Juncture as of mid-2022

Opportunity to create an online, multicultural, and plurinational community of Spanish-speaking scholars warrants that we step up our co-productions: even by using tools we might otherwise be hesitant to learn.

It is still uncommon to foster exchanges where multiple cultures can mutually enrich one another; instead, we tend to present our own vision in a monolithic way, expecting others simply to consume it.

Are we merely art contractors, dependent on official state funding? How can we integrate ourselves into orange economy: creative and knowledge-based economy? We are weighed down by a legacy where most poetic work is born solely out of a labor of love, often performed in conditions of extreme poverty.

What dreams and stories can we sell today? Which audiovisual projects deserve our focus? How can we create artistic content that triggers viral algorithms? How will creativity evolve in an era marked by a growing weariness toward our fellow human beings?

As leaders of educational institutions, we do not claim to offer definitive answers to these questions. Our challenge is to keep debates and contradictions alive, always fostering rational, critical thinking—even when our visceral instincts might suggest otherwise.

After decades of declining income expectations for new generations—who find themselves having to study longer only to earn less—a question arises: what kind of educational system is best suited for acquiring the necessary skills in today’s world? Current global landscape is as follows:

Increased public spending, driven by wars in Ukraine and elsewhere, seems primarily to serve as a way to continue funding out-of-touch politicians. Public discourse is worn thin by polarized debates over issues like abortion and transphobia. Excessive leverage is fueling financial panic, and no asset is currently viewed as risk-free.

Record-high crude oil prices are predicted within a global context of stagflation, fueled by curtailment of Russian exports and disruption of Chinese supply chains due to zero-COVID policies. With international diesel inventories at risk of depletion, could global freight transport grind to a halt? Critical thinking fades when we rely too heavily on algorithmic suggestions on social media. We become confined to distinct niches that make it difficult to delve into information that contradicts our existing beliefs. Challenge of developing open-minded, multidisciplinary professionals remains as relevant as ever.

Rubén Rivero