Interview with the president of the CRUCH Postgraduate Commission: “One of the challenges for Chile is to standardize and raise the quality of postgraduate programs”

Osvaldo Salazar, president of the Postgraduate Commission of the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH), addresses the trends, objectives and shortcomings that postgraduate and post-degree programs currently face in the country.

Source: El Mercurio de Valparaíso, Sunday edition, March 22, 2026.

Osvaldo Salazar, a professor in the Department of Engineering and Soils at the Faculty of Agronomic Sciences of the University of Chile, is well aware that many professionals are no longer satisfied with or rely solely on their undergraduate degree. In today's competitive job market, postgraduate studies and continuing education are increasingly necessary and urgent.

As an evaluator of research projects for ANID (National Research and Development Agency) and president of the Postgraduate Commission of the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH), Salazar, who is also the director of Postgraduate and Post-Graduate Studies at the University of Chile, also knows that a good way to avoid “bubbles” and oversupply of this type of studies is to give seriousness to the process.

– Why is there currently a greater and even explosive demand and interest in postgraduate studies and post-degrees?

In general terms, the growing, even explosive, demand for postgraduate degrees and post-degree programs stems from a confluence of factors: the need for differentiation in increasingly competitive job markets, the greater complexity and specialization of professional tasks driven by technological innovation and globalization, the need for postgraduate qualifications in specific health areas with a high shortage of specialists in the country, and the expansion of educational offerings (in-person, hybrid, and online 100% programs) that facilitates access for students located in regions outside of Santiago and even abroad. Furthermore, advanced training programs, supported by funding mechanisms such as ANID's Doctoral and Master's scholarships, allow students with outstanding merit but limited financial resources to dedicate themselves fully to research and complete their studies. This stimulates demand by making access to high-level academic and research careers viable, while also strengthening the perception of postgraduate studies as a legitimate path to social and professional mobility.

– Are Chilean universities prepared for this demand and interest, or is there a potential economic bubble that could affect students and academics?

The reality is heterogeneous: there are institutions with robust and established infrastructure, academic bodies, and research networks that can absorb the growing demand for postgraduate training with high quality standards. To mitigate the risk of a potential "bubble," university self-regulation, rigorous accreditation by the National Accreditation Commission (CNA-Chile), and the maintenance of student funding mechanisms, such as the ANID Master's and Doctoral scholarship program, are key. These scholarships should be awarded prioritizing academic excellence, merit, and the socioeconomic circumstances of the students.

New trends

– What types of postgraduate degrees and post-qualifications are most in demand and why?

The most sought-after postgraduate degrees and diplomas are typically those with a direct connection to employability, social needs such as human health, and nationally important productive activities like mining. Of particular interest are postgraduate programs in cutting-edge sciences in Chile, such as astronomy and biomedical sciences, as well as more professionally oriented programs in management, administration, economics, education, and engineering and technology specializations, due to their immediate impact on career paths and salaries. Similarly, postgraduate diplomas in clinical specializations in medicine and dentistry maintain high demand due to regulatory requirements for professional practice or the opportunities for internal promotion for graduates.

– If we had to predict trends, what areas and content might postgraduate and post-degree programs be moving towards in the future, and in what areas do they tend to always be strong?

If trends are projected, postgraduate programs will tend to expand into areas linked to digital transformation, such as Artificial Intelligence, sustainability and energy, aging, biotechnology, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and public policies focused on resilience and adaptation to the transformations of a changing society. At the same time, traditional disciplines such as health, agronomy, education, law, engineering, and economics/business will remain stable pillars due to their connection with the constant demand for essential services from the population and the public and private sectors. The key will also be integrating transversal skills into postgraduate training, such as innovation and research capacity, ethical commitment, critical thinking, and the ability to work interdisciplinarily, among others.

– What are the challenges that a country like Chile faces in this area?

The challenges for a country like Chile include standardizing and raising the quality and relevance of postgraduate offerings; promoting the creation of consortium programs among national universities that address complex problems through the integration of high-level research faculty to provide students with more diverse training; linking with the productive sector to develop doctoral programs linked to industries; strengthening accreditation and ongoing self-evaluation processes; articulating educational pathways to allow for a smooth transition for students through undergraduate-master's-doctoral programs, including articulation with continuing education programs; and ensuring equitable funding to prevent talent from being left out for economic reasons, a task for which ANID scholarships are fundamental. It is also urgent to strengthen research focused on local and regional problems, promote the internationalization of postgraduate studies without losing focus on national priorities, and consolidate policies that link advanced training with productive and social development, avoiding excessive concentration in urban centers and promoting opportunities for postgraduate and post-degree training in all regions of the country.