With a useful talk, the training activities of the ''StartUp Phase 0'' program began, promoted by the University of La Serena and Corfo, which brought together 60 university students, as well as recent graduates from different universities. higher studies in the Coquimbo Region.

The program is in its third generation and promotes an innovative work methodology; which comes to the area through the entrepreneurship program promoted by the Government of Chile, through Corfo. Gustavo Dubó, regional director(s) of this entity, invited young people to dream, ''to dare to create their own businesses, since although it is valid to go out and look for work after university, it is also valid to generate your own company and give employment to others, for which there is the help of State institutions, such as Corfo.''

This is how "Global Thinking Coaching" was a complete success, the first stage experienced by those selected from this third generation of the ULS ''StartUp Phase 0'', which sought to teach key concepts to innovate and develop some specific skills for the entrepreneurship; Furthermore, in this first activity, some of the current business development methodologies were explained to the participants in an introductory manner, debunking some myths, as well as updating concepts in this matter.

For the speaker of the day, Javier Traslaviña, professor at the Adolfo Ibáñez University, this is an instance in which participants can learn and clarify their doubts in a global way, in matters of entrepreneurship and innovation. ''This activity is planned as a provocation, literally, so that they can mature their ventures and business ideas and if they do not have them, inspire them to go look for opportunities, to be able to develop interesting business ideas and from that the participants can Then work on them with other tools or other different methodological bases, since an entrepreneur takes everything that is useful for the project and is not left with just one line of work," he said. 

Next week the participants will be part of the "Startup Essentials" on March 27,28, 29 and XNUMX, an activity that will seek to build and validate ideas with current business development methodologies, to finally, the best ideas be selected for a process of search for public or private financing in the region.

As a result of previous versions of this program, with regard to Corfo alone, 10 regional seed capital projects have been approved, an instrument that provides co-financing that can reach 25 million pesos.

 

Within the framework of the Inauguration ceremony of the 2014 Academic Year and the commemoration of the 33rd anniversary of the University of La Serena, held in the Aula Magna of the Ignacio Domeyko Campus, the institution distinguished the officials of the house of studies who are turning 20 and 30 years of service, thus recognizing the dedication of each one in the performance of their duties.

This is how the vice-rector for Economic and Administrative Affairs, Dr. Marcela Aguirre, presented a medal and a diploma to the officials Mario Álvarez (General Services), Ingrid Balbontín (School of Design), Nelson Campaña (General Services), Juan Canihuante (General Services), Guillermo Ríos (Department of Physical Education and Sports), Sandro Torres (DGAE), Juan Carlos Villalobos (General Services) and Beatriz Pamela Villanueva (Kindergarten), who are celebrating 20 years at the ULS.

Likewise, the officials Eliana Barahona (D. of Maintenance), Sergio Barraza (CETECFI), Claudio Cerda (D. of Mobilization), Eduardo Cortés (Dept. of Mechanical Engineering), Carmen Cortés (Dept. of Chemistry) received distinctions. , Adela González (Student Health Department), Lucía Hernández (Rector's Office), Tomás Mundaca (General Services), Oscar Orellana (General Services), Felipe Oros (CICULS), Pablo Ramos (General Services), Carlos Rodríguez (General Services) , Ana Margarita Segovia (Kindergarten), Luis Trigo (Supply Dept.) and Jhonny Valdivia (General Services), with 30 years of service in the institution.

Official Merit Award

This year, the Civil Servant Merit Award, an award established by the Rector's Office, went to Wilma Jeraldo, secretary of the Dean's Office of Engineering, who received the distinction from the Rector, Dr. Nibaldo Avilés.

The activity, framed in the celebration of the 33rd anniversary of the house of higher education, was attended by university authorities, headed by the Rector, Dr. Nibaldo Avilés, members of the Board of Directors, directors, Department and School directors, officials and students from the Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences, who were able to tour this renovated and modern space, which has a heating system, and also see the new equipment in the Commercial Engineering and Law rooms, and the provision of toilet services for people with disabilities. disability.

In this regard, the Rector of the ULS pointed out that these Campus improvement works are a clear example of the development and growth of the institution, 'advances that are the result of the work of each of the members of a university community that is becoming stronger.' '. Likewise, he emphasized that these works, framed in the policy of continuous improvement of the current administration, generate a series of opportunities for the young people of our region, by transforming into a more pleasant and useful place for the academic development of the students. . 

For his part, the dean of the Faculty of Cs. Social and Economic, Mg. Jorge Fernández, along with stating that this modern facility fills the university community with legitimate pride, thanked the support provided by the highest university authority and the directors for the completion of this work and the progress achieved in recent years in terms of infrastructure and equipment. , giving as an example the channeling of rainwater, the paving of the parking lots for teachers and students, the entrance portico of the Campus, the expansion of the Casino and the remodeling of the student bathrooms, the change of floor of the macro-unit hall, the remodeling of rooms, among other improvements. 

