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During their plenary session, the university presidents and rectors analyzed, together with the Undersecretary of Higher Education, the work on financial sustainability, educational pathways and regulated fees, and agreed on the importance of strengthening the Higher Education Access Program.
The session also reviewed progress in university coexistence and mental health and welcomed new authorities joining the Council.
The Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH) reviewed, in its plenary session this Thursday, June 25, a series of priority issues for the higher education system, including the work agenda with the Undersecretary of Higher Education regarding financial sustainability, the updating of training pathways and the continuity of the Access to Higher Education Program (PACE).
Regarding the technical observations that are keeping the budgetary continuity of this program under review, the university presidents, as well as the Undersecretary of Higher Education, Fernanda Valdés, agreed on the importance of safeguarding and strengthening this public policy that, for more than a decade, has allowed for expanding opportunities, recognizing diverse educational trajectories and supporting students who have historically faced greater barriers to entering and remaining in higher education.
Emilio Rodríguez, Executive Vice President of CRUCH and Rector of the University of Tarapacá, stated that “PACE is a strategic program of Chilean higher education that transforms the talent and effort of students into real opportunities for their future development. In this sense, it is not simply a means of access; it is a tool that generates great value, development opportunities, and, above all, equity for the most vulnerable students.”.
For her part, the rector of the Catholic University of Temuco (UCT), Marcela Momberg, presented the background information that shows the positive impact that the program has had in its twelve years of implementation.
“The PACE program has proven to be a high-impact public policy that expands access to higher education for talented and academically meritorious students from more challenging backgrounds. Universities have observed that it not only facilitates admission but also promotes retention, both in their schools and at the university itself, safeguarding the development of successful academic paths when adequate support is provided,” stated the rector.
Meanwhile, the Undersecretary of Higher Education, Fernanda Valdés, stated that “PACE is a program that has produced significant benefits and has opened access to higher education for people who otherwise would not have been able to enter the system.” She also explained that the initiative has the support of the Undersecretariat and that, together with the Ministry of Social Development and Family, they have been advancing the evaluation processes to ensure that the agreements continue to be implemented through 2027.
For its part, CRUCH has maintained a collaborative and ongoing work with the Undersecretariat of Higher Education to identify challenges and propose improvements that strengthen both access and support.
The objective of the Higher Education Access Program is to allow access to higher education for outstanding students in secondary education, from vulnerable contexts in various regions of the country, through the implementation of preparation and permanent support actions, and the assurance of places in one of the 29 universities that participate in the program (28 of them from CRUCH).
Other subjects in higher education
During the session, the Undersecretary presented the work schedule on financial sustainability with the CRUCH Economic Commission. In this regard, Cristhian Mellado, Rector of the Catholic University of the Holy Conception and head of the CRUCH Economic Commission, positively assessed the working meetings held between the Commission and the Undersecretary's technical team, emphasizing that these collaborative efforts are key to advancing the continuous improvement of the regulatory process.
On the other hand, he also referred to the updating of training pathways and the joint agenda with the Commission of Academic Vice-Rectors (COVRA).
Another topic addressed during the session was presented by the board of the Commission on University Coexistence and Mental Health (Valeska Grau, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile; Patricia Astroza, University of La Serena; and Rosa María Olave, Alberto Hurtado University), who reported on the milestones achieved since 2022, as well as the challenges for 2026 regarding clinical placements, dialogue and conflict resolution, and neurodivergence. Following the presentation, the plenary session agreed to add two female rectors and one male rector to the commission's work: Alejandra Mizala, University of Chile; Jaqueline Sepúlveda, University of Concepción; and Osvaldo Corrales, University of Valparaíso.
New members of the Council
Furthermore, during the session, the executive vice president welcomed the new members of the Council: the rector of the University of Chile, Alejandra Mizala, and the rector of the University of Santiago, Pedro Palominos, who expressed their full willingness to join the work carried out by this body. He also congratulated the re-elected university authorities: Rector Luperfina Rojas of the University of La Serena and Rector José Maripani of the University of Magallanes.
Text and photographs: CRUCH Communications
Cover photo: Mineduc
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