CUECH signs agreement to promote high quality standards within the framework of the Higher Education Reform

cuech2 session

The signing of the agreement took place at the Extension Center of the University of Talca, an event in which the Rector of the University of La Serena, Dr. Nibaldo Avilés Pizarro, participated.

Within the framework of the modifications to the Quality Assurance System established in Law 21.091 on higher education, the rectors who make up the Consortium of Universities of the State of Chile, signed the Collaboration Agreement for the promotion of strengthening the quality of Public Universities, which will allow the new mandatory comprehensive accreditation model to be addressed in a coordinated, collaborative manner and with the highest quality standards.

cuech3 sessionThe signing of the agreement took place at the Extension Center of the University of Talca, an event in which the Rector of the University of La Serena, Dr. Nibaldo Avilés Pizarro, who valued the signing of this agreement that will allow the new framework for quality assurance to be collaboratively faced and that, in addition, reflects the commitment to quality and continuous improvement of the universities of the State of Chile, institutions that have a role leading role in the development of the country and society. In the case of our institution, for several years it has defined the existence and application of various self-regulation mechanisms and, considering the relevance of the implementation of a comprehensive quality management system, it has reorganized the Directorate of Institutional Studies and Planning, transforming it into the Strategic Development and Quality Directorate.”

Under the regime, the system will operate with the following dimensions of accreditations: teaching and results of training processes, strategic management and institutional resources, internal quality assurance, links with the environment, and research, creation and innovation. In turn, it will have new levels of accreditation ranging from the basic level (3 years), advanced level (4 to 5 years) and level of excellence (6 to 7 years).

The president of the Consortium of State Universities of Chile, Rector Ennio Vivaldi Véjar, stated that this agreement is a signal so that “the Chilean family feels very deeply that these institutions give them a guarantee of quality. If the children of a Chilean family come to a state university, they will receive an education and training of the best quality here. That is why quality is central to us; we are a quality guarantee. We call on the country to support its universities, especially to make them feel like their own, because we feel like we belong to the country as a whole and that is what we are pointing out through this document.”

Also, during the work day, the rectors who make up the eighteen universities of the State, signed their commitment to support the Mineduc proposal on gender equality as agreed in the plenary session on March 27.

These milestones are a reflection of the collaboration and coordination established by Law 21.094 on state universities, which considers that public institutions must promote the excellence of all universities, gender equity and access opportunities throughout the territory, in addition to the relevance of teaching, academic and research activities according to the needs and interests of the country.