Rector of the ULS delivers public account at the Inauguration of the 2014 Academic Year

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The highest university authority highlighted that the conditions in which the institution is currently located allow it to look towards a place of greater relevance, which translates into the ULS being consolidated as a research and doctoral university in selective areas.

In the renovated Aula Magna of the Ignacio Domeyko Campus, the Official Opening Ceremony of the 2014 Academic Year of the University of La Serena and the 2013 public account of the Rector of the house of higher studies, Dr. Nibaldo Avilés Pizarro, were held, framed event on the 33rd anniversary of the institution and was attended by Mayor Hanne Utreras, Senator Adriana Muñoz, regional and communal authorities, the Armed Forces and Order and Security, as well as members of the university community and special guests.

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. 

account 2Among 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.

account 3Major 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.'' 

account 4Master 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.''