With the workshop “Challenges of Higher Education”, the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH) began a commemoration agenda for 2024, the year in which it celebrates seven decades of existence.

“It is a joy that CRUCH turns 70 on August 14. In this period we have been great collaborators of public policy in all subjects of higher education and we have also supported public policy in terms of research and the development of training of people," said the president(s) of CRUCH and rector of the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso, Nelson Vásquez, within the framework of the plenary session this Thursday, January 18 at the University of Tarapacá (UTA), Arica.

The CRUCH is a network that has grown significantly in recent decades and is currently made up of the rectors of 30 universities in the country, with extensive experience and excellence, with recognition in Latin America and the world, said Rector Vásquez. .

“The vision that the founders of CRUCH had then - in 1954 -, and among them I remember the former rector Gómez Millas, has been reflected over time and today it is an organization with a strong foundation in public policies and, above all , in the development of education in the country,” said Vásquez.

Regarding the lines of development of the institution, the Council promoted a strategic system for the coming years (SDE-CRUCH 2030), led by the CRUCH executive vice president and rector of the UTA, Emilio Rodríguez.

Vásquez explained that “the CRUCH, through its long-term strategic lines, is thinking about how training, research and the connection of universities with the environment materializes, based on a strong relationship with the development of the country, because Chilean universities must be in tune with the stage of development the country is in.”

Regarding the workshop “Challenges of Higher Education” it will take place this Friday, January 19 and can be seen through the following link. One of the main speakers will be Dr. Tristan McCOWAN, academic in International Education at the Institute of Education at University College London, who will talk about the quality of Higher Education.

Other topics of the session

Also participating during the session were the Minister of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development, Aisén Etcheverry; the Undersecretary of Higher Education, Víctor Orellana; and the general secretary of the Ibero-American University Council (CUIB), Felix García.

The minister spoke about the progress of structural financing in R&D&I for universities, pointing out that during this year, thanks to the approval of the 2024 budget bill, two research funds will be implemented for universities, one regional (FIU Regional) and one border (FIU Frontera).

To the FIU Regional, which seeks to strengthen the contribution of regional universities to territorial development and decentralization processes, accredited universities may apply for between 3 and 5 years. Meanwhile, at FIU Frontera, which aims to enhance the contribution of universities with institutional accreditation of excellence to national development, universities with 6 and 7 years of accreditation may apply.

“These funds are not research proposals, but rather a letter of intent from the institution, which in some way shows the vision of the university and what it hopes to do with the resources it obtains (…) it does not aspire to competitiveness, but than to collaboration and strengthening research capabilities,” indicated the minister.

For his part, the undersecretary presented the main results of the 2024 admission and the next stages of the process, highlighting the application of more women to scientific careers, for which additional places were opened this year.

“The effect of the 'More Women Scientists' policy is probably the most relevant data of this admission process, and the first thing I would like to do is thank the institutions for their willingness. This policy encourages and enhances the application of women in this area and if we maintained these growth rates, Chile could close this gap in a not very long term,” highlighted the undersecretary.

In turn, the authority stated that they continue working on the higher education modernization agenda announced in 2023 (see related note), according to the established deadlines and seeking to align the academic offer to the country's development challenges.

Meanwhile, the general secretary of the CUIB, an organization established in 2002 as a network of networks of Ibero-American universities, Felix García, asked the Council to resume its participation in this international body, as well as to contribute to the Ibero-American General Secretariat. “Your participation is essential so that we can advance in this Ibero-American area, in the construction of a common space for higher education, science, technology and innovation,” García emphasized.

UAH rector farewell

In the Arica session, the rectors bid farewell to the rector of the Alberto Hurtado University (UAH), Eduardo Silva, who after 8 years in office ends his term in March 2024.

The rector spent 5 years at CRUCH, during which time he was a member of the Executive Committee and was in charge of the Commission of Academic Vice-Rectors. In addition, he was chosen to represent the Council as a Jury for the National Journalism Award and in parliamentary bodies.

“It has been very pleasant to be part of this group, in which I have felt very welcomed and I have had the privilege of representing the three new universities that make up this Council on the Executive Committee: Universidad Diego Portales, Universidad de los Andes and the Alberto Hurtado University (…) I am very happy about this step on this Council and proud that Alberto Hurtado belongs to it,” commented Rector Silva.

Text: CRUCH Communications. 

Photos: Communications University of Tarapacá.