Two Seventh-day Adventist universities in South America have received government accreditation to become autonomous, fully recognized institutions. River Plate Adventist University in Entre Rios, Argentina, and Bolivia Adventist University in Cochabamba, Bolivia, were granted the status last month.

“Those governments have strict guidelines for starting a private university,” explains Enrique Becerra, associate director of education for the Adventist world church. “They allow you to start a university on a conditional charter, but five or 10 years later they throw the book at you. They study academics, faculty, finances, library, alumni—many get shut down.”

Impressed by the Adventist university in Bolivia, the country’s minister of education requested that it establish a professional training program for state teachers. Now every two years, 2,400 state educators receive their continuing training at Bolivia Adventist University. “In many countries, like Bolivia, governments recognize the high quality of education provided by Adventists,” says Becerra.

“The Bolivian university is a smaller school—700 students—but it’s a smaller country,” he adds. “Our influence is quite important there.” Bolivia Adventist University was first established as a college in 1931.

River Plate Adventist University in Argentina was established as a college in 1898. It currently has an enrollment of 1,800 students, and last year graduated its first class of medical students.