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The Secretary General of CRUCH, Angélica Bosch, presented the main advances of the last year in governance, public policies, quality, internationalization and artificial intelligence.
Meanwhile, Executive Vice President Emilio Rodríguez addressed the strategic challenges that will shape the Council's roadmap, such as artificial intelligence and technological convergence. "We must be prepared to respond with responsible public policies, a long-term vision, and the ability to transform opportunities into competitive advantages for the country," he stated.
This Monday, June 30th, the 2024 Participatory Public Account of the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH), The event showcased the main milestones of the institutional work carried out between June 2024 and May 2025. The activity was led by the Secretary General of the Council, Angélica Bosch, and by the Executive Vice President and Rector of the University of Tarapacá, Emilio Rodríguez, who highlighted the role of CRUCH as an articulator of the university system, with a deep public and territorial vocation.
During her speech, Angélica Bosch emphasized that CRUCH is a network of the 30 most established universities in the country that, beyond their diversity, share principles oriented towards the common good, academic excellence and the construction of an inclusive, decentralized and quality higher education.
For his part, the executive vice president of CRUCH and rector of the University of Tarapacá, Emilio Rodríguez, reinforced the ethical identity of the Council, stating that “CRUCH is based on principles, values and an institutional ethic oriented towards the public good, integrity, collaboration and respect for diversity.”.
He also stated that the Council's role is not limited to coordination among universities, but rather seeks to "influence the transformation of the country through knowledge, innovation, and the training of individuals committed to democracy, human rights, equity, and sustainable development." He emphasized that "our central role will always be inextricably linked to the generation of public policies for higher education (...). In reality, what we seek is the good of the country.".
Regarding the past year's management, Bosch referred to the progress made in the six strategic areas that structure the Council's work and placed particular emphasis on strengthening internal governance and influencing public policy. "The Council has assumed a leading role in issues such as initial teacher training, university coexistence, and mental health, as well as in legislative debates on various topics," the Secretary General stated.
To make progress in various areas, the CRUCH committees have been key. “The work of the advisory committees—in which representatives from all 30 universities participate—has been fundamental to moving forward with a technical, collaborative, and nationally focused approach. Our CRUCH works and advances on this basis, based on the contributions of its member institutions,” commented the executive vice president.
Milestones of the period
One of the highlights of the State of the Nation Address was the review of commemorative initiatives for the 70th anniversary of the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH) – in August 2024 – a ceremony attended by the President of the Republic, Gabriel Boric, along with various government officials and representatives from national and international organizations. In this context, the “Recognition for Contribution to Higher Education” was awarded for the first time to former President Michelle Bachelet. Additionally, work began on the book “70 Years of CRUCH,” which systematizes the milestones, challenges, and future visions of the Chilean university system. Its publication is planned for July.
Regarding the CRUCH's primary role, which by law is to advise the Ministry of Education and formulate public policy proposals for higher education, the Council actively participated in legislative debates and in the development of technical proposals on topics such as university system financing, admission requirements for teacher training programs, university life, and mental health. It also contributed to the publication of two reports: “Teaching Changes Lives,” which addresses strengthening initial teacher training, and “University Well-being: Keys to Coexistence and Mental Health,” which proposes guidelines for promoting healthier and more open academic environments.
In international matters, CRUCH consolidated alliances with institutions in Spain, France, Colombia and New Zealand, and participated in forums such as the Ibero-American University Council (CUIB) and the PILA program (Latin American Student Exchange Program).
In the area of CRUCH's involvement and presence in various organizations, the broad representation of rectors and academics in boards, state commissions and juries (National Awards, for example) was evident, as well as the continuity of Proyecta Chile 2050, chaired by Rodríguez, which seeks to build a roadmap for the country with input from academia and civil society.
On the other hand, the Secretary General highlighted the launch of the CRUCH Civil Society Council (COSOC), as part of the efforts to move towards more open and participatory governance.
Upcoming challenges
On the other hand, during 2024 and 2025, CRUCH took important steps in the field of AI and supercomputing, signing agreements with CENIA (National Center for Artificial Intelligence) and supporting the National Supercomputing Laboratory project, recently awarded by CORFO.
In this regard, Rodríguez stressed that "the Council must be proactive in designing public policies for an adequate transition to the era of artificial intelligence, with an ethical, social and long-term perspective.".
In his closing remarks, Rector Rodríguez called for projecting the work of the CRUCH (Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities) onto a global stage marked by social, technological, and ethical challenges. “Today we face a new era defined by artificial intelligence and technological convergence. We must be prepared to respond with responsible public policies, a long-term vision, and the capacity to transform opportunities into competitive advantages for the country,” he stated.
The CRUCH's 2024 Participatory Public Account can be viewed in full. here
Form
Participatory public accounts promote transparency in the management of public services, allowing people to learn about and inquire about budget execution.,
Policies, plans, and programs of state services. It is a process that provides spaces for dialogue and exchange of opinions between institutions and organizations, their respective authorities, and the community.
To help citizens evaluate and provide feedback on CRUCH's management, a form will be available until July 15 to collect comments, observations, and questions about the 2024 Participatory Public Accountability Report. Access the form here
Text and photographs: CRUCH Communications
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