The initiative was carried out with the objective of bringing closer and making visible the work carried out by researchers in the area.

Just three months after the arrival of one of the astronomical phenomena most anticipated by scientists and the community of the Coquimbo Region, the total eclipse of the sun, the University of La Serena got in tune by developing the first Directed Astronomy Conference to students of pedagogical careers and teachers of the school system. The event had the participation of various national and international researchers, who reflected on the topic and the importance it has in education.

The day was born from the interest of the students of the Pedagogy in Mathematics and Physics degree, as a way to delve deeper into the topic of astronomy in their academic spaces. “We are very happy to be able to connect with students and teachers, because one of the ways to improve education is precisely by doing more science and translating it into scientific knowledge that can be transferred to the future citizens of the country. We must awaken that critical spirit in them, but giving solutions to those difficulties that arise when teaching science,” emphasized academic Marcelo Jaque, who was part of the organizers of this initiative promoted by the Department of Physics and Astronomy and supported by various institutional units.

The activity was attended by students from different pedagogical careers in the scientific area, who actively participated in the different talks given by the experts. “These sessions open up a new vision for us about astronomy, which is very relevant as teachers in training, since, as there are very technical topics, it allows us to generate new knowledge and learn new ways of transferring these subjects,” said Joaquín. Gutiérrez, student of the Mathematics and Physics Pedagogy degree at the university.

Furthermore, one of the purposes sought by this instance was to be able to achieve a link with the environment on the part of scientists and bring these topics closer to current teachers, who are in charge of transmitting this scientific knowledge in their classrooms. “These spaces are an excellent opportunity to access the cutting edge in the area of ​​astronomy. Furthermore, as teachers we have the task of focusing on how we are transferring this research in our classes, we must do it in a didactic and entertaining way, that is of interest to current generations, and this day gives us an alternative and hopefully it will be repeated “said the Ped graduate. in Biology and Natural Sciences, Claudia Farías.

Given the success and great attendance of this first day, it is expected to soon replicate this event, adding other academic spaces such as workshops, field trips or round tables where reflection is carried out among all the agents who interact in science and education.

Written by Daniela Ledezma, UGIP

The Cambridge Assessment English certification highlights the optimal preparation that future professionals at the University of La Serena have.

As an added value to the degree, ULS English Pedagogy students qualify for the “Certificate in advanced English” Cambridge Assessment English, not only because it opens doors for them, but because it also positions them at an advantage over other professionals, since it categorizes them as future teachers at an advanced level to take classes in the classroom or function abroad with English speaking.

This year, 18 students in the undergraduate program received this important international certification. The test, which is taken at the end of the eighth level of the degree, allows us to identify the degree of perfection with which they use the English language.

An important point is that the exam is free for students who opt for it, since it is the Faculty of Humanities itself that pays 100% of its value.

Valentina Reyes, a student in the last year of her degree, pointed out that this test is very important and that from the beginning of their teacher training, academics reported that it was essential to get certified, because it raises curricular expectations. “I feel proud of the performance achieved because it is one of the most important in Chile. There are many teachers who graduate and do not have this opportunity to take this test to be certified at this level, so being one of the few privileged ones is very important and quite gratifying,” said the young woman.

Written by Patricia Castro, DIDEC

The Academic Vice-Rector of the University of La Serena, together with the Directorate of Teaching, Directorate of Institutional Studies and Planning and the Teaching Improvement Unit, invites academics to apply for the “Good Teaching Practices Competition”, version 2019.

The objectives of this contest are to encourage academics to generate innovative teaching-learning strategies that contribute to the implementation of renewed curricula, and to promote the formation of work teams in the formulation and execution of project proposals for Good Teaching Practices.

The application forms for the contest in paper format and in digital format (Word) will be received until May 10 at the Secretariat of the Department of assignment of the academic responsible for the project.

Application bases and form are available here and on the sites: www.docencia.userena.cl/ y umd.userena.cl

This was stated by the academic from the School of Psychology of the University of La Frontera in the context of her talk “Pedagogical strategies: Autism spectrum disorder”, which she gave at the University of La Serena.

With the firm conviction that more and more progress can be made in terms of inclusion, the prominent professional in the area, Mg Arlett Krause, an academic at the UFRO and current doctoral student at the University of Salamanca, Spain, spoke with professors from the Coquimbo Region in the meeting organized by the ULS Office of Inclusion and Disability called “Pedagogical strategies for diversity: Autism Spectrum Disorder and motor disability”, within the framework of the ULS1799 project.

At the activity, which was attended by academics in the area and professionals who are experts in integration and inclusion, Krause stated that although “Chile has made progress in inclusion issues, there are still no guaranteed rights.”

In conversation with this medium, the expert analyzed the way in which education can be an active entity of significant changes, not only starting from the basis of the integration model, but also allowing practice to strengthen what this concept really means.

“I think there are many challenges. Universities have a job of training professionals and in that the frameworks must be updated, or is it conceivable in a globalized society of the future that students do not have inclusion content, I believe that is a duty of universities. On the other hand, universities, especially state universities, have a public role and that is to work with the communities and contexts of the territories, and I think that in this regard, the universities are just learning to do so and, without a doubt, it is an contribution to social changes, since they can not only be done discursively, but also in practical training and I believe that universities are addressing the issue there.”

In addition, the academic from the UFRO School of Psychology highlighted the work that the University of La Serena is doing, creating participatory workshops with entities involved in complex scenarios, where inclusion is lived day by day, but where, without a doubt, the path is long.

