News
The plenary session also elected Rector Marcela Momberg as alternate executive vice president, making her the first woman to hold that position in the history of CRUCH.
During the session, the work of the outgoing executive vice president, Emilio Rodríguez, was recognized, and it was unanimously approved that the former rector of the University of Talca, Álvaro Rojas Marín, receive the CRUCH Recognition for Contribution to Higher Education 2026.
The Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH) unanimously elected the rector of the University of Valparaíso, Osvaldo Corrales Jorquera, as executive vice president for the 2026-2028 term. It also appointed the rector of the Catholic University of Temuco, Marcela Momberg Alarcón, as alternate executive vice president, making her the first woman to hold this position.
The decisions were adopted during the Council's 675th plenary session, held at the Santiago Humberstone Saltpeter Works, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and organized by the Arturo Prat University.
Rector Osvaldo Corrales stated that “CRUCH is a very important institution for the country and faces many challenges, so I assume the executive vice-presidency with a great sense of responsibility (…) At the same time, I think it is necessary to recognize the great work done by Rector Emilio Rodríguez during the last four years, projecting the work of CRUCH in various areas.”.
Regarding the challenges for the coming years, Rector Corrales identified the training of teachers, the replacement of the CAE with a fair and sustainable financing system, the duration of degrees and the relevance of training, as well as the impact of artificial intelligence on higher education.
Certainly, in the coming years we will have to discuss issues of the utmost importance for the future of higher education, such as the financing of the system and the duration of degrees, among other challenges for higher education.”.
For her part, Rector Marcela Momberg stated that her election constitutes an important recognition that demonstrates “a significant change in our society and in the higher education system. My appointment, unanimously, is a sign of appreciation for the work done and for the other female rectors who make up the Council. It also recognizes all the academics, staff, and students of our universities.”.
The plenary session also defined the composition of the CRUCH Executive Committee for the next period, which was made up of the rector of the Metropolitan Technological University, Marisol Durán Santis, in her capacity as president of the Consortium of State Universities of Chile (CUECH); the rector of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Juan Carlos de la Llera, president of the Network of Non-State Public Universities (G9); and the rector of the Catholic University of Maule, Claudio Rojas Miño, president of the Association of Regional Universities (AUR).
In addition, the rector of the Arturo Prat University, Alberto Martínez Quezada (CUECH); the rector of the Catholic University of the North, María Cecilia Hernández Vera (G9); and the rector of the Alberto Hurtado University, Cristián del Campo Simonetti SJ, representative of the universities incorporated into the CRUCH in accordance with Law No. 21,091, will be part of this body.
The Executive Committee's main functions include directing the work of the Council between plenary sessions, coordinating the institutional relationship with the Ministry of Education and other public bodies, and overseeing the development of initiatives and projects promoted by CRUCH.
CRUCH Recognition 2026
In the same session, the plenary unanimously approved awarding the 2026 CRUCH Recognition for Contribution to Higher Education to the former rector of the University of Talca, Álvaro Rojas Marín. The award will be presented in August, as part of the commemorative activities for the Council's 72nd anniversary.
The president of the Competition Committee and rector of the University of La Serena, Luperfina Rojas Escobar, highlighted that “Álvaro Rojas’s career represents the values of this recognition: vision for the future, transformative capacity and a permanent commitment to public education and the development of the regions and the country.”.
El Reconocimiento CRUCH es la máxima distinción que confiere el Consejo de Rectoras y Rectores. Se entrega cada dos años y constituye la única premiación del país destinada exclusivamente a honrar aportes sobresalientes a la educación superior chilena. Creado en 2024, en el marco del aniversario N° 70 del CRUCH, busca proyectar el legado de la institución hacia el futuro, distinguiendo a quienes han contribuido de manera significativa al fortalecimiento del sistema universitario y al desarrollo del país.
The plenary session acknowledges the management of Emilio Rodríguez
The plenary session marked the end of the term of the rector of the University of Tarapacá, Emilio Rodríguez Ponce, as executive vice president of CRUCH, a position he held for four years.
On that occasion, the rectors and rectors recognized his management and his contribution to strengthening the collaborative work promoted by the Council during that period.
The Undersecretary of Higher Education, Fernanda Valdés Raczynski, highlighted Emilio Rodríguez's legacy. “With his balanced judgment, he has given the Council of Rectors a cohesion it lacked before, and he has been able to address issues in depth with his knowledge, his academic and disciplinary experience, and, at the same time, very open to the various requests made by different institutions (...), therefore, his management is difficult to match, because, in reality, it brings together many characteristics for which we are very grateful,” she commented.
Finally, the plenary session also recognized the rector of the University of Antofagasta, Marcos Cikutovic, who will leave his post on August 21 after completing his term at the head of that institution.
Text: CRUCH Communications
Photographs: Courtesy of UNAP Communications
Spanish 
English