Texas Global
University of Texas Press
Historic Delegation Cultivates International Partnerships
The largest international delegation in UT Austin history traveled to Mexico City in 2023 to participate in La Feria Internacional del Libro de las Universitarias y los Universitarios, known widely as FILUNI.
UT Austin was invited as the first university from the United States to co-host the annual book festival and conference, which featured university presses from across the Americas and Europe. The six-day event attracted 42,000 attendees to the host campus of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM).
The delegation of Longhorns included more than 140 faculty members, students, performers, campus leaders, staff members, and alumni representing 23 colleges, schools, and units. The University led and participated in 54 roundtable discussions, research symposia, live podcast recordings, musical performances, film screenings, and exhibitions.
“The myriad activities at FILUNI showcased the work of our faculty researchers, authors, and artists across Mexico and the United States,” said Sonia Feigenbaum, UT’s senior vice provost for global engagement. “FILUNI represented a bolstering of historical ties and shared cultural influences between our countries. UT Austin’s engagement with UNAM and Mexico spans decades of collaborations, and we’re deeply honored to be the first U.S. institution to partner on this impactful project.
UT Austin’s participation served as a dynamic platform to broaden the scope and strengthen the robust relationship between UT Austin and UNAM as well as other institutions of higher education and university presses in the region. While in Mexico City, deans and other leaders met with colleagues from across the Americas to exchange perspectives and assess potential collaborations.
“We are on a journey to move past our own opinions and learning, and seek a broader vision. Each of us wants to change the world, to make it a better place, and this conference is an excellent place to work toward that goal together.”
— Jay Hartzell, President, The University of Texas at Austin
“I was pleased to be part of the largest contingent of UT Austin faculty, staff, and students ever to travel abroad together,” said Celeste González de Bustamante, then-associate dean for global initiatives in the Moody College of Communication. “As someone who has a longstanding relationship with academics in various parts of Mexico, I hope that UT’s participation in FILUNI will inspire even deeper and broader collaborations across both universities.”
FILUNI 2023 programming was developed around the research pillars of UT’s 10-year strategic plan, Change Starts Here. Themes included society and technology; health and well-being; energy and the environment; and culture and the arts.
Formal sessions and informal conversations among delegation participants promoted many strategic plan objectives. From research and faculty partnerships to master classes and student exchanges, FILUNI set the stage for new and enriched academic connections across disciplines and beyond borders. The momentum precipitated by these historic connections between UT Austin and UNAM will yield continued tangible outcomes in Mexico and the region for years to come.
“FILUNI is a testament to the robust collaborations we have with peers in Mexico and Latin America,” said then-Executive Vice President and Provost Sharon Wood. “Partnerships are essential to meeting our collective goals. Working together leads to critical research connections and transformative student experiences, and opens the doors of our University to talented scholars, students, and experts from around the world.” Read More
“As we continue to advance the global reach of the University, Mexico is crucial as our neighbor, friend, and partner. We share a border, history, language, culture, and community, and we never cease the exchange of people and knowledge.”
— Sonia Feigenbaum, Senior Vice Provost for Global Engagement, The University of Texas at Austin
Filuni
BY THE NUMBERS
42,000
ATTENDEES
100,000
BOOKS FOR PURCHASE
92
UT AUSTIN PRESENTERS with 95 PEERS from LATIN AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS
140
UT AUSTIN PARTICIPANTS from 23 COLLEGES, SCHOOLS, AND UNITS
