Twenty-four students from different educational establishments participate in the program.

The presentation was aimed at the parents of the students who participate in the “I want to be an Education Professional” program, recognized by the MINEDUC in accordance with the provisions of Law 20.903 on the requirements for access to pedagogies.

The objective of the meeting was to inform parents and guardians about the progress that the students have made in the initiative. The Coordinator of the “I Want to Be an Education Professional” Program, Dr. Karla Campaña,He stated that “the purpose of this activity was to show how their children have been strengthening their teaching identity and interest in the pedagogies and pedagogical skills developed so far thanks to the program. Without a doubt, the objective was met, parents were informed about the work being done with them and about the different issues that influence access and university life, as well as the comprehensive support of students during their stay at the university. .

In this regard, Carolina Santander, mother of a student at the Altazor Vicente Astorga School, expressed: “I think it is an excellent measure on the part of the program coordination, I am one of the mothers who loves to know what her son is doing, so it is valued see what they teach, what the methodologies are like, how my son is evolving (…) Also, as his mother it is important that he know that I support him in his decisions.”

In this way, the program prepares the 24 students to be part of the second generation that will enter the University of La Serena during 2020, after approving the access and preparation program for pedagogies, responding to article 27 of the Law 20.903 that creates the Teacher Professional Development System.

In the first instance, Dr. Campaña referred to the importance of the program for the institution in the initial training of teachers and how it contributes to the improvement of education in the Coquimbo Region.

Regarding participation in the program, Krishna Zamora, a student at Diego de Almeyda School, stated that “it is very gratifying and fruitful for us as high school students to participate in the program, since the professionals in charge are able to explore capabilities that we did not know they had.” we counted; The experience is very pleasant since when we get to class we analyze the different methodologies that the teachers apply and in addition to this we can contribute to making the classes better.”

To conclude the activity, the work guidelines of the APRENDE ULS program were presented, explained by journalist Daniel Aguayo; to a talk about Scholarships and Benefits, given by Marisol Avilés, from the Department. of ULS Student Welfare, and finally a talk from the promotion unit of the General Directorate of Student Affairs DGAE ULS, so that parents and guardians have the necessary information when their children enter higher education.

At the opening of the meeting of this Network, where universities from all over the country are affiliated, the Academic Vice-Rector of the ULS, Dr. Alejandra Torrejón, was present, who welcomed everyone present and urged them to actively participate in all the proposed activities.

With a large number of participants, the ninth meeting of the Network of Teaching and Undergraduate Directors belonging to the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH) was held at the University of La Serena, which seeks to maintain collaborative work, with challenges and adapting to the changes dictated by the different guidelines in the area of ​​Teaching in Chilean higher education.

The meeting was attended by the General Secretary of the CRUCH, María Elena González, the Academic Vice-Rector of the ULS, Dr. Alejandra Torrejón, and different directors of Teaching and Undergraduate Studies in the country, who worked on common themes and innovative proposals.

The University of La Serena, who hosted this event, through its academics, spoke about the “Generation of a Master's program in Higher Education, via diplomas”, by the Director of Teaching (s), Dr. Pamela Labra, and “Early warning system, based on business intelligence to detect academic risks at the ULS”, presented by Mg. Gonzalo Honors.

Likewise, the Coordinator of the Initial Teacher Training Area of ​​the Center for Pedagogical Improvement, Experimentation and Research (CPEIP), Rosa Miranda, spoke in detail about “Performance Standards and Initial Training”, where she addressed the new pedagogical and disciplinary standards that will be used as references for the accreditation processes of pedagogy careers.

“The performance of what Chilean teachers are capable of doing were taken as the basis for the construction of these standards. Regional universities always have the difficulty that they are a little more alone because they do not have all the networks they need, and that is where we have a commitment to them, in accompanying the dissemination and implementation of the new standards,” Rosa clarified. Miranda.

The work sessions were attended by the Director of Teaching of the UMCE and Coordinator of the Network of CRUCH Teaching Directors, Claudio Martínez, who said: “the main focus of our Network is to improve our own management, therefore, all The topics we work on and the speakers that are invited have to do with how we improve management management and guide the procedure and action of the different units that contain these directions. We must understand that the educational phenomenon not only depends on a single factor, but that there is work that must be addressed systemically." During the meeting, the participating institutions declared to continue establishing joint ties and continue with quality assurance processes under lines of planned and systematic actions that lead to a clear process within education, as well as being relevant participants in the implementation of the Higher Education Law.

The Academic Vice-Rector of the ULS, Dr. Alejandra Torrejón, appreciated that the institution was hosting this meeting and being able to "receive from the Teaching Directors of the CRUCH universities. We are in the good sense of building in a joint and participatory way, for That is why this meeting is so important, where many universities participate, where we have an opinion that reflects the order. The University of La Serena will always be with its doors open to receive its peers to nourish us and work together and improve our actions in different areas. natures". 

