The National University of La Matanza (UNLaM) is firmly committed to advancing internationalization as a strategic priority aimed at enhancing academic quality, fostering global collaboration, and expanding opportunities for its students, faculty, and researchers. To lead and coordinate these efforts, and under the guidance of the university’s leadership, the former Institute for International Cooperation was elevated in 2023 to the status of International Relations Secretariat (IRS)—a significant institutional milestone that reflects UNLaM’s strengthened commitment to internationalization and global engagement.

The IRS is responsible for negotiating and managing bilateral and multilateral agreements with foreign universities and organizations. It works in close coordination with the university’s Departments and Schools, as well as with other Secretariats, to ensure that internationalization efforts are integrated across all academic and administrative units.

Its mission includes supporting the development of international academic networks, promoting joint initiatives, and positioning the university as a dynamic and reliable partner on the global stage. Among its core responsibilities, the IRS promotes student and faculty mobility, both incoming and outgoing, through participation in programs such as Erasmus+, bilateral exchange agreements, and short-term academic or training visits.

Additionally, the IRS encourages virtual internationalization through innovative tools such as COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) and mirror classes, offering international and intercultural learning experiences to students regardless of their ability to travel. It also supports international research cooperation, language and cultural immersion programs, and regularly coordinates international weeks, seminars, and workshops designed to foster dialogue and mutual understanding.

Through these actions, and in collaboration with all sectors of the university, the International Relations Secretariat contributes to positioning UNLaM as a forward-looking, globally engaged institution, committed to academic excellence, inclusion, and international cooperation.