During the month of November, the OSE has interacted with the students in order to advise them on different aspects.

With the purpose of advising students of different careers at the University of La Serena, the Graduate Monitoring Office, belonging to the Directorate of Institutional Studies and Planning, carries out job placement and life skills workshops, providing tools to put into practice when you apply for a job vacancy or feel like you need an escape route to avoid stress.

Thus, students with a Design career graduation profile received advice and acquired new knowledge and strategies aimed at promoting early job placement, through the generation of activities that facilitate the construction of an effective curriculum vitae, identification of updated means of application and training regarding the psycho-labor interviews that they may be faced with in the near future.

Likewise, the benefits that students and future professionals will be able to access through the use of the Phoenix Platform were conveyed, such as registration in specific skills development workshops, individual coaching, the exclusive ULS employment portal, seminars, talks and recreational activities.

Likewise, students from the Pedagogy in Differential Education and Pedagogy in Early Childhood Education programs attended the yoga workshop, where they were able to connect with their self-awareness, recognizing, feeling and channeling their emotions, creating greater self-confidence and the security of their loved ones. skills, taking advantage of the opportunity, in addition, to promote loyalty and the creation of ties between the university community.

Students with a graduation profile who wish to receive this type of support, whether coaching for job placement or life skills workshops, can go directly to the Graduate Monitoring Office, located on the second floor of the Central Library, entering through the external side staircase, or call 51-2-334667 and contact the psychologist Rodrigo Davanzo or Elba Soto, both professionals in charge of the unit's workshops.

Dr. Eduardo Cavieres, professor emeritus of the University of Chile, spoke about Social Sciences within the framework of the country's higher education.

In the premises of the School of Journalism of the University of La Serena, the master class was held: “Social Sciences and communications in higher education”, taught by the professor and 2008 National History Prize Winner, Dr. Eduardo Cavieres, closing a series of activities headed by the academic at the ULS.

This activity was attended by the Dean of the Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences, Dr. Luperfina Rojas, as well as academics and students from the Pedagogy in History and Geography career.

The Dean of FACSE referred to the importance that the academic's visit has for the University and the Faculty, indicating that “having the presence of Dr. Eduardo Cavieres, a prominent person at the national level, is very interesting. “He maintains a close relationship with our university and, in that sense, he has given us the support to generate ties with academics from other universities in order to implement master's degrees in History at the University.”

For his part, for Dr. Cavieres, this visit was quite positive, since he was able to meet again with an institution with which he maintains a close relationship. “It is an honor to return to the University of La Serena after a couple of years, I have been surprised with the implementation of new spaces. It is a pleasure to be able to share with History students and I hope to be able to participate more often in these spaces.”

This is what the 2018 National Natural Sciences Prize winner expressed during his visit to the ULS. Dr. Jaksic, a pioneer in the area of ​​Ecology and who has permanently contributed to the development and strengthening of research in this area of ​​knowledge, spoke about the challenges of Ecology in Chile and the current funding crisis due to which crosses science in our country.

Recently, the National Prize winner was invited by the University of La Serena to give a keynote talk within the framework of the activities of the II Binational Congress of Scientific Research Chile-Argentina, and a presentation at the Department of Biology entitled “Long-term studies in Ecology in Chile”, where students and academics participated. Ecology has developed as a solid area of ​​research and development at the ULS, which has resulted in the creation of the Doctorate program in Applied Biology and Ecology and the Doctorate and Master's programs in Biological Sciences, mention of Arid Zones, all accredited by the National Accreditation Commission.

Professor Fabián Jaksic (66) has been one of the pioneers in the use of experimental methods in Ecology, contributing strongly to the training of people in this area. He has dedicated a large part of his career to social needs, participating in more than 67 environmental impact studies, as well as consulting for the State, private companies and non-governmental organizations.

