Postgraduate Commission
The rector of lThe university hosting the meeting was UCSC, Cristhian Mellado emphasized that “in the field of postgraduate studies, we need to move forward with more professional programs that are financially sustainable and connected to the country's productive needs, especially in regions where the supply is limited.
The Catholic University of the Most Holy Conception (UCSC) welcomed authorities, rectors and academics from the study centers belonging to the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH) to its San Andrés Campus, within the framework of the Third Plenary Session of the Postgraduate Commission.
One of the main achievements of this plenary session was the approval of the regulations of the Postgraduate Commission, This is a key step for coordinated operations among CRUCH institutions. Discussions also focused on the creation and consolidation of inter-university doctoral programs, such as those already existing in artificial intelligence, science, and education, which aim to address the country's scientific and social challenges with an academic offering of excellence.
The Rector of the UCSC, Dr. Cristhian Mellado, He emphasized that strengthening postgraduate studies in Chile requires looking beyond traditional academic offerings. “In the area of postgraduate studies, we need to move towards more professionally oriented programs that are financially sustainable and connected to the country's productive needs, especially in regions where the supply is limited. Furthermore, We must strengthen internationalization, with an emphasis on attracting students from Latin America, through joint strategies that allow us to project the quality of our universities abroad.”
For his part, Cristián Campos, Rector of Alberto Hurtado University and head of the Commission, emphasized the value of collaboration between institutions as an essential element for consolidating excellence in advanced education. “Coordination between institutions is key to offering excellent postgraduate programs. This forum is a great opportunity to strengthen collaboration between universities in the area of postgraduate and doctoral studies. It is fundamental to have spaces for dialogue that allow us to develop joint initiatives, promote consortium programs, and propose public policies that strengthen both education and research,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Johanna Vergara, Secretary of the Commission and Director of the Postgraduate Studies Department UCSC valued the progress made during the sessions: “We have made significant progress, creating spaces for reflection and dialogue that have allowed us to share experiences, challenges, and best practices among universities. We already held a discussion on incorporating postgraduate studies into institutional accreditation, with the participation of the CNA (National Accreditation Commission), and today we are working on consortium programs, something unprecedented and very relevant for strengthening collaboration. Our goal is for these opportunities to allow us to develop concrete proposals for organizations such as ANID (National Research and Development Agency) and the CNA, contributing information and guidelines based on the universities' experience.”
The day culminated with a workshop on the creation and management of inter-university programs, where experiences of joint doctorates in science, education, anthropology and artificial intelligence were shared.
Text and photography: Communications Department, Catholic University of the Most Holy Conception
Spanish 
English