Rector Emilio Rodríguez is re-elected as executive vice president for 2024-2026: “It is key to understand that the achievements generated in CRUCH are essentially collective in nature”

In this interview, the rector of the University of Tarapacá refers to the challenges and priority lines of action of the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH) for the next two years.

Emilio Rodríguez Ponce, who first assumed the position of executive vice president in July 2022, was re-elected on Monday, August 19, at the CRUCH plenary session, which took place before the ceremony commemorating the Council's 70th Anniversary, in which the President of the Republic, Gabriel Boric, participated, and in which former President Michelle Bachelet was honored with the "CRUCH Recognition for the contribution to Higher Education".

Regarding his re-election, he says, “My fellow rectors have always been very generous to me, since the CRUCH includes remarkable individuals with superior merits, distinguished at the national and international levels, who could undoubtedly lead the institution. And, in this context, the plenary has reiterated its confidence in me, something I value and cherish in its true dimension.”.

In addition to the executive vice presidency, the Council plenary session defined the members of the Executive Committee. Carlos Saavedra, Rector of the University of Concepción, was ratified as alternate executive vice president; as were Osvaldo Corrales, President of the Consortium of State Universities of Chile (CUECH) and Rector of the University of Valparaíso; and Nelson Vásquez, President of the G-9 Network of Non-State Public Universities and Rector of the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso. Benito Umaña, the new President of the Association of Regional Universities (AUR) and Rector of the University of Bío Bío, will join this body.

Furthermore, the following will continue to participate in the Executive Committee: the rector of the University of the Andes, José Antonio Guzmán; the rector of the University of La Frontera, Eduardo Hebel; and the rector of the Catholic University of the Holy Conception, Cristhian Mellado.

• How do you feel about the Council's decision to re-elect you as Executive Vice President for the next two years?

This decision is an honor and a privilege for me and also for the University of Tarapacá. I believe it is a sign of support for younger and emerging universities, which, from the regions, are making their best efforts to achieve levels of excellence and advanced quality.

Certainly, for those of us who work in the university world, self-evaluation and, especially, peer evaluation, is an essential dimension for gauging the significance of our contributions to the development of the system.

In this regard, my fellow rectors have always been very generous to me, as the CRUCH includes remarkable individuals with outstanding merits, distinguished both nationally and internationally, who could undoubtedly lead the institution. And, in this context, the plenary has reiterated its confidence in me, something I deeply appreciate and cherish.

• What is your assessment of the management of the previous two years, 2022-2024? What are the main achievements of the Council during this period?

I think there are several dimensions that can be distinguished, although it is key to understand that the achievements generated in the CRUCH are essentially collective in nature.

First, I believe that in the plenary session and the Executive Committee we have achieved a greater level of cohesion and harmony. In my opinion, the participation of new rectors has been essential in creating a climate more conducive to collaborative development.

Second, the inclusion of female university presidents in a space where, for decades, only men have participated, has been vital in enriching the quality of the debate. Therefore, the renaming of CRUCH to the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities has profound significance, as it highlights the role of women in the highest positions, based on their exceptional merit. Thus, the name change lends sociological and moral legitimacy to CRUCH.

Third, the work of the committees is outstanding. For example, the Committee for Strengthening Pedagogies issued one of the most robust reports I know of, with the participation of leading experts from across the country. The Gender Equality Committee has made progress in defining policies, strategies, and best practices that go beyond legal requirements and are related to the genuine consolidation of democracy and respect in university spaces. The Committee on University Life and Mental Health is also making significant intellectual progress in identifying critical issues and strategies. Meanwhile, the Committee of Academic Vice-Rectors is a central pillar of CRUCH's management, as are the committees on Research; Postgraduate Studies; Internationalization; Libraries; Admissions and Enrollment; and Finance. Essential roles are now emerging in the committees on Community Engagement and Quality, among others.

• Considering the national and international context, what are the main future challenges for CRUCH and, consequently, the priority lines of action that will project the institution beyond academic communities?

The transformations brought about by the digital age are enormous, but the advent of a technological revolution based on artificial intelligence is also imminent. In Chile, we have probably not yet fully embraced the opportunities offered by the digital age, and this may partly explain the ongoing challenge in terms of productivity. Certainly, we must delve deeper into this area. However, in my view, our main challenge is to integrate ourselves into the artificial intelligence revolution, which has and will continue to have great opportunities in education, research, and community engagement. Furthermore, it will have a significant impact on all sectors of the country, including the economy, healthcare, agriculture, mining, security, and so on.

Life expectancy and quality of life can be significantly improved with the integration of artificial intelligence, but there are also greater challenges that require Chile to address them through science, technology, knowledge, and innovation. Within this framework, the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH) plays a fundamental role, and for this reason, we are promoting a major initiative called Proyecta Chile 2050. Through CRUCH, but with the participation of the entire higher education system and all sectors of society, and within a framework of pluralism, we aim to propose a roadmap for the country. Wealth is created when comparative advantages are transformed into competitive advantages, which requires science and a system that facilitates the management of both private and public organizations.

•  Regarding your management over the next two years, what mark would you like to leave on your leadership?

The CRUCH is a collegiate body, therefore, leadership is distributed among the rectors of the plenary; the Executive Committee; the working commissions with rectors and directors of all the universities; the General Secretariat that technically leads the processes; and in the contributions that emerge from the Consortium of State Universities of Chile (CUECH), from the Network of Non-State Public Universities G-9, from the Association of Regional Universities (AUR) and from the university communities themselves.

Therefore, the executive vice-president must work within this framework of distributed leadership, in which the rectors have a key role both in the work of committees, which support the decisions of the CRUCH, and in their actions in the plenary.

This is a facilitating role, to accommodate diverse viewpoints and ensure balance. Ultimately, the executive vice presidency must strive to be equitable, balanced, fair, and rigorous, in order to build trust, recognizing that a significant portion of the country's intellectual and cultural wealth is or has been built within the universities of the CRUCH (Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities) and that their representatives are highly qualified individuals deeply committed to the pursuit of the public good in every decision. Thus, collective efforts must be achieved within a framework of good faith and goodwill, with respect for all people, both majorities and minorities.

Interview: CRUCH Communications

Photograph: University of Chile, within the framework of the commemoration of the CRUCH Anniversary No. 70.