Committee of Academic Vice-Rectors
Experts from various CRUCH universities shared experiences, best practices and strategies to incorporate these dimensions into teaching, research and university management.
The webinar was organized by the Commission of Academic Vice-Rectors (CoVRA) of CRUCH and brought together a wide audience of university representatives.
How can we ensure that inclusion and equity are not just words, but transform the academic experience of students? This was the question that kicked off the webinar “Criterion 7 of institutional accreditation: university coexistence and approaches to diversity”, organized by the Commission of Academic Vice-Rectors (CoVRA) of the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH).
The event, held on Friday, September 5, brought together experts from various CRUCH universities to share experiences, best practices and strategies that contribute to translating these dimensions into real actions in the field of teaching, research and university management.
The Rector of the University of O'Higgins (UOH) and head of CoVRA, Fernanda Kri, opened the meeting and emphasized that “today we have the valuable presence of the various stakeholders involved to hold a fruitful dialogue. We are at a more mature point in our reflection on how to approach accreditation processes, in this case, what is established in criterion 7. I would like to congratulate everyone on this initiative and extend my gratitude to the participants and panelists who will be part of this event. I am confident that, based on the experiences we will share, we will achieve greater levels of certainty and clarity,” she concluded.
Later, Sandra Gaete, president of the commission and academic vice-rector of the Metropolitan Technological University (UTEM), stated that “the meeting aims to update the various approaches and strategies deployed by the CRUCH universities, with the purpose of learning about and exchanging experiences among the different institutional entities. This forum will allow us to explore the multiple dimensions of diversity, as well as recognize how each institution, according to its own context and vision, develops specific frameworks for action that reflect its values and commitments to equity, respect for differences, and the construction of an inclusive academic community.”.
The activity was attended by members of various CRUCH committees: University Coexistence and Mental Health; Quality; Research; and Gender Equality. Also participating were teams from the undergraduate teaching offices; student affairs; mental health and inclusion; and mediation units (OMBUDS Network). In total, nearly 150 people registered.
Experiences from universities
The first presentation was given by the director of the Mediation and Conflict Resolution Program (UAH) and member of the CRUCH University Coexistence and Mental Health Commission, Rosa María Olave, who presented the report prepared by this body, “University Wellbeing: Keys to coexistence and mental health” (see HERE).
Subsequently, the panel “Experiences and challenges of the implementation of Criterion 7 of Institutional Accreditation: Management of coexistence, gender equity, diversity and inclusion” was held”, The event included the participation of three academic vice-rectors from CRUCH universities: Sergio Vargas from the University of Bío Bío (UBB), Claudio Pastenes from the University of Chile (UCHILE), and Antonia Larraín Sutil from Alberto Hurtado University (UAH). Also participating were Paulina Fuentes Stuardo, Coordinator of the Coordination and Analysis Unit of the Vice-Rectorate for Quality and Strategic Management at the Catholic University of Temuco (UCT), and Eduardo González, a quality assurance expert.
Thus, representatives from different institutions shared their experiences on how criterion 7 can be integrated across academic programs and university life to strengthen inclusion, equity, and diversity.
Watch the full webinar HERE
Text: CRUCH Communications
Image: CRUCH Communications
Spanish 
English