A New São Paulo Office To Expand Sciences Po’s Presence in Latin America and the Caribbean

Since the 1990s, Sciences Po has actively developed educational, scientific, fundraising, and recruitment collaborations in Latin America to highlight the richness and diversity of this geographic region. More recently, the institution has begun forging ties with the island territories of the Caribbean, driven by the same desire to expand our presence on the American continent and promote intercultural dialogue with countries neighbouring the French overseas territories.

On 5 November, a new office in São Paulo was officially opened by Luis Vassy during his trip to Brazil. Sciences Po's President met with numerous local and regional partners, organisations, and media outlets, including French International Schools, alumni, and the French-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (CCIFB) in collaboration with Business France.

Latin America and the Caribbean at the heart of Sciences Po’s academic programmes

Sciences Po offers a Latin America-Caribbean minor within its Bachelor’s programme, created in 2001 on the Poitiers campus. Through a French-language curriculum that includes courses in English and Spanish, students explore the region’s history and contemporary issues such as democratic challenges, economic integration into globalisation, urban development, and regional and continental integration. Pedagogical innovation is a key focus, with various tracks available, including the “Seas and Oceans” certification, designed as a multidisciplinary introduction to maritime and coastal challenges, environmental concerns, geostrategic issues, and governance of socio-ecosystems—central topics for the region, especially the Caribbean.

At the Master’s level, the Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA) offers a regional concentration called “The Americas” to all students, regardless of their specific Master’s programme. At the School of Research, the study of comparative politics in South America is part of the curriculum within the Master’s in Political Science (major in comparative politics). At the Urban School, Latin American metropolises are included in the regional studies of the Master’s programme “Governing the Large Metropolis.”

Starting in the 2026 academic year, Sciences Po is launching its eighth graduate school, the Paris Climate School—the first European school in the humanities and social sciences dedicated to training decision-makers to lead ecological transformation, manage climate risks, and strengthen societal resilience. Climate issues are central in Latin America and the Caribbean, where resilience, biodiversity, and environmental justice are particularly pressing. These themes will naturally engage with the work conducted at the Paris Climate School, fostering academic cooperation and global reflection on ecological transitions.

Latin America and the Caribbean: a strategic focus for Sciences Po

Aware of the linguistic and socio-cultural diversity of the Latin American academic landscape, Sciences Po has built strong ties with top public and private universities across the continent, in major cities across Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

Sciences Po’s university cooperation network in Latin America and the Caribbean includes over 45 partners across 12 countries, among them leading institutions such as the University of São Paulo (Brazil), the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, and the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Our collaborations also include active members of the U7+ alliance, such as the Universidad de Buenos Aires (Argentina), The University of the West Indies (Caribbean), and the Universidad de los Andes (Colombia). The latter also sits on the International Partner Board of our European university alliance CIVICA, alongside FGV EAESP (Brazil), a dual-degree partner.

Two recent partnerships have been established in the Caribbean with the Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados campuses of the University of the West Indies (UWI), one of only two regional universities in the world.

Sciences Po has also developed integrated programmes with four universities in Latin America. These programs allow international students to earn both a Bachelor’s degree from their home university and a Master’s degree from Sciences Po in five years (BA-MA). Additionally, a dual Master’s degree has been established with FGV EAESP (São Paulo School of Business Administration of the Getulio Vargas Foundation) in São Paulo.

Each year, Sciences Po welcomes nearly 450 students from the region across all its programmes and sends around 150 students on exchange to its partner universities in the area. These students represent 6% of the institution’s international student body. Upon graduation, around 5% of young alumni—whether from the region or elsewhere—choose to begin their careers in Latin American and Caribbean public or private sectors.

Sciences Po also works closely with foundations such as the Luksic Foundation in Chile and COLFUTURO, the Foundation for the Future of Colombia. Furthermore, Sciences Po is deeply connected to governmental cooperation initiatives. Over the years, the university has contributed to the training of senior executives and diplomats, notably through collaborations with Mexico’s National Council for Humanities, Sciences, and Technologies, as well as through initiatives led by French embassies in Brazil, Colombia, and several other countries across the continent.

Promoting Research, Faculty and Doctoral Mobility in Latin America and the Caribbean

Research is also a key pillar of Sciences Po’s presence in Latin America, notably through the Political Observatory of Latin America and the Caribbean (OPALC). Founded in 2007, OPALC is a political observatory specializing in Latin America and the Caribbean. It brings together a group of faculty, researchers, and students from Sciences Po and partner institutions. It is integrated into CERI for its scientific activities (including research seminars and its annual publication, LAPO) and operates independently for its other missions.

OPALC has also established a research-action partnership with the Colombian organization Transparencia por Colombia, funded by the Charles Léopold Mayer Foundation for the Progress of Humankind (FPH), focused on whistleblowers in Latin America. Since 2015, the project titled “Governance and Citizen Participation in the Andean Region” has offered reflections and actions on governance in Colombia and Latin America, particularly examining the effects and transformations of social and political participation on public policy.
Research lies at the heart of Sciences Po’s commitment to Latin America and the Caribbean. Through our regional office and strong academic partnerships, we aim to highlight ongoing research, stimulate scientific cooperation, and facilitate researcher mobility.

A Regional Mission Serving Education, Research, and Engagement

The regional office for Latin America and the Caribbean, created in partnership with the France-Brazil Chamber of Commerce and Business France, is dedicated to promoting Sciences Po’s academic offerings to high schools, higher education institutions, research institutes, and local organisations; supporting admissions processes for Latin American students; managing existing university partnerships and developing new collaborations; assisting alumni in organising events; and facilitating scientific cooperation and funding for joint projects.

The São Paulo regional office is part of an ambitious internationalisation strategy based on openness, reciprocity, and excellence. In the coming years, Sciences Po intends to strengthen its partnerships in the region, develop new joint programmes, and intensify academic and scientific exchanges. The office will play a key role in implementing this strategy, working closely with local stakeholders and teams in Paris.