Germany, Romania, Holland, France
2004: Norway, France, Spain, Germany
2005: Great Britain, Italy, Spain
Since 2006, the program develops activities with all of the European countries.
Some of the activities that take place are:
• Lectures
• Seminars
• Talks on study opportunities
• Exhibitions
• Concerts
• Film forums
• Documentaries

Audience

The program seeks to reach local, national and international academic community and the public in general.