The activity was led by the rector of UTEM, Marisol Durán, director of the Commitment to Sustainable Development Network, together with rectors of the Consortium of State Universities and with the presence of the Minister of the Environment, Maisa Rojas.

Rectors of the 18 state universities that make up the CUECH Commitment to Sustainable Development Network, committed themselves through the signing of a Declaration to promoting, not only sustainable development in all aspects of institutional management and operation, but also also to be agents of profound change at the local and global level.

With this act, the signatories confirmed that they are aware of the magnitude of the challenges and are convinced that public higher education must be a key driver to build a fair and inclusive, prosperous and environmentally regenerative society. In this long path towards 2030, they are committed to being an example and leaders in promoting sustainability in all its dimensions.

“There is no doubt about the leading role that universities can and should play in confronting climate change, considering their status as institutions that are repositories of advanced knowledge and knowledge in the field of science and that, at the same time, are trainers of agents of change,” said the rector of UTEM, Marisol Durán, who is director of the Commitment to Sustainable Development Network.

Durán added that “we must take charge of incorporating sustainability into the DNA of the students, which means articulating that perspective transversally, in any subject of study, to generate medium and long-term changes in society and, obviously, to short term in the university communities of the country.”

For her part, the Minister of the Environment, Maisa Roja, thanked the state universities for their commitment to promoting sustainability. The Secretary of State said she was very happy to participate in the launch and pointed out that the “role of the university is absolutely crucial in manifesting and bringing us closer to the sustainability of the country” since, “it helps us work and train people who can take charge of the environmental challenges that the country has.” 

He added that “environmental education plays a very important role. We need a very significant number of professionals who understand, who are committed, and for that it is essential that universities are training these professionals of today and tomorrow.”

Along the same lines, the rector of the University of Valparaíso and president of CUECH, Osvaldo Corrales, declared that “for us it is a milestone of the greatest significance, which responds to the vision, commitment and values ​​that universities have to have with the sustainable development of our country and its regions.”

The also present rector of the UFRO, Eduardo Hebel, said that “for us the issue of sustainability is fundamental. This was born many years ago with quite humble signs, but it acquired great importance not only at the student level, but also among teachers and officials.”

At the end of the ceremony, each of the rectors present signed it. They were also given a table that framed the commitment of each university, which was delivered by David Blanco, coordinator of the Commitment to Sustainable Development Network coordinated by CUECH.

Source: CUECH