"Due to circumstances specific to the country, I had to be one of the first generation of scientific ecologists in the country (...), I had to receive scientific training (in Ecology) at a time when there were no degrees in ecology, nor master's degrees, much less doctorates,” he said.

After graduating as a biologist from the University of Chile, he headed to the United States to specialize and upon returning in 1982 he was part of a group of no more than 6 pioneering scientists in the area, including Professor Julio Gutiérrez, from the University of Chile. Department of Biology of the ULS, who is currently an academic and among his many works has at least 18 scientific articles published with the National Award.

The National Award winner has dedicated his life to the study of Community Ecology, that is, “the study of all the interactions of all animals and all plants in a certain physical place”, focusing on the study of vertebrates, animals and terrestrial environments. , which has resulted in more than 200 scientific articles and 10 textbooks. The latter is something that prof. Jaksic highlights: “I am not only interested in reaching foreign peers, but I am also interested in influencing the training of biologists in Chile (…) all my texts except one are in Spanish,” stated the professional.

30 years working in the region

His studies have focused on predator-prey relationships; in how animal communities are structured; modeling population dynamics; the El Niño phenomenon, which has led him to work actively in the Coquimbo Region for more than 30 years, publishing more than 30 scientific articles from this work, 17 of which have been in conjunction with the ULS; and what biodiversity is for, that is, how self-sustaining systems are formed and that in turn are capable of resisting human pressures. Currently the prof. Jaksic also dedicates a good part of his time to participating in the management of public policies on the environment, biodiversity and climate change, among others.

Pending tasks of ecology in our country

Jaksic pointed out that by choosing Chile to want to be a developed country and making the commitment to be the 34th member of the OECD, it implies having higher quality public policies, since we choose to compare ourselves with the most advanced countries in the world. “This sets a fairly high bar for us and leads us to have environmental legislation that has to be very in line with the legislation of other countries,” he indicated. He says that this has led us to have legislation that is very advanced. Specifically, due to the free trade agreement with Canada, the Basic Environmental Law was created in 1994, which served until 2010 when other environmental entities were created, such as the Ministry of the Environment, the Superintendency of the Environment, the Environmental Assessment Service and Environmental Courts. “In 16 years (…) a formally very good institutional framework has been created, which fails in what institutional frameworks typically fail (…), we fail in oversight because we do not have a large enough State,” he added.

Chilean science funding crisis

When asked about his opinion about the current scientific panorama after the large cut announced for the 2019 budget, he stated that he sees things “in an ant color, from brown to dark.” The prof. Jaksic believes that the great lack that Chile has in terms of funding for science has become more visible since we are in the OECD, since we only allocate 0.38% of GDP, which leaves us in last place on the list of countries. , “the budget allocated to science as a percentage of GDP is very low, I would say it is almost shameful, we look bad compared to the other OECD countries,” he concluded.

The “University of La Serena Award”, which highlights the graduate with the best grade average of his class, went to Rocío Parada Lucero, from Pedagogy in Basic General Education.

In two solemn ceremonies held in the Aula Magna Ignacio Domeyko, the Faculty of Humanities of the University of La Serena graduated 196 new professionals who graduated from their careers.

University authorities, directors, academics, parents and relatives of the graduates were present at these emotional events, where new State teachers in Basic General Education (La Serena), State teachers in Basic General Education (Ovalle), teachers of State in Differential Education, preschool educators, State teachers in Spanish and Philosophy, State teachers in English, State teachers in Musical Education, graduates in Music, designers with a Communication major, designers with an Equipment major, English-Spanish translators and psychologists.

In her intervention, the Dean(s) of the Faculty of Humanities, Dr. Sandra Santander Álvarez, pointed out that “the rite that is being carried out today is the last link in a chain of acts that have gradually shaped the professional that we entertain today. How many efforts, efforts, sacrifices, but also satisfactions and joys, personal and family, are behind the culmination of your academic training that enables you from today to practice as professionals in this country."

