Rectors of CRUCH participate in a meeting on new Regional Universities in Coyhaique

At a meeting in Coyhaique attended by university presidents and authorities from the Aysén and O'Higgins regions, the main arguments that will support the future of state universities were presented.

In an intensive working session held in the city of Coyhaique, rectors from the universities belonging to the Council of Rectors (CRUCH) and teams from the Regional Governments of Aysén and O'Higgins met to discuss the creation of future state universities in their respective territories. Both regions presented the initial arguments gathered during the public consultation process, which will serve as the impetus for developing the future institutions and their academic programs.

The meeting was attended by the Intendant of the XII region, Ximena Órdenes, various regional authorities from both regions, the head of the Higher Education Division (DIVESUP) of the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC), rectors of universities from the far south of the CRUCH and representatives of civil society.

Regarding the timeline, both regions are finalizing the work to create the Executive Committee that will develop the university proposal for each region, which will be presented to President Michelle Bachelet. Both regions signed the collaboration agreement that will allow them to work together going forward with their respective executive committees.

This commission in Aysén will be responsible for systematizing the information generated from various sources in order to establish the foundations for the regional university's vision and, therefore, identify its distinctive character or identity. University rectors, authorities, academics, and representatives of civil society at the national and regional levels will participate in this process.

The meeting, convened by the Ministry of Education, was attended by the rectors of the University of La Frontera, Sergio Bravo; the University of Magallanes, Juan Oyarzo; the Austral University of Chile, Óscar Galindo; the Catholic University of the Holy Conception, Juan Cancino; and the University of Los Lagos, Óscar Garrido.

This work will be carried out in parallel with the parliamentary debate that should approve the Law creating the two regional universities, something that should happen in the coming months.

Coincidences

There are several points of agreement between the two regions, including among the university presidents who participated in the working session. One of the aspects that generates the most consensus is that the educational model should be focused on complementarity rather than competition between universities.

There, Mayor Ximena Órdenes reiterated that the Aysén Regional University must have a distinctive character "that allows it to generate new knowledge from Aysén, but also to become a benchmark, capable of providing solutions to global issues." The goal of both universities would be to establish themselves as a hub for research development focused on postgraduate studies rather than traditional undergraduate programs. "Changing the paradigm," as was repeated by several academics and authorities.

“We have the challenge and the opportunity to test new designs. First, we need to gather existing information and experience, see how state universities have worked, but also focus on innovation and development,” says the mayor of Aysén.

Francisco Martínez, head of the Higher Education division of the Ministry of Education, indicated that universities will have "the support they require from the current institutional framework, but it does not constitute such a radical situation," since "universities operate autonomously.".