Gustavo Gesteira Costa is the President of the Accademia Europea di Firenze (AEF), where he champions a transformative educational vision centred on sustainability, community engagement, and immersive cultural learning. As a leader in international education, President Gesteira is guiding AEF's evolution into a global model for how academic institutions can integrate environmental and social responsibility into the core of their mission, preparing a new generation of creative thinkers to build a more just and sustainable world.
Under President Gesteira’s leadership, AEF has embarked on a comprehensive "Journey to Sustainability," embedding ecological and social principles into every facet of the institution. AEF became the first educational institution in Italy to sign the CANIE Accord, a significant commitment to climate action within international education. Demonstrating his personal and institutional commitment, President Gesteira formally signed the AEF Sustainability Pledge, which has catalysed a series of impactful initiatives. These include the systematic integration of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into all academic courses, the launch of a Carbon Literacy Course, and the establishment of an annual AEF Sustainability Week. This pioneering approach has earned international recognition, with AEF being nominated as a finalist for the GoAbroad Innovation Awards twice: once for Innovation in Sustainability and again for its Innovative Study Abroad Programme.
President Gesteira's educational philosophy is defined by its focus on creating learning experiences that are "experiential, international, and deeply rooted in the local community," a vision realised through the institution's signature Community Based Global Learning methodology. Under his guidance, AEF has seen remarkable growth, increasing student enrolments and expanding its international reach with a 152% increase in partnerships over three years. This expansion has led to the establishment of strategic partnerships with prestigious universities from the USA, Mexico, Brazil, and now the UAE, among others. To ensure the highest standards of academic excellence during this period of growth, President Gesteira's leadership is supported by the AEF Academic Advisory Council, a distinguished body of international scholars that provides quality assurance and advises on the development and evaluation of all academic programmes. His commitment to the core values of "respect, community, and sustainability" has expanded access to culturally immersive programmes that foster intercultural understanding and ethical engagement.
His leadership at AEF is built upon a deep foundation of practical experience and academic rigour. Prior to his presidency, he worked for over a decade with Study Abroad programmes for public school students from Brazil, facilitating transformative exchanges in nine countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. This extensive background in cross-cultural education provides him with a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing international students. President Gesteira holds an undergraduate degree and two postgraduate degrees in Law from Brazilian institutions, a specialisation in Contratos y Daños from the prestigious Universidad de Salamanca in Spain, and a Master in Business Administration from Cedepe Business School, equipping him with a multidisciplinary skill set to navigate the complexities of modern academic leadership.
At the heart of his work is a profound personal passion for the arts and a core belief that "education is an instrument for transforming people's lives". This conviction animates his strategic direction for AEF, ensuring that the institution not only delivers academic excellence but also inspires students to become creative, responsible, and engaged global citizens.
