Postgraduate Commission
The President of the CNA, Andrés Bernasconi, pointed out that the evaluation elements to which universities are accustomed continue, "but perhaps the most important thing is the emphasis now placed on the link with the environment and internationalization as part of the process of developing the programs.".
More than 200 people participated in the information session, from both CRUCH universities and other higher education institutions.
An information session to learn about the new criteria and quality standards for the accreditation of doctoral programs established by the National Accreditation Commission (CNA), was organized by the Postgraduate Commission of the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities, with the support of the General Secretariat of CRUCH and the University of Santiago de Chile (USACH).
The event, held at the Center for Postgraduate Studies and Continuing Education at USACH on October 5, was attended by representatives from all 30 CRUCH universities and other universities within the higher education system, who connected online. In total, more than 200 people participated.
Representing the CNA were its President, Andrés Bernasconi; the Director of Quality Promotion, Natalia Orellana; the Coordinator of the Evaluation and Accreditation Directorate, Mauritza Fuentes; and Cabinet Advisor, Carlos Saraos; who provided details of the criteria and standards for the university subsystem that came into effect on October 1st. These criteria and standards stem from the 2018 reform, which mandated the CNA to incorporate standards that explicitly define the progression for each criterion.
Regarding the development of the new criteria and standards, the President of the CNA highlighted the Council's participation through its Postgraduate Commission. He noted that "CRUCH is very important because most of the doctoral programs offered in Chile are programs at its member universities." In that regard, Bernasconi indicated that "it has been very important for us to be able to present some ideas and receive feedback." He also appreciated that "we have had a very fluid relationship during the year and a half I have been at the CNA, with meetings with the Commission and with the CRUCH Executive Committee.".
Meanwhile, the president of the CRUCH Postgraduate Commission, Diego Cosmelli, highlighted the work they carried out as an advisory commission in 2020 in gathering the feedback from all the universities in the Council, which was summarized in a document that they delivered to the CNA. “It must be acknowledged that the feedback which were provided by higher education institutions through various consortia of universities and institutions, including our advisory committee. The criteria and standards we have now incorporate much of that. feedback "That happened, and it's important to value that," Cosmelli said.
Main new features
The session highlighted the key elements considered for new programs. These include a minimum number of faculty members, requiring the institution to demonstrate that its current number of professors is sufficient to meet the training needs of the program and its students. Additionally, the accreditation process has been extended from seven to nine months. Furthermore, once new programs begin, the accreditation process must commence within one year.
For Diego Cosmelli, these changes are an opportunity. “We have many challenges ahead, and we greatly value the attitude that the CNA has taken, under the leadership of President Bernasconi, of openness, dialogue, conversation, deepening this discussion, revisiting it, and working together to improve the system.”.
Cosmelli, who is also Director of the Graduate School at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (PUC), emphasized that it is important to view the new procedures “as a pilot process of adaptation, of joint training between universities, higher education institutions, and the CNA, so that the process can be refined based on the feedback (…) I think it is essential that it also be collaborative and that work be done with peer evaluators.”.
Regarding the latter, the president of the Postgraduate Commission emphasized that the guidelines should be considered for what they are, and not as strict criteria. He added that it is necessary to work with peer evaluators "to ensure consistency in the interpretation of the guidelines provided. This is so that productivity guidelines do not become productivity demands, for example," he explained.
Relevance of new criteria and standards
According to Bernasconi, having standards is very important because “before, with just the criteria, there was a very large margin of uncertainty, but with standards we make explicit what we want to be shown regarding how each criterion is being met. Therefore, it should be much easier for the institution, for the peer evaluators, and for the committee that makes the decision. I think it's a step forward in clarity, transparency, and certainty.”.
With regard to doctoral programs in particular, Bernasconi noted that the evaluation elements that universities are accustomed to continue, "but perhaps the most important thing is the emphasis now placed on community engagement and internationalization as part of the program development process.".
During the day, the CNA team also presented on the guidelines for postgraduate self-evaluation, the new instruments and regulatory aspects, among other topics.
Text and Photos: CRUCH Communications.
Spanish 
English