News
Within the framework of the CRUCH session organized by the University of Tarapacá, an international seminar was held where national and international experts addressed the challenges of research in the university of the 21st century; the economic and financial challenges of universities; and how to rationalize without losing the soul of the university.
Present were the rectors of UOH, Fernanda Kri, and UTEM, Marisol Durán; as well as the rectors of UTFSM, Juan Yuz; UPLA, Carlos González; UCM, Claudio Rojas; UV, Osvaldo Corrales; UAndes, José Antonio Guzmán; and the executive vice president and rector of the host institution, Emilio Rodríguez.
On Friday, January 9, the University of Tarapacá (UTA) organized the International Seminar “Strategic Challenges of Higher Education for 2030”, an activity developed in the context of the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH).
The seminar began with a presentation by Dr. Luis Gordillo Pérez, Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Deusto (Spain), who addressed the topic of “The Challenges of Excellence in Research at the 21st-Century University: Planning, Funding, and Transfer.” The presentation was followed by comments from Dr. Juan Yuz, Rector of the Federico Santa María Technical University, and Ms. Marisol Durán Santis, Rector of the Metropolitan Technological University.
During the event, Dr. Gordillo pointed out that “the great challenge facing universities today, and this has been mentioned in the various talks, is above all a challenge of identity: knowing what it is and what it wants to be, and what contribution it has to make or wants to make to society itself. Once it is clear what kind of university it wants to be, I believe decisions can be made from there. In my presentation, I tried to contrast the management difficulties that universities face today, especially for those in charge. And I think that in Chile there is something very positive that has been done for a long time, which is working on incentive policies.”.
Subsequently, Dr. Antonio Monteros Navarro, Vice Dean of Academic Affairs, Faculty, and Curricula at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of Rey Juan Carlos University (Spain), presented the paper “Economic and Financial Challenges of Spanish Universities.” The following individuals participated as commentators: Dr. Carlos González Morales, Rector of the University of Playa Ancha; Dr. Francisco Ganga, academic and researcher at the University of Tarapacá; and Eduardo Jaramillo, Chief of Staff at the Catholic University of the North, representing Rector Dr. María Cecilia Hernández.
Regarding the challenges facing Spanish universities, Dr. Monteros stated that “there was a time when the main concern was ensuring everyone had access to university, preventing the loss of any talent. This hasn't been fully achieved yet, but on the other hand, there is already a certain degree of overqualification. Therefore, we need to consider what kind of university model we want, and from there comes the issue of finances: how public funding should be sufficient and adequate to ensure a university that isn't financially stifled.”.
Finally, the seminar concluded with a presentation by Dr. José Joaquín Brunner, professor at the Institute of Advanced Research of the University of Tarapacá and researcher at Diego Portales University, who addressed the topic "How to rationalize without losing the soul of the university?" The panel included the rector of the Catholic University of Maule, Dr. Claudio Rojas Miño; the rector of the University of Valparaíso, Dr. Osvaldo Corrales Jorquera; and the rector of the University of O'Higgins, Dr. Fernanda Kri Amar.
In his presentation, Dr. Brunner reflected on the “soul” of universities: “The soul is what inspires the university, what gives it spirit and drives it to transcend itself. It is the core of its utopian potential; its idea or ideal against which we can compare its evolution and performance. It allows us to critique its historical forms and recover the traditions and myths that accompany its almost thousand-year trajectory and its embodiment in territories, nations, and regions of the world, crossing civilizations and religions, until reaching its current enormous diversity and complexity.”.
Related news from the University of Tarapacá: www.uta.cl
Watch the full seminar video:
Original text: University of Tarapacá.
Edition: CRUCH Communications.
Photos: Communications Department, University of Tarapacá.
Spanish 
English