On July 10, the Government promulgated the regulations that establish the Science, Technology and Innovation Committees for Development. The spirit of the legislator was that the Regional Governors will have an advisory body, with technical and scientific capacity in the formulation of policies for the development of advanced human capital, research and scientific equipment, supporting innovation, development and transfer. to various public, private, social and productive sectors, among other dimensions and actors of regional development.

Those of us who have dedicated our lives to the generation of knowledge useful for regional and national development express our support for any initiative that helps strengthen knowledge and territorial scientific institutions. However, the promulgated regulation deserves observations on form and substance, as the rectors of the Regional Universities have stated in a recent statement.

To an extent that we do not share, the definition of the regulation did not consider the opinion of the regional scientific communities nor of the Regional Governors, authorities to whom they are called to advise. It imposes a single and homogeneous format, ignoring the diversity in size and specialization that territorial scientific ecosystems have and the needs and idiosyncrasies of each region. It does not consider the specific and differential contribution of institutions in critical mass, infrastructure, publications, links with the environment, national and international recognition, among others. And it also does not distinguish institutions in the region from others that have a circumstantial presence in that territory, sometimes for market motivations.

The regulation ignores basic antecedents of the development of the territories and, therefore, we do not understand why institutions that have been and are a constitutive part of the region, of its history, present and future, are marginalized from this Committee.

These universities are the ones that mostly train technicians. professionals and researchers in their territories. They have created master's and doctoral programs, vital for regional scientific and technological work, and promote teaching and research programs in medical specialties and health sciences.

In several regions these institutions are the main, and sometimes only, generators of scientific, technical knowledge and technological and social innovation, having centers, laboratories and specialized equipment. Capacities and knowledge that, incubated in universities, have always been shared with the environment and fed into national and local public policies.

Under the current pandemic, they became the main body of support for the public health system, carrying out research with national and international counterparts, carrying out PCR tests, designing highly complex equipment, personal protection elements and various materials, collaborating in government strategies. and congress proposals through expert advisory panels, among other relevant activities.

The National Scientific Network, of which the authority speaks, are the regional universities. The same ones that a regulation drawn up too quickly and without participation could marginalize.

They are the ones that generate knowledge in areas as diverse as environment and astronomy, migration and seismology, urban development and paleontology, opinion studies and mining, native peoples and artificial intelligence, public health and epidemiology, education and inclusion, humanities and sciences. social, among others.

Research that allows them to contribute more than 40% of scientific publications in Chile and 50% of state funds allocated to research and technological development.

By virtue of the relevance of the issue raised here and in our capacity as professionals and managers of science, we formally request that an explicit change be reviewed and generated, in which regional universities are incorporated into said regulations, a task for which we commit from now on, the contribution of the 22 regional universities that make up AUR.

Source: AUR Communications

Classes run from July to September.

The General Area of ​​Coordination of Rights and Duties for Comprehensive Training, through the Comprehensive Support Plan, and the Graduate Monitoring Office carry out the first Sign Language Course 2021, aimed at final year students, graduates from the University of La Serena and academic and non-academic officials. This is taught free of charge within the framework of the promotion of an inclusive, equitable and accessible culture for all people, which the university institution has been developing.

This instance is framed in the ULS 1799 Project and has 4 hours of classes per week, which have been carried out since July 26 remotely via the Zoom platform, with the end date being September 22.

In this regard, the coordinator of the Office of Graduates (OSE), Rodrigo Davanzo, highlighted the initiative and its institutional objective. This free benefit reinforces the commitment that the OSE and especially the University of La Serena have in issues of inclusion, expanding the communication possibilities for deaf people. In addition, highlight the importance of professionals taking these tools to perform in their workplaces, thinking about inclusion as a social and value good of the university.”

For her part, Alejandra Galleguillos, professional of the AGCDDFI Comprehensive Support Plan, highlighted that "the Sign Language Course takes on special relevance this year, considering the recent publication of Law 21.303 that recognizes Chilean Sign Language as the natural, original and intangible heritage of deaf people, which entails, among other things, breaking down barriers in communication, for which we must be prepared as a university to communicate with people from the deaf community, thus contributing to inclusion and "cultural transformation for a good life. Thus we highlight the special interest of academics and officials in beginning to learn Chilean sign language and learn part of the culture of said community."

Written by Jenifer Araya, DIVEULS

With the aim of preparing and training professionals who better adapt to the changes that are being generated in the industry, the ULS School of Construction Engineering is developing initiatives that range from participation in the Barometer, the incorporation of 19 types Community Software; and the development of strategies for the entry of women into the career.

The Construction School of the Faculty of Engineering of the ULS is part of the Construction Barometer of the Coquimbo Region. In this sense, the first session of the Technical Table was held, which seeks to guarantee the quality of studies for the development of the construction sector.

During the activity, an analysis of the economic and labor panorama of the construction area was carried out. Mr. Rodrigo Olivares, Director of the School of Construction Engineering, stressed that “the technical table held was very important, since it highlights the participation of all the institutions that are in the area of ​​construction in the region, such as professional institutes, Technical Training Center, Universidad Católica del Norte, Sence and private companies.”

Regarding the initiative, the Director stated that “the interesting thing about the Barometer is that it allows us to continue improving the performance of our Construction Engineering career. Information was provided, the reality of each of the participating institutions was shown, thus obtaining faithful and timely information; On the other hand, there is the motivation of each of the participants and willingness to collaborate, which will allow us to continue moving forward.”

“This is work that is bearing fruit and shows what our shared needs are, in our case the academic offer to see if it adjusts or not to the requirements of the companies. We must be aware of what the private sector needs, associated with technologies and innovation,” highlighted the Director of the ULS Construction School.

