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The results of the latest application of the instrument, which collects the responses of 9,500 students from 18 universities and provides background information to guide the improvement of undergraduate training, were presented at the ENCE 2026 seminar.
The meeting, held at the Federico Santa María Technical University, brought together authorities and academic teams linked to the project.
The results of the National Survey of Student Engagement (ENCE), The details, corresponding to its 2025 implementation, were announced on October 16 during the seminar “Ten years after the National Student Engagement Survey: from effective teaching to an active learning experience”, organized by the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH), the ENCE team and the Federico Santa María Technical University.
On the tenth anniversary of the initiative, the Secretary General of CRUCH, Angélica Bosch, highlighted four key contributions: its role in fostering reflection on the quality of education from the student perspective; the insights provided by the accumulated data for identifying continuities and changes; the diversity of institutional, territorial, and student realities it encompasses; and the opportunity for universities to share experiences and learn from one another. Regarding this last point, she stated that “for CRUCH, this collaboration holds special value because it leverages the knowledge of each institution to improve the education system as a whole.”.
Similarly, ENCE coordinator Gonzalo Zapata noted that over the years, a solid evidence base on undergraduate education and a collaborative experience among universities have been established. “The challenge is to move from measuring and understanding the student experience to systematically using that knowledge to generate transformative learning among our students,” he stated.
The Undersecretary of Higher Education, Fernanda Valdés, also participated in the seminar, addressing the transformations facing the university system from a public policy perspective. Her presentation touched on demographic, technological, and labor changes, as well as the need to ensure the relevance of educational programs.
Positive assessment of the university experience
The report presented during the seminar analyzes the responses of 9,500 first- and fourth-year students from 18 universities and provides background information to guide the improvement of undergraduate education.
Among the results, a broadly positive assessment of the university experience stands out: eight out of ten students rate it favorably and a similar proportion would choose the same institution again.
Similarly, nearly nine out of ten students believe that most of their professors present a clear course structure and conduct classes in an organized manner. There is also a favorable assessment of the support provided by institutions to achieve academic success, although this perception decreases among fourth-year students.
The results also reveal areas that require further attention: only 25% of first-year students reported working with professors on activities other than those required by their courses, a proportion that rises to 32% in their fourth year. Differences were also observed between interest in participating in specific training programs and actual access to those opportunities throughout their university career.
For Gonzalo Zapata, these findings combine significant progress with tasks that still need to be done. “We have made significant progress in well-organized teaching, effective teaching practices, and support, especially for incoming students. However, we need to promote student participation and active learning much more decisively, expand and enrich educational opportunities, and sustain support throughout their academic journey. In other words, the challenge is not only to teach well, but to generate transformative learning experiences throughout their education,” he noted.
Student Voices
During the meeting, the audiovisual pieces “Voices of the student experience” were shown, with the participation of students from the University of La Serena and of the Catholic University of Maule. Their testimonies addressed factors that facilitate or hinder class participation, conditions that affect study time, and the role of universities in supporting their students. They also included reflections on coexistence and the reasons for valuing their choice of institution or major.
In parallel, The implementation of ENCE 2026 continues and will extend until December.. Each university directly organizes the process and provides the necessary information to the students.
About ENCE
The National Student Engagement Survey This is a collaborative project of CRUCH universities aimed at gathering evidence on the undergraduate student experience and the conditions that foster their learning. Inspired by the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), the survey has been adapted and validated for the context of Chilean universities.
Student engagement encompasses both the willingness and effort of students to pursue their studies and achieve learning outcomes, as well as the actions of institutions to facilitate that process. It considers the time and dedication invested in educational activities, and how universities organize teaching, allocate resources, and create opportunities for participation and learning.
Since its inception in Chile, ENCE has established itself as an inter-institutional initiative for generating and using evidence. As of 2026, 24 universities belonging to the CRUCH (Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities) had participated in the project, which had gathered information on the experiences of more than 70,000 students.
Text: CRUCH Communications
Related news: USM Communications
Photographs: Courtesy of USM
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