In a landmark academic partnership, the University of Haiti (UEH) and Mexico’s National Autonomous University (UNAM) have established the “Makaya-Cuitláhuac” Chair, named after revered figures in Haitian and Aztec resistance history. This collaborative initiative, formalized through a five-year renewable agreement signed earlier this month, represents a significant advancement in cross-cultural academic cooperation between the two nations.
The newly launched chair will serve as a platform for comprehensive studies addressing pressing contemporary challenges. Research and academic activities will encompass numerous critical domains including art and bio-resilience, poverty alleviation strategies, cultural heritage preservation, and human rights advocacy. The program will also facilitate specialized investigations into natural disasters, social discrimination, forced displacement patterns, and gender-based violence within armed conflicts.
Academic exchanges will feature an array of conferences, specialized seminars, and research residencies, with hosting responsibilities alternating between UEH and UNAM. The partnership’s inaugural phase will commence at the Mexican institution, establishing a framework for sustained intellectual collaboration.
During the signing ceremony, UEH Rector Prédélus acknowledged key contributors including Mexican Ambassador to Haiti José de Jesús Cisneros Chávez, Haitian Ambassador to Mexico Hubert Labbé, and several academic and diplomatic officials whose concerted efforts enabled the initiative’s realization.
Rector Prédélus emphasized the agreement’s historical significance, noting that the partnership transcends conventional administrative cooperation. The collaboration embodies both institutions’ commitment to developing equitable academic partnerships that address the specific socioeconomic realities of Haiti and Mexico while creating enhanced educational opportunities for students, faculty, and broader communities.