Foreign Minister van Klaveren highlights the role of CRUCH universities in boosting Chile's international projection and development

24/10/2024
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  • Foreign Minister van Klaveren highlights the role of CRUCH universities in boosting Chile's international projection and development
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In his first visit to the plenary session of the Council, held this Thursday at the Federico Santa María Technical University, the highest authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted the collaboration between the Ministry and the CRUCH, reiterating his commitment to university work and its international projection.

As part of the agenda commemorating the 70th anniversary of CRUCH, the seminar “Scientific Diplomacy: Opening paths for the internationalization of Higher Education» will be held on November 22nd, an event organized by both institutions.

The internationalization of Higher Education was one of the topics addressed by the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH), in its session this Thursday, October 24, at the Central House of the Federico Santa María Technical University in Valparaíso.

The meeting was attended by the highest authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Minrel), Alberto van Klaveren, who highlighted the role of universities for the international projection and development of the country, as well as the collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and CRUCH.

“As the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we assign universities a very central part of our country's identity, and also part of Chile's international image, in which the development of our Higher Education is greatly valued, not only in Latin America and neighboring countries, but also throughout the world,” the Foreign Minister stated.

Meanwhile, the executive vice president of CRUCH, Emilio Rodríguez, thanked the foreign minister for his presence at the event and for the collaboration between the two institutions. “As CRUCH, we value the foreign minister’s recognition of the role of universities in society and, specifically, in their pursuit of internationalization,” Rodríguez stated.

During the event, the minister also addressed the importance of the work of regional universities and their international reach, as well as their connections with university networks in other countries. “University collaboration is always among our priorities, and we are interested in promoting other academic forums with networks in important countries,” he stated.

Furthermore, the government authority positively valued the CRUCH-Minrel agreement, which is developed through the Division of Science, Energy, Education, Innovation and Astronomy (DECYTi) and seeks to establish collaborative and coordinated work to foster and promote the internationalization of Chilean Higher Education.

The rectors of the Council raised topics such as the promotion of student mobility; the difficulties regarding international visas; internationalization at home; among others.

During the session, CRUCH also reaffirmed its commitment to the Undersecretariat of Higher Education to promote the working group for the strengthening of pedagogies, which will be led by the rector of the Metropolitan University of Educational Sciences (UMCE), Elisa Araya; the rector of the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso (PUCV), Nelson Vásquez; and the rector of the University of Playa Ancha (UPLA), Carlos González.

Furthermore, in the lead-up to the discussion of the 2025 budget next week, it was agreed that the Executive Committee will prepare a document outlining its positions regarding the content of the budget items for Higher Education and Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation.

Diplomacy Seminar

As part of the CRUCH's 70th anniversary commemoration agenda, the seminar "Scientific Diplomacy: Opening paths for the internationalization of Higher Education" will be held on November 22nd. This activity seeks to explore and promote the role of scientific diplomacy as a key catalyst for the internationalization of Higher Education.

This seminar, which will feature the participation of prominent experts in the field, arises within the framework of the agreement with the DECYTI of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a strategic alliance that reaffirms Chile's commitment to promoting science as one of the engines for development, reinforcing the role of universities in this process.

Text: CRUCH Communications.

Photos: Courtesy of Federico Santa María Technical University.