News
In a column published in the newspaper La Tercera, the executive vice president of the Council of Rectors, Emilio Rodríguez, highlighted the contributions of the institution within the framework of its 68th anniversary.
The rector of the University of Tarapacá stated that “at this time, as CRUCH celebrates its 68th anniversary, it once again has the opportunity to adopt a leadership position to meaningfully fulfill its legal mission of advising and formulating proposals to the Ministry of Education on public policies that will define the future of higher education for the coming decades.”.
In the knowledge age, university education plays a fundamental role in the progress of individuals, nations, and society as a whole. Indeed, the primary source of strategic value creation, in virtually every sphere of human endeavor, lies in the creation and management of knowledge. In turn, universities offer a space to contribute to a more holistic education for individuals.
Certainly, university educational processes influence the development of individuals at the cognitive, psychological, social, and moral levels, strengthening their capacity to navigate an increasingly complex society. Furthermore, these processes foster a more active, participatory citizenry concerned with social development. Higher education also generates advanced knowledge, enabling progress in the field and impacting innovation, social development, economic growth, and the sustainability of territories. Efforts to develop and disseminate culture and the arts are yet another area in which universities benefit their regions.
Thus, the teaching, research, and community engagement carried out by universities, along with other higher education institutions, contribute decisively to the well-being of a country. Consequently, an organization like the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH) has played a leading role in the development of the Chilean education system, with decisions and actions that have contributed to quality, equity, and territorial development.
It suffices to see that, in the national geography, there is a university of advanced quality or excellence in each region of the country, which belongs to the CRUCH and develops its work with the levels of complexity that are necessary, so that Chile can insert itself and benefit from the opportunities offered by the knowledge economy; without neglecting, of course, the integral formative role and the social commitment that are inherent to universities, which have an indisputable public vocation.
At this time, as CRUCH celebrates its 68th anniversary, it once again has the opportunity to adopt a leadership position to meaningfully fulfill its legal mission of advising and formulating proposals to the Ministry of Education on public policies that will define the future of higher education for the coming decades; promoting, in turn, collaboration among universities that share not only a rich tradition, but also the pursuit of the common good.
Strengthening initial teacher training is an unavoidable challenge for Chile. International research conclusively demonstrates the essential role of early childhood, primary, and secondary education in human development. Another challenge is the integration of digital transformation into university management, especially in educational processes. Teaching through virtual reality, the use of artificial intelligence, combined with cloud computing options (remote software access, file storage, and data processing via the internet), and the use of robotics are some of the many possibilities offered by learning environments. The proposal for an integrated system of universities of excellence from Arica to Magallanes is undoubtedly another challenge to which the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH) can contribute, from the initial design of the proposal to its implementation in each region of the country.
Incidentally, these are just some examples of the challenges that CRUCH can take on and, with its proposals and actions, can radically influence the course of education in Chile in the coming decades.
*This column was published in The Third.
Spanish 
English