One of the main challenges of the Construction Engineering career is to train professionals to allow them to adapt as best as possible to the changes generated, especially in this health crisis, with virtuality and the use of software remotely. “Today we have 19 software that we are implementing and the great motivation comes from the students. I am taking them in my subjects and there are more and more people who are using these tools, which are intuitive for students, allowing them to transport what is real to a virtual world,” stressed the Mg. Ing. Rodrigo Olivares.

Finally, it is important to highlight that the development of strategies for the incorporation of women in the Construction engineering career is essential.

Written by María José Barraza, FIULS 2030 Project.

The regional university is among the 19 Chilean institutions highlighted in this list that brings together the 100 best universities in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The University of La Serena is located among the 100 best higher education institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean in the recent ranking published by the English magazine Times Higher Education (THE).

In this list of “The Latin America (LatAm) University Rankings”, which includes a significant number of Brazilian, Chilean, Colombian and Mexican universities, the ULS is ranked as one of the 19 best national higher education institutions - ahead of various state and private universities - and in position No. 99 at the Latin American level.

The English magazine was based on 13 performance indicators ranging from research to teaching.

Check the ranking here

Written by Patricia Castro, DirCom

The new space offers information and research search tools, access to intellectual and academic production; and the entire ULS continuing training offer with a renewed presentation.

Vipuls.userena.cl is the new platform available to the university, scientific community and citizens, which accounts for the Research and Postgraduate management of the University of La Serena.

For the ULS, research complements the formation of advanced human capital, for this it is necessary to strengthen the ecosystem capable of promoting scientific research and innovation along with establishing human capabilities to link scientific advances with the territory; and precisely this portal seeks to contribute in that line.

In this sense, the Vice-Rector for Research and Postgraduate Studies, Dr. Eduardo Notte explained that the VIPULS website “presents the synergy that exists between research and postgraduate studies, as well as the link with the environment and the Dissemination and Dissemination of the Science. He shows how the formation of the "ecosystem" in terms of research and postgraduate studies has been integrated into the collective academic community. We invite the entire university community to visit this page and of course we are open to receiving comments and suggestions to improve.”

The new space offers information regarding internal calls, external funds, project results, among other aspects. The Director of Research and Development, Dr. Sergio Torres stated that “in this space you can find updated information on financing instruments for the development of research, creation and innovation, both internal and external. At the same time, they will be able to find information on research projects and statistics, as well as audiovisual resources which can be used as reference material, and several of which have been derived from the various capacity-building sessions generated in recent times." .

Regarding Postgraduate and Postgraduate Studies, the new platform makes available the institution's entire continuing training offer with a renewed presentation. “By browsing these digital spaces, users will be able to find all the information that allows them to know our current quaternary training offer. For example, you will find that each program has an information brochure which includes the training objectives, study plans and lines of research. In addition, each program has incorporated and in a very visible place, the links to start the application processes for them and contact information. Finally, it is important to note that this audiovisual platform will continue to enrich each of our programs with content, and we will advance in the development of new ways to communicate efficiently and in a timely manner, the contributions that each of them make to our region and the country," he said. the Director of Postgraduate and Postgraduate Studies at the ULS, Dr. Cristian Ibáñez.

In addition, the new platform details the work of the different offices attached to the VIPULS such as the Project Management and Entrepreneurship Office, the Dissemination Office, the Distance Education Office and the Multidisciplinary Research Institute in Sciences and Technology; thus forming an ecosystem that generates knowledge, innovation, trains specialists, and shares and disseminates the achievements achieved by the university community.

Enter here and see the website of the Vice-Rector for Research and Postgraduate Studies: http://vipuls.userena.cl/

Written by Sergio Muñoz, Office of Dissemination and Dissemination of Sciences and Technology.

This August 12 and 13 you will be able to learn about each of the continuing training programs offered by the University on our Virtual Campus.

Consciousness is what you develop when you decide to continue learning to make knowledge a tool that makes a difference! Visit us and learn about the 28 Postgraduate and Postgraduate programs offered by the University of La Serena at the highest level, which are relevant to the challenges of the territory.

5 Doctorates, 11 Master's degrees and 12 Postgraduate degrees from the ULS, all of them relevant to the challenges of the territory, which seek to train people with new technical skills and new disciplinary competencies that contribute to the development of our region and the country.

The Director of Graduate and Postgraduate Studies of the ULS, Dr. Cristian Ibáñez, invited to participate and register in the Virtual Fair. "As part of the institutional commitment to provide continuous training to the people who inhabit our territory, we have arranged a virtual platform that will host, for the first time, a Virtual Postgraduate and Postgraduate Fair that will inform the inhabitants of our academic offer. region and the country.”

Ibáñez details that on said platform, people will be able to navigate through a virtual campus that recreates the buildings of the university, which houses the Postgraduate or Postgraduate programs that are taught there. “To facilitate virtual navigation, we have grouped our programs into training areas and then, we have assigned those areas to virtual buildings inside which stands for each of them are displayed. Upon entering the particular stands of each program, it will be possible to have a 360° navigation to review all the content that has been displayed there: brochures and informative posters, program and institutional videos, photo galleries, access to informative material and contact data”.

During Thursday, August 12, from 16:00 p.m. to 19:00 p.m., you will be able to talk with our executives and program managers, through a personalized chat in real time, to receive guidance on your needs and areas of interest.

Participate and learn about our continuing education offer. sign up for https://feriapostgrados.userena.cl/

Written by Sergio Muñoz, Office of Dissemination and Dissemination of Sciences and Technology.