General Context
In January 2023 (session No. 640), the Council initiated an internal strategic planning process, converging on the need to foster networked leadership through the integration of diverse strengths and cooperation around shared goals. In this way, the CRUCH universities committed themselves to human and sustainable development, and to the mandate to anticipate, adapt, educate, and conduct research for innovation and the promotion of social well-being in changing and uncertain future scenarios.
As part of the ""Strategic Management System 2023-2030"" The mission, vision and strategic axes of the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities were defined.
Mission
The Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities is a legal entity of public law, which acts as a collegiate body.
Its mission is to contribute to the development and strengthening of Higher Education in Chile, through advising and formulating proposals to the Ministry of Education, related to the design and implementation of public policies in the field of Higher Education, and through coordination and collaboration between the institutions that comprise it.
To fulfill this task, it carries out four essential functions, assuming an unwavering commitment to the public good:
- To participate significantly in the design and implementation of public policies in Higher Education.
- Promote coordination and collaboration between universities.
- Generate cooperation networks at the national and international level.
- To contribute to territorial development in each of the country's regions.
Vision
To be a benchmark in the development of public policies that contribute to the transformation and substantial improvement of Higher Education, so that the CRUCH universities, acting in concert, are a driving force for change and respond with the highest levels of excellence to the global challenges of the 21st century, being able to positively influence the development of the country's regions.
Beginning
The Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities is committed to respecting and promoting the following principles:
- Public welfare and integrity.
- Cooperation and collaboration.
- Autonomy, diversity and academic freedom.
- Human rights and democracy.
- Equity, inclusion and social mobility.
- Gender equality.
- Excellence.
- Superior quality standards.
- Higher standards in transparency and probity.
Strategic axes
Based on the institutional mission, the corporate strategy of the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities is oriented towards the consolidation of the institutional strategic purpose, with the perspective of leading the transformation and substantive improvement of Chilean Higher Education, seeking to be a benchmark of excellence at the Latin American level, advancing towards a Higher Education that lays the foundations to build a safer, fairer, more democratic and sustainable world, as proposed by UNESCO in the roadmap emanating from the last World Higher Education Conference (WHEC2022).
Based on these definitions, a set of Strategic Development Axes has been specified, configured according to each of the areas that constitute the critical dimensions of CRUCH's work. The axes are the following six:
Realizing the concept of network leadership brings with it the challenge of implementing structures that strengthen fluid dialogue and collaborative decision-making mechanisms. Similarly, it requires governance that adapts to the objective of promoting territorial development and decentralization, while safeguarding the autonomy of each institution, taking into account the complexity of emerging problems within the university system and the speed with which these need to be resolved.
Strategic Definition:
To consolidate the level of excellence of the CRUCH's organizational systems, governance, resource and capacity management, as well as its academic and economic sustainability. To strengthen the organizational structure and governance systems to fulfill the institutional strategic design.
The increasing complexity of public problems demands intersectoral and coordinated work among different public agencies, levels of government, and regional territories. Faced with these challenges, it is essential that universities become involved in the processes of identifying, preventing, proposing approaches to, and monitoring public issues, such as: university modernization; coexistence and mental health; strengthening pedagogy and the school system; digital transformation and the scope of Artificial Intelligence, in line with scientific and technological development; territorial decentralization, equity, and inclusion. These are areas where the creation of strategic alliances from Higher Education could change the future of many people. Therefore, it is necessary to contribute timely with diagnoses, input, and proposals for public policies, as well as to strengthen the collaboration between the public sector, the CRUCH universities, and relevant actors in national development.
Strategic Definition:
To consolidate working networks on topics that constitute structural challenges for public policy in Higher Education. To design and propose intersectoral public policies, based on best university practices, that will have an impact on the development of the tertiary education system.
Practices aimed at achieving the highest quality and transparency in management will require the collaborative collection of data, the capacity to integrate information systems, and ongoing analysis, not only for internal continuous improvement but also to formulate proposals regarding quality and accreditation regulatory frameworks. Along with providing a timely and effective institutional response, these monitoring actions and the establishment of internal standards will allow us to meet citizens' demands for information and for clear criteria and indicators for quality assurance, ultimately aimed at social well-being.
Strategic Definition:
Strengthen the level of excellence of knowledge management systems and quality assurance mechanisms for institutional processes and results at the CRUCH level. Propose quality and excellence standards and criteria for the national system and CRUCH universities.
The demands for a new model of sustainable development for Chile and its territories require the collaboration of diverse sectors and key stakeholders in the country to generate research projects in new strategic areas. Some of the challenges that are emerging in this area include, among others: new sources of clean energy—such as green hydrogen; water scarcity; new forms of mining—especially for lithium; sustainability, conflict, and social cohesion; governance and regionalization; education; and artificial intelligence. The contribution of CRUCH universities to knowledge generation through applied research is an intrinsic part of their mission, even more so in the current and future context.
Strategic Definition:
To position CRUCH and its universities as leaders in applied research, with an impact on strategic areas for the integral development of the country and its territories.
Understanding the international sphere as one of the areas of engagement with the community allows CRUCH to have a framework from which to promote mobility and constant exchange from a multilateral perspective. In this sense, CRUCH universities can act in a concerted manner to exercise leadership at the Latin American level, engage with other regions of the world, and serve as a means to connect different local territories and campuses with the scientific, technological, social, and cultural advances that open new horizons on a global scale.
Strategic Definition:
To project CRUCH in strategic alliances with equivalent world-class organizations and contribute to the internationalization processes of the universities that are part of the Council.
Having alternatives to in-person learning and ensuring the uninterrupted continuity of the university mission - in all circumstances and in all its complexity - encourages sharing learning and promoting models that foster the homogenization of technological development standards for CRUCH universities in their different activities, at the highest level.
Strategic Definition:
Create proposals for the proactive incorporation of the opportunities offered by digital transformation and Artificial Intelligence for university management and for strengthening training processes at levels of excellence.
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