About Us Bridging Heidelberg and Ibero-America: HCIAS and HCLA

The HCIAS is Heidelberg’s cornerstone for building bridges to Ibero-America in research, teaching, and knowledge transfer. The HCIAS works closely—both structurally and in terms of infrastructure—with the Heidelberg Center Latin America (HCLA) in Santiago de Chile to promote meaningful academic dialogue on, with, and in Ibero-America.

Together, HCIAS and HCLA create a dynamic transregional platform that supports mobility, collaborative projects, and shared teaching formats, thereby strengthening Heidelberg’s presence and engagement within the region. By connecting scholars, students, and institutions, the center foster long-term partnerships that enable the joint development of innovative research agendas and sustainable academic exchange.

The HCIAS expands and strengthens Heidelberg University’s academic networks across Ibero-America while complementing them with region-specific research expertise grounded in interdisciplinary collaboration. On Heidelberg University’s campus in Latin America, the HCIAS integrates perspectives from the social sciences, humanities, and cultural studies and develops new thematic priorities in partnership with local universities, particularly in areas such as communication and sustainability research.