Characteristics of Interamerica Seminars

• Seminars, which last an average of two weeks and count on the participation of 30 to 40 high school and undergraduate students, are offered by institutions of higher education affiliated with the IOHE.
• SIAs are academic events whose quality is guaranteed by the organizing universities and the College of the Americas.
• SIAs are not intended to prepare specialists but to sensitize young university students to problems that illustrate areas of diversity and convergence in the American continents.
• SIAs’ focus on participative learning is facilitated by discussion and debate among students as well as with their instructors and by group work.  Individual and group tutorials analyzing cases in the field of learning are offered when necessary.
• The objective of major presentations is to allow specialists to analyze the theoretical framework for the central themes of the seminar.  In order to complement the academic vision, participants have the opportunity to interact with representatives of the public, private, legislative, union, community, local and civil sectors, among others.
• A central objective of SIAs is to encourage intercultural learning.  To carry this out, an Intercultural Module was designed which promotes participants’ understanding of their own culture as well as the similarities and differences with other participants of the seminar.
• The process of teaching-learning is also enriched by projects suggested by the participants.  Based on the areas studied in the SIA, these projects can be drawn up in the participants’ countries, thus guaranteeing an exponential effect.  This also motivates participants to share their academic and life experiences in each university community. 

University Recognition Granted to SIAs

It is the responsibility of the university of origin of each participant to determine the academic recognition accorded to an Interamerica Seminar.  In this regard, there is no general rule.

Certificates are given to participants at the end of each seminar. The certificates are signed by the President of COLAM’s Superior Council and the president of the organizing university and bear the official stamp of COLAM and the host institution. They also specify the number of academic hours of the seminar, including all program activities with the exception of those that were strictly social.     

Contributions of Organizing Universities to SIAs

Institutions of higher learning that organize Interamerica Seminars develop an academic proposal with COLAM. The institutions organize all activities and, depending on the nature of the seminar, are responsible for coordinating the selection of academics and others who will contribute to the education of young students. The majority of the organizing universities arrange room and board, study materials, transportation and other necessities for participants.