Superintendent of Higher Education Visit

During the second day of the ninth meeting of the Network, the Superintendent of Higher Education, Jorge Avilés, visited the University of La Serena, taking advantage of this day to highlight the role that this new organization will have in the field of education. superior. “The objective of this Superintendency will be to supervise higher education institutions that comply with the standards established by the Ministry, as well as to be the manager of complaints and claims from the various actors who are faced with particular conflicts with the institution where there are violations of the law,” he assured.

Written by Patricia Castro, DirCom

The academic and researcher in charge of teaching the Academic Writing Course organized by the Vice-Rector for Research and Postgraduate Studies, comments on the work that has been developed in the search to provide tangible tools to the academics of the university for the writing of academic publications. .

Providing support to its academics in the process that academic publication entails, whether in a relevant educational experience or research on teaching, is the objective of the course. “The path towards academic publication on teaching in higher education”, an event organized by the University of La Serena, through the Vice President for Research and Graduate.

This course arises from the need to provide tools to academics so that they can develop the writing of research material, mainly in the preparation of publications focused on teaching, with the aim of being published in different research journals.

The presenter of this course is the academic and researcher of the Multidisciplinary Research Institute of Science and Technology of the ULS, Dr. Haylen Perines, who comments that these courses allow working tools to be provided to academics who have not worked on academic publications and to perfect the work of those experienced scholars.

“There is something of a myth about publishing and it is believed that everyone knows and the truth is that sometimes there is a lack of training in this regard because teaching has sometimes been understood separately from research; However, the role of research and teaching go together, which allows other teaching practices to be optimized, and this course seeks to support those academics who feel that they lack tools or who have experience in the area, but lack support to publish what they have done”, He said.

The researcher from the Integrated Pedagogy Management Unit explains how the development of this course has been, which has completed 2 work sessions, out of a total of 4, with a good reception from the academics. “The idea is to go through all the parts of an article and develop them; Time is given for them to work individually and we review some publications together to provide feedback on the work of others, we work on the theory, the parts of an article, the introduction, the theoretical framework, the methodology, and then we move on to what it is. practical work, that is, advancing individually in their publications”.

Although this course is aimed at academics who are beginning to prepare academic publications, academics who have experience in this area also participate. From this perspective, Dr. Perines indicates what the work of the academics has been like within the course. “Although the course is aimed at people who are just starting out, there are academics who have some notions, some have published a paper, but they need to publish in more prestigious journals. There are different levels and it is noticeable, however, we try to present a work so that everyone feels that they are learning, I give advice for those who are more experienced and also for people who are starting out, of course, always with the focus on those who are starting out. ”.

In turn, the academic points out that although academics from various specialties participate, the course focuses on publication about teaching, being a topic that encompasses the work that academics do at the university. “The course is focused on teaching in higher education, it unifies them all in a theme, because although each one is from a different area, the theme is teaching in higher education, which allows the course to be carried out and facilitated. to carry out this workshop, since everyone being from different areas, with different interests, I cannot cover them all”, he said.

Regarding the reception by academics, the researcher mentions that, to date, participation has been quite active, demonstrating great interest. “We have more than 20 people (the original capacity of the course) and I see that the participation in the classes has been super good, they ask a lot of questions, they have a very receptive attitude to learning and they are super responsible with the activities, and I feel that “We are well on our way to the next sessions and completion of this course.”, mentioned the professional.

Finally, the person in charge of this course highlights the work carried out by the University of La Serena in training its academics to write academic publications and invites more academics to join these instances. “The University, through its Vice-Rector for Research and Postgraduate Studies, has done a great job in organizing this space, providing tools to its academics so that they can develop research publications and I invite academics who have not taken the step towards research, be part of courses like this one. I believe that the view of uniting research with teaching and appreciating that research nourishes and improves teaching practices”, He said.

Written by Tomás Rodríguez, DirCom

The research group at the University of La Serena published two papers this year describing arthropods of economic importance.

Among the transversal valleys of semi-arid Chile, the Limarí River valley, located in the Norte Chico, stands out as an economic focus in agri-food terms, whose surface is currently made up of forage, fruit, wine and horticultural crops. Much of these crops are destined for foreign markets, including the US and Europe. The knowledge and control of agricultural pests is of transcendental importance if we consider that the various fruit crops - such as table vines, avocado trees, olive trees and mandarin trees - represent almost 47% of the fruit trees of the Norte Chico, so it is crucial to prevent some species of insects and arachnids (arthropods) affect production levels and cause rejection in destination markets.

Due to the dynamics of the biodiversity of agroecosystems - which can be influenced by factors such as vegetation, the permanence of various crops, the intensity of their management, degree of isolation of natural vegetation, and drought - the spatial distribution of many Arthropod species can fluctuate over time, which can affect the control and management of pests and natural enemies in them. It is in this context that the work of the Ecological Entomology Laboratory of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of La Serena (LEULS), directed by the academic and entomologist Mg. Jaime Pizarro-Araya has taken on a great role in analyzing and describing the spatial distribution of the richness of arthropods of economic importance in the Limarí River basin.

