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More than 200 people attended the inauguration ceremony held at the Municipal Theater of Punta Arenas, which hosted officials, academics, researchers, regional authorities and family members, among others.
President Gabriel Boric, Minister of Education Marco Antonio Ávila, and rectors from various schools and university organizations across the country welcomed the academic with greetings.
“Dialogue, participation, and respect for differences are the pillars for maintaining unity in diversity, and they are the foundation of a public, secular, pluralistic, and autonomous university. We must embark on a new path of reflection, one that leads us to analyze the legacy we will leave for future generations. It is clear that, with the changes we are experiencing, we will have to face a new scenario where public education is being consolidated as a social right,” stated José Maripani in his first speech as the new rector of the University of Magallanes (UMAG).
This Monday, in front of more than 200 people, including officials, academics, researchers, regional authorities, and family members, Maripani led a solemn institutional ceremony to assume the position, which took place at the José Bohr Municipal Theater in Punta Arenas. There, his predecessor of eight years, Juan Oyarzo, through the president of the Honorable Board of Directors, Víctor Briano, handed over the rector's medal to him, formally making him the rector of UMAG for the period 2022-2026 and, at the same time, the first alumnus of this higher education institution to reach that position.
Prior to the ceremony, which was broadcast on the university channel UMAG TV, Briano himself emphasized the importance of this new investiture within the current institutional context. “The University that Víctor Fajardo handed over to Dr. Juan Oyarzo is different from the one that the latter will hand over to Rector Maripani. The University has experienced extraordinary growth; the number of students studying health sciences has increased significantly. As a University with extensive research activity, we have been successful in our research processes,” he stated, expressing his best wishes to the administration that Maripani will lead.
During the ceremony, there was time for greetings from the national university rectors: Natacha Pino, of the University of Aysén; Emilio Rodríguez, executive vice president of the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities; Patricio Sanhuenza, president of the Association of Regional Universities (AUR); Carlos Saavedra, rector of the University of Concepción; Osvaldo Corrales, president of the Consortium of State Universities of Chile (CUECH); and Rosa Devés, rector of the University of Chile. They were joined by the Minister of Education, Marco Antonio Ávila, and the President of the Republic, Gabriel Boric.
“The role of the University of Magallanes is fundamental for us as a country, as it generates knowledge related to the Magallanes region, Chilean Antarctica, the Subantarctic territory, and also Tierra del Fuego,” the minister stated, while the President expressed: “I have no doubt that it will contribute to the advancement and strengthening of the university, which faces so many challenges as a state university, a public university, and one located in a remote area, and that it will help to make UMAG a national and international benchmark.”.
Before the event concluded, the management team that will accompany Rector Maripani took to the stage to sign the institutional commitment to the new administration. This team is composed of: Mariela Alarcón (vice-rector), Anahí Cárcamo (academic vice-rector), Claudia Estrada (vice-rector of Research and Postgraduate Studies), Melissa Flores (vice-rector of Community Engagement), Fredy Cabezas (vice-rector of Administration and Finance), Anggie Flies (General Secretary) and Elizabeth Jeldres (chief of staff).
In this regard, the new Vice-Rector for Community Engagement, Dr. Melissa Flores, stated, “We are taking on this challenge full of hope, anticipation, and a great deal of energy. We are very excited by the support and affection we have received from various members of the university community and also from the wider community. Our families were also present at the ceremony, and they will continue to be there supporting us.”.
Challenges of Rectoral Governance
The incoming rector, José Maripani, set five strategic lines with which he hopes to innovate in the forms of university administration, consolidate the institution and advance institutionally, in the rector's period 2022-2026.
The first strategic line corresponds to a University with relevant and quality academic training, focused on the integral development of the person; the second corresponds to a University strengthened in research, creation, innovation and postgraduate studies, contributing with solutions for integral development; while the third is linked to leading UMAG towards a place of encounter and alliance with its territory.
On this last point he made special emphasis, asserting that “we will strengthen the University's relations with the community, through Community Engagement in a cross-cutting manner in the institutional work, enhancing the dissemination, appreciation, transmission and relevance of knowledge with mechanisms for evaluating its activity that allow the detection of needs and opportunities, which contribute to improving curricula and thus benefit the development of our region.”.
The last two lines are related to a University with a modernized institutional management; and finally, with a commitment to building a University with quality of work and university life, requiring that motivated, committed people with a high degree of satisfaction with their academic organization coexist.
“The message from the new rector, José Maripani, was excellent. He has the full support of the Regional Government, and we hope for a strong collaborative effort. The conditions are in place for him to be fully successful in his administration,” stated Governor Jorge Flies at the end of the ceremony.
Meanwhile, the regional presidential delegate, Luz Bermúdez, stated that “this University is of utmost importance to our region and to our Government as a strategic ally committed to development. Therefore, we have come to congratulate the new rector and his entire team. We hope he will continue to lead this University forward, fulfilling its role in society, and also in the science and research that are so vital to our region.”.
This ceremony was broadcast simultaneously across UMAG TV's networks: YouTube Y Facebook Live, as well as on TV Red channel 33, from the University Auditorium.
*Source: Communications Department of the University of Magallanes
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