Carlos Vargas

Carlos Vargas is a seasoned international strategist in higher education, with over 14 years of experience driving global engagement and partnerships for universities across Canada (Toronto, Carleton y Calgary). As the Founder of Societās Partnerships S.A., based in Panama City, he provides high-level strategic advice to advance university internationalization, emphasizing long-term impact, sustainability, mutuality, and excellence in global collaborations. Through his firm, Vargas leads initiatives that create enduring value, including conducting cutting-edge research on topics such as the Global Scholarship Landscape, Multipolar Global Higher Education, Decolonizing Digital Research, Technology as a Catalyst for Internationalization, and Universities as Architects of the Global South's Digital Future.

He represents Societās Partnerships at international conferences, delivers presentations on internationalization strategies, and offers assessments, guidance, and implementation support for university global priorities, such as forming cross-border alliances, digital innovation hubs, and equitable knowledge transfers to address challenges like digital divides and sustainable development in the Global South. A polyglot fluent in English, French, and Spanish, Vargas holds a Master's in Education with a focus on internationalization from the University of Calgary, complemented by extensive intercultural experience from field research in India, Guatemala, Ecuador, and Ghana. His strategic vision positions universities as pivotal architects in global digital transformation and inclusive internationalization, drawing from prior leadership roles where he developed international governance structures, managed multimillion-dollar scholarship programs, organized high-level delegations and summits, and advised on policies for mobility, partnerships, and protocol.