Meanwhile, the Director of Teaching, Mg. Laura Vega highlighted that this room is transformed into a space where ''students can incubate ideas, find information, communicate with others,'' adding that with an Educational Model like that of the ULS, oriented to student-centered learning, "The real or virtual library becomes the center of this process, since it becomes a laboratory of ideas, a center of knowledge, an ideal space for learning." 

During the ceremony, in addition, the person in charge of the Library System, Héctor García, presented a video with the construction stages of this Reading Room, indicating that the building will generate and enhance the capacity for self-learning "and invites for students to develop their own skills.

On the occasion, the highest university authority highlighted the qualitative leap that the institution has experienced in the last seven years and the results obtained as a university community. 

Among the progress achieved, the obtaining of economic resources for the construction of the units that will replace the Coquimbo Campus in the city of La Serena stood out, which amount to $4.250 billion and were allocated by the National Regional Development Fund (FNDR). , through the Regional Government of Coquimbo. ''This administration assumed the commitment to manage this project and today, in the celebration of our institutional anniversary, we can say with great pride that we have fulfilled it,'' he expressed.

Within institutional management, he pointed out that the organic structure has been reinforced with the creation of new units and offices, responding to the requirements of the current management of the universities. ''This consolidation is also supported by the results of the accreditation processes, both career and institutional, which demonstrate continuous improvement,'' stated the Rector.

Regarding teaching, he explained that the offer of undergraduate programs increased and the curricular renewal of the courses began. He also highlighted that the indicators of physical and electronic bibliographic material have been improved, and a systematic improvement of rooms, laboratories and other rooms intended for students has been carried out, along with the renewal of equipment and furniture.

Among the investments destined exclusively for the equipment of the laboratories used in teaching, is the Preclinical Laboratory for Dentistry, which includes 19 simulation models or phantoms. For the Kinesiology degree, the Biomechanics and Movement Analysis Laboratory was set up, in addition to the Physiotherapy Laboratory and Therapeutic Gym equipped with eight ergonomic stretchers. The Central Anatomy Laboratory was also enabled, which has modern equipment that places it at the level of the best laboratories of this type, and which has a 3D bisectional anatomical table, along with 250 state-of-the-art anatomical models.

Major equipment was also purchased for the Faculty of Engineering, in the departments of Civil Works, Mining Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Architecture and Food Engineering. “These investments for the Faculty of Engineering constitute the first investment in major equipment made after 1970,” he said. To this must be added other important contributions in equipment and improvement of physical spaces of the departments of other faculties, such as: Chemistry, Biology, Arts and Letters, Education, Social Sciences, Agronomy, Physics, Economics and Business Sciences, among others. .

In turn, he commented that the process of preparing the project and bidding for the building of the Law program and the Dental Clinic of the Dentistry program was initiated; both initiatives are fully financed for their execution.

On the other hand, during the public account, Dr. Avilés addressed the advances in Research, stating that a policy of strong incentives for this activity and scientific productivity was implemented, increasing the promotion programs implemented by the DIULS and the resources available for it. ''Today the ISI/SciELO academic assignment of scientific productivity is a reality,'' he said.

The institutional policy on scientific research, implemented over the last seven years, has allowed a notable increase in scientific works published by ULS academics and researchers, as well as the awarding of external projects, achieving historical indicators in scientific productivity. 

University of La Serena towards superior quality

Furthermore, the Rector of the ULS was emphatic in pointing out that after the third institutional accreditation process, it can be ensured that the areas of undergraduate teaching, connection with the environment and institutional management are fully consolidated. The conditions in which our University is currently located allow us, after this third accreditation process, to look towards a place of greater relevance. This means that the University of La Serena is consolidated as a research and doctoral university in selective areas.'' 

For this, he explained, the way we plan and implement what we must do is relevant. For this reason, in the next review of our PED Strategic Development Plan, this challenge must be incorporated." 

''And we have called this challenge 'the University of La Serena towards superior quality.' To this end, the ULS must focus its new Strategic Development Plan to meet these goals, considering that this requires an organization, resources and a team of top-level researchers,'' said the highest university authority, adding that it is essential that introduce more specific lines of action, "so that in the medium term we have five accredited doctoral programs and, in the long term, eleven accredited doctorates to reach levels of maximum excellence."

''What we intend is to consolidate a University of research and doctorates in selective areas,'' the Rector emphasized, pointing out that in this aspect ''we must also keep in mind that it is imperative to resolve the issue of academic and civil servant staff, as well as ", regarding the civil service career and the definitive solution for the people who have been under contract for a long time."

Finally, he expressed that ''the path to a university of excellence has already been laid out. I invite you to be participants in this great project that will lead our institution to be recognized as the only state university in the Coquimbo Region, of superior quality.'' 

Master class

During this solemn event, Senator Adriana Muñoz gave the Master Talk ''Education, an essential right for a society of equals'', where she presented some reflections on the situation of education in our country and the perspectives and commitments that each one has. carry out substantive and fundamental changes that are on the legislative agenda as a first priority. 

Regarding the public account of Rector Avilés, the senator pointed out that the University of La Serena is an example of a higher education institution, since despite the little funding it receives, ''but with a deep conviction and passion for public education, shows these levels of advancement and development.''