Rector Emilio Rodríguez: “We hope that our universities will receive the necessary budgetary support from the State to guarantee their sustainability.”

In the lead-up to the processing of the 2023 Budget, the CRUCH anticipated that it will present budget proposals and requested that the principle of not detriment to the conditions of the campuses be considered.

The plenary session reviewed the results of a consultation with the educational institutions, which showed new progress in the implementation of Law No. 21,369.

The Council of Rectors also made progress in creating an advisory commission on Pedagogy degrees, whose first task will be to carry out a strategic diagnosis regarding teacher training.

The upcoming processing of the 2023 Budget was one of the central topics addressed by the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH) this Thursday, September 29, prior to President Gabriel Boric's address to the nation tonight regarding the bill.

The executive vice president of CRUCH, Rector Emilio Rodríguez (University of Tarapacá) stated that “we hope that our universities will receive the necessary budgetary support from the State to guarantee their sustainability.”.

During session No. 637, hosted by the Catholic University of Temuco in the capital of the Araucanía region, the university official stated that universities require a situation that does not negatively impact their operating conditions. “We hope that at least the operating conditions we have enjoyed this year will be preserved, and that means having reasonable inflation rates for the functioning of institutions that address very important challenges for society and generate multiplier effects across all sectors,” he emphasized.

In this scenario, the plenary agreed that it will define a document with proposals for the 2023 Budget, with a view to mitigating the adverse effects of the pandemic, the difficulties in implementing the free tuition policy and other emerging responsibilities faced by the 30 schools of the Council.

The proposals will be the result of work carried out by the Council's Economic Commission, through consultations with universities, as well as the Consortium of State Universities of Chile (CUECH), the Network of Non-State Public Universities – G9, and the Association of Regional Universities (AUR). The document will be released soon by the CRUCH, within the framework of the budget discussions.

Emilio Rodríguez indicated that the proposals will consider administrative actions and "other matters of political will, such as the use of the University Credit Solidarity Fund (FSCU), which is a measure that has already been authorized in previous periods.".

Rodríguez emphasized that the Council's proposals regarding the 2023 Budget reflect the importance of its institutions within the Chilean higher education system. "Our universities consistently rank among the best in various Latin American rankings and boast exceptionally high scientific productivity, despite limited budgets that generate significant social mobility from Arica to Punta Arenas.".

Implementation of Law No. 21,369

The session also included the presentation of the results of the latest consultation with CRUCH universities, conducted on September 26, regarding the implementation status of Law No. 21,369, which regulates sexual harassment, violence, and gender discrimination in higher education. It is worth noting that the provisions of this Law have been enforceable since September 15.

The rector of the University of Aysén, Natacha Pino, who is in charge of the CRUCH Gender Equality Commission, and its president, Angélica Marín, announced the results of the consultation, which included 6 questions and was carried out after a previous exercise presented in the August session.

Among the most noteworthy aspects is that 93% of CRUCH universities have a comprehensive policy against sexual harassment, violence and gender discrimination, while 7% are in the process of doing so.

Regarding the model for preventing gender-based violence and discrimination, the 86% already has one, and the 14% at the universities is in the process of developing one. Another question posed to the CRUCH universities was whether they had a model for investigating and sanctioning gender-based violence and discrimination: the 90% already has one, and the 10% is in the process of developing one.

Another key area mandated by the law concerns a communication strategy to ensure that policies, plans, protocols, and regulations are known within higher education institutions. In this regard, 66 universities already have a strategy in place, while 341 universities are in the process of developing one.

In this scenario, Angélica Marín stated that "the CRUCH universities are, in general terms, making substantial progress in complying with the requirements of Law No. 21369.".

The president of the Gender Equality Commission added that the work of the schools in this area contributes to “eradicating gender violence and promoting equal relationships (…) and universities have much to contribute, starting with the development of action plans that incorporate models of prevention, punishment and investigation.”.

CRUCH Commission on Pedagogy

This Thursday the plenary also approved the creation of a Pedagogy Commission, which will be led by the rector of the Metropolitan University of Educational Sciences, Elisa Araya, and the rectors of the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso, Nelson Vásquez, and of the University of Los Lagos, Óscar Garrido.

The executive vice president of CRUCH announced that the first task of the working group will be to carry out a strategic diagnosis regarding teacher training, in order to generate initiatives for a systematic improvement of this area.

“We believe it will be positive to have a commission from CRUCH identifying problems, seeking solutions, attracting the country's top talent and researchers in this field, and listening to those involved in the educational processes. We can develop a proposal that aligns well with the work being done by other entities, such as the Ministry of Education or the Undersecretariat of Higher Education,” said Rodríguez.

On the other hand, during this September session the Council welcomed the new rectors of the Catholic University of Maule, Claudio Rojas Miño; of the University of Bío-Bío, Benito Umaña Hermosilla, and of the University of Atacama, Forlín Aguilera Olivares.

At the same time, recognition was given to the rectors who will leave their positions in October: Patricio Sanhueza Vivanco (University of Playa Ancha), Darcy Fuenzalida (Federico Santa María Technical University) and Nibaldo Avilés Pizarro (University of La Serena).

Also present at Thursday's session was the Undersecretary of Higher Education, Verónica Figueroa Huencho.

*Photographs: Communications Department, Catholic University of Temuco (Mario Quilodrán)