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“We know it will be an arduous task, but we will face it with joy,” said the architect, who was officially appointed this Wednesday as the top authority of the school for the next four years.
With the signing of the Institution's Golden Book and the presentation of the rector's medal, Dr. Rodrigo Vidal Rojas became the new rector of the University of Santiago de Chile for the period 2022-2026, during a solemn ceremony in the Campus's Aula Magna.
The event was attended by the Minister of Labor, Jeannette Jara Román; the Undersecretary of Higher Education, Verónica Figueroa Huencho; and the deputies Helia Molina Milman and Gael Yeomans Araya.
Also in attendance were the rectors Rosa Devés Alessandri (University of Chile) and Marisol Durán Santis (UTEM); and the rectors Carlos Saavedra Rubilar (UDEC), Osvaldo Corrales Jorquera (University of Valparaíso), and Rafael Rosell Aiquel (University of Alba).
This group was joined by members of the Board of Directors of the School, as well as the senior team of the Central Government, authorities and representatives of the student, academic, administrative and collegiate bodies.
Challenges
“This is a tremendous challenge and a great joy because of what it represents. It is a great responsibility; one feels the weight of the 173-year history of the University of Santiago. We know it will be an arduous task, but we will face it with joy,” said Rector Rodrigo Vidal.
The new top authority addressed the university community, stating: “I ask you to remain calm, because this is being built by everyone, to have confidence and patience in me, because I know there are many expectations, we will proceed little by little (…) We will fulfill everything we have committed to.”.
For his part, the outgoing rector, Dr. Juan Manuel Zolezzi Cid, wished Dr. Vidal every success and expressed his “pride and gratitude to each of the people who collaborated with their knowledge, abilities and willingness, so that our institution is today in the place it deserves.”.
Contribution to the country
Minister Jeannette Jara congratulated the university community of Usach and wished Rector Rodrigo Vidal strength and composure in his administration. “This is a great institution of higher learning, and its greatest asset lies in its people, who have made this public university an instrument for contributing to the country's development from a social, inclusive, and democratic perspective,” she stated.
Meanwhile, the Undersecretary of Higher Education, Verónica Figueroa Huencho, indicated that “we join in this commitment that Rector Vidal mentioned, to move towards a public and state education that positions itself, that puts itself at the service of the emerging problems of society and that contributes to a more egalitarian society, but that also recognizes the diversity that exists today in our society.”.
The audiovisual recording of the ceremony is available here.
*Source: USACH Communications
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