A special emphasis of this work is placed on species of forestry, agronomic and medical-veterinary importance, which this year has already allowed them to publish two investigations in specialized journals (Norte Grande Geography Magazine y Agricultural Science and Research, both magazines belonging to the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile).

Regarding the impact that both works have for the community, the academic pointed out that “we describe the species of economic importance for the Limarí basin, including diseases and attacks that they can cause in crops and/or animals, and distributional maps of the species are also included. ", and added that "we hope that the present works are real contributions to the community related to Agriculture in the most important basin between the regions of Atacama and Coquimbo."

The entomologist expressed that the short-term impact of these studies is related to increasing knowledge of the potential agricultural and forestry pests that can be found in said basin and knowing how they are distributed at a local spatial scale within this productive area. "On the other hand, this information can be projected in the long term as studies that discuss the importance of pest analysis in the face of commercial opening megaprojects, such as the Aguas Negras Pass," said the ULS researcher, who added that "the importance of phytosanitary protection of the semi-arid basins of Chile and the potential effects of global climate change on both native and introduced biota.

Written by Marcela Gatica, Faculty of Sciences

The activity “Learning Sample I Semester 2019” seeks for students to present the professional experiences acquired during their professional practice in different kindergartens and public institutions.

Generating a collaborative work space that articulates the efforts of both the University and different educational centers, creating a space for reflection regarding pedagogical and innovation processes, is the main objective of the activity called “Professional Practice Seminar”, organized for the degree in Pedagogy in Early Childhood Education from the University of La Serena.

During this activity, the 4th year students of the program presented about the work they did during their second professional internship in different educational establishments, where they not only had to respond to their professional work, but also developed innovation projects within each establishment.

The educational establishments where the students carried out their internship were the Años Felices, Los Papayitos, Risitas, San Agustín and La Serena University kindergartens, in addition to the Amaranta language school and the Coquimbo Rights Protection Office.

The academic of the Department of Education and coordinator of Pedagogy Practices in Early Childhood Education, Dr. Rosana Godoy, explained in detail the work carried out by the students. “In this first semester, the students have presented two major lines of work, one carried out with innovation and the other with the line of research that they will work on throughout the year. "It has been a presentation where the management teams and the colleagues themselves have been able to suggest, reflect, debate and enrich the exchange of pedagogical and professional experiences and it has been seen that they have developed a high level of work, with an important social commitment," he explained.

For her part, the 4th year student of Pedagogy in Early Childhood Education, Camila García, commented on the importance of this experience within her professional training. “Through this practice, we can experience the educational reality in a deeper way, sometimes it is complex to jump from the theoretical to the practical, since there is an educational system, guidelines of the establishments, and one must adapt to this system; However, I feel that it is a positive complement since it gives us the tools to develop as a good professional.”

Written by Tomás Rodríguez, DirCom

The idea of ​​the visit was to continue strengthening ties, meet those who are currently at the head of the university and maintain the help that the Alumni Center provides to the students of the Faculty of Engineering.

The Academic Vice Rector, Dr. Alejandra Torrejón, representing the Rector of the University of La Serena, Dr. Nibaldo Avilés, received the president of the UTE-ULS Alumni Center, Codelco Chuquicamata Division, Carlos López, who arrived with a message of commitment with his Alma Mater and renewed with the university authorities the desire to continue collaborating with the institution, through the scholarships that the Center provides to students in the area of ​​Engineering.

The president of the Center, representing more than 30 workers from the Chuquicamata Division who are part of the group and who were students at the State Technical University (which later became ULS), wanted to convey the feeling of their selfless work, the which has been around for 40 years and has been maintained over time thanks to the constant support of its members.

“The first steps of the University are carried in the heart, the Alma Mater marks, and carrying out this work is giving back to life, doing what someone once did with me and sharing it gives us satisfaction and we are grateful; That is why a group of friends met, many years ago, to deliver scholarships to young people with limited resources, with good performance and social vulnerability and, despite the distance, we are with the University, with love and being a beacon of the University,” he said.

The conversation held by the president of the Center, Carlos López, together with one of the members of the group, Ramón Tabilo, with the Vice-Rector, the General Director of Student Affairs, María Teresa Fierro, and the Coordinator of the Student Welfare Department, Mg. Patricia Astroza, was fully committed to continue working collaboratively and continue on the path that this year 2019 has already been for 40 years of work.

Dr. Alejandra Torrejón, in addition to thanking this noble gesture, called on those who belong to this group to unite even more with the University, establish ties with the Graduate Monitoring Office and foster a link with the Faculty of Engineering. “It is a tremendous pride that our alumni continue to be so linked to their Alma Mater and provide benefits to students who really need it. We are a state University that self-manages its resources, and all the support you give us is tremendously important, and that is why we appreciate this noble gesture, but we also invite you to be part of our work, being social entities, with responsibilities for new and future generations,” emphasized the Academic Vice-Rector, representing the first university authority.

Written by Patricia Castro, DirCom