He also thanked the institution for the invitation he received, and highlighted the way in which the ULS has been taking active participation in different inclusion activities, showing that this “is no longer someone else's issue, but rather our own, where we must take part to deliver solutions.”

Written by Patricia Castro, DIDEC

The initiative is part of the result of the joint work that the Rector Dr. Nibaldo Avilés is carrying out with the Assembly of Self-convened Women of the University of La Serena (AMAULS), whose objective is to educate and raise awareness in the university community.

Publicizing the regulations that protect the student body, officials and academics in matters of sexual and workplace harassment, gender violence and arbitrary discrimination, will be the objective of the campaign. “ULS Safe Space, for a Violence Free University”, promoted by the Rectorate and the Assembly of Self-convoked Women (AMAULS) and which seeks to become an effective prevention strategy.

In this regard, the Rector of the ULS explained that “it has been an important job to publicize the new current regulations associated with the prevention of harassment and discrimination. The community must know its rights and duties, so that the institution responds efficiently to the solution of problems that may arise within the community. “We want an environment of coexistence where tolerance and respect prevail and we also contribute to the quality of life of our entire university corporation.”

For this reason, this April 10 it was decided that work will be carried out on the implementation of a dissemination campaign to publicize the Protocol, which will include graphic and digital pieces, as well as talks and workshops to disseminate the most important and necessary points to know what includes the "Labor Harassment Protocol, Sexual Harassment, Psychological Harassment, Abuse of Power, Arbitrary Discrimination", as well as its application in case of need.

For the English Pedagogy student, Laura Espinoza Álvarez, an active member of AMAULS, it is very important to work in an integrated manner with the institution. "Today, after a mobilization in which we were able to unite opinions and work together to carry out a protocol that covers all levels of the University, we continue advancing in this table aimed at working on explaining the Protocol, delivering the information to the entire university community and at the same time inform and prevent violence in the student context.”

This campaign will have the support of professionals who will begin working at the Center for Attention to Complaints and Prevention of Workplace Harassment, Sexual Harassment, Psychological Harassment, Abuse of Power and Arbitrary Discrimination, the General Directorate of Student Affairs and AMULS.

The objective of the initiative is to respond to a palpable concern of the university community through this dissemination campaign titled: “ULS Safe Space, for a University free of Violence.”

Commitment to the student body

“This work will be part of the dissemination strategies of the Protocol created in 2018 and which has served to advance the path against sexual harassment, gender violence and discrimination,” explained the Rector, Dr. Nibaldo Avilés.

In the meeting held in the Andacollo Room of the Central House, the Vice Chancellor for Economic and Administrative Affairs, Dr. Alejandra Torrejón, the Student Welfare Coordinator, Mg. Patricia Astroza, the professional of the new Center, Marcela Seguel and the members of the AMAULS Commission.

In this way, What to do? Where to go? How to Report? They will be part of the answers that will be available to the entire university community, through the dissemination campaign that will begin to be developed in the coming weeks with the aim of preventing and promoting a safe space among the members of the University of La Serena.

This commitment is the result of the table between the Rector's Office and the Assembly of Self-convened Women, who, motivated by following up on the points emanating from the 2018 feminist student mobilization, have continued to work monthly to respond to a series of problems that need to be made visible and resolved. .

For those who wish to know the Protocol can access: https://transparencia.userena.cl/transparencia_2012/?d=_decretos_universitarios&t=decreto_exento_253_2018

Written by Prensa Rectory

Before a full Pentagon Hall, the celebration of the XNUMXth anniversary of the Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences (FACSE) took place, an event led by the Dean, Dr. Luperfina Rojas Escobar.

Dr. Rojas, in her opening speech, developed a balance focused on the progress made in the last year, highlighting the efforts and challenges to come. In addition, she expressed that "as a Faculty we work with commitment to the continuous improvement of the teaching staff and we seek to carry out scientific research and publications, one of the challenges for which we are preparing."

In the development of her speech, the Dean also added that “as a University and as a Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences, we are called to promote professional training, in contact with reality, above all, in contact with those who live most excluded from work. social, economic and cultural. On this path, we must continue moving forward, because we have institutional and career self-assessment ahead of us. In this project, it is important to unite and value the effort that each and every one of us puts into their respective actions and objectives. Our university community has managed to move forward and make this university a prestigious institution, recognized nationally for its quality,” she concluded.

Special guests

At the anniversary ceremony, which included the participation of the Rector, Dr. Nibaldo Avilés and higher authorities, academics and students, the President of the Honorable Board of Directors of the University, Ernesto Velasco Rodríguez, gave a masterful talk where he expressed the challenges that They are presented within the framework of globalization, also highlighting their commitment and interest in favor of the next institutional accreditation.

On the occasion, the six highest PSU scores from the careers assigned to the Faculty were distinguished and the professional practice of two academics from the macro-unit who during 2017 and 2018 took voluntary retirement was praised. Thus, the academics Mg. Yasna Barrios Véliz and Mg. Marcela Poblete Ibaceta were awarded during the ceremony, and likewise, the academic Alex Ovalle Letelier, received recognition for obtaining the academic degree of Doctor in History of Chile.

It should be noted that the Faculty has two academic departments: Social Sciences and Economic and Business Sciences and the schools and careers of Auditing, Commercial Engineering, Pedagogy in History and Geography, Journalism, Engineering in Business Administration and Law. Each of these units carries out collective work in favor of positioning the Faculty as an important actor in the achievement of objectives and training of excellent professionals of the University of La Serena.

Written by Paula Godoy, ULS Journalist