UNESCO Study: 87% of Higher Education Institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean Use AI, Only 26% Have Formal Strategy

A new UNESCO IESALC and UNU-IAS study released on September 8, 2026, covers 200 higher education institutions across 19 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. It finds that 87% of institutions use AI in at least one area, but only 26% have a formal AI strategy. AI use is prevalent in teaching and learning and increasingly supports research, often driven by faculty, researchers, and students.

This study provides the first large-scale evidence base for AI education policy in Latin America and the Caribbean, directly influencing AI governance and investment directions in the region's higher education institutions. It reveals a gap between AI adoption and formal strategies, prompting governments and institutions to strengthen governance and capacity building. The study is published by UN agencies, lending authority, but data is self-reported and may overestimate actual usage. Provides benchmark data for higher education institutions in the region to develop AI strategies, potentially driving more institutions to establish formal governance frameworks. Provides evidence for international organizations to promote AI education cooperation and investment in the region, influencing regional education policy agendas.