The Council of Rectors for the Integration of Southwestern South America is a sub-regional, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting inter-university integration and collaboration. CRISCOS is made up of universities in northeastern Argentina (Jujuy, Salta, Santiago del Estero, Tucumán, Catamarca and La Rioja), northern Chile (from the 14th Region to the 4th Region), southeastern Paraguay and Bolivia, each represented by their respective Rector. The members of CRISCOS began meeting in 1993 in Salta, Argentina, at the first of a series of annual meetings between participating rectors. The organization was officially constituted in 1996 in Antofagasta.
The aim of the Council is to lay the foundations for integration between the peoples of South America, the southwestern part of the continent in particular, in order to broaden opportunities for academic, scientific, technological and cultural cooperation between universities located in this sub-region.