The Dean added that “the celebration that brings us together today is not only unique for you and your family members, but also for the Faculty of Humanities and the teachers who have accompanied you along this arduous path, seeking your human formation, value and intellectual”.

Furthermore, Dr. Santander stated: “I am certain that those who were their teachers at this University tried to train them not only to face adversity, but also so that when required, they were capable of transforming that adversity.” an opportunity to learn and grow. Likewise, we trust that your capabilities and vocation for service will make them participate in the solutions to any problem they may have to face.”

Awards

In one of the ceremonies, the “University of La Serena Award” was presented, a distinction that highlights the graduate with the best grade average of his class and which this year went to the new teacher in Basic General Education, Rocío Parada Lucero. The professional received this recognition from the Academic Vice-Rector, Dr. Jorge Catalán Ahumada, on behalf of the Rector, Dr. Nibaldo Avilés Pizarro.

While Valentina Vejar Cortés (Pedagogy in Spanish and Philosophy), Javier Castro Iribarren (Pedagogy in English), Kimberly Antequera Garrido (Pedagogy in Music), Felipe Ortiz Lira (Design), Carolina Contreras Contreras (English - Spanish Translator), Verónica García Plaza (Bachelor in Music), Rocío Parada Lucero (Pedagogy in Basic General Education), Rocío Vega Rojo (Pedagogy in Differential Education), Javiera Ramírez Correa (Pedagogy in Early Childhood Education) and Paula Burga Hernández (Psychology) were the graduates with the most high scores and the best academic careers in their respective careers, who received distinctions from the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities.

Finally, Camila López Oyarzún, from Pedagogy in English, and Javiera Ramírez Correa, from Pedagogy in Early Childhood Education, addressed a few words to those attending these events, representing the graduates.

The Vocal Ensemble of the University of La Serena, directed by Gonzalo Tomckowiack Videla, participated in both ceremonies.

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The students begin a new training process as future special education educators, since many of them are carrying out their first observation practices in educational establishments.

With the presence of directors, academics, students, parents, family and friends, the emotional investiture ceremony was held for the second-year students of the Pedagogy in Differential Education career at the University of La Serena, who begin their internships in classroom.

During the activity carried out in the Pentagon Room of the Andrés Bello Campus, each of the students received an apron from the hands of their third-year classmates, thus symbolizing the beginning of a new training process as future special education educators, since many of these young people are carrying out their first observation practices in establishments.

The fourth-year student of the program, Macarena Muñoz, congratulated her second-year classmates and urged them to “take this program seriously because Differential Education was created to defend the right to education, regardless of the differences we have. from each other. Be strong because reality is harsh (…) Be positive references, and to achieve this it is necessary that you never stop learning. Grow as well-rounded people and never stop reading because reading opens our minds, nourishes it, develops it and makes us critical, but above all it makes us aware of improving our environment.”

While the academic of the Department of Education, Dr. Georgina García, highlighted the effort made by these students, ensuring that “they have acquired and built theoretical concepts to be able to help not only others, but also to improve the entire teaching of the educational system. Chilean, we know we have to improve.” Furthermore, he pointed out that "today they enter the classrooms, a real school, a complex and harsh world, where they will be faced with ethical and professional situations, therefore we are here to accompany them in this process (...) What you are going to do is ensure the profound right that we all have to quality education, with equity.”

The activity included musical interventions by students of this degree assigned to the Faculty of Humanities.

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The objective of the event promoted by the ULS 1799 Comprehensive Support Project was to provide information on the characteristics and processes developed within the campus's Disability Support Program, and to publicize the experiences experienced by students with disabilities.

The motivational talk called “The experiences experienced by students with disabilities at the ULS in their process of entering higher education,” was held in the facilities of the CADH Teaching Support Center, on the Isabel Bongard Campus, where students with disabilities participated. motor disability and with Asperger Syndrome, belonging to the “Comprehensive Support Plan for students of the University of La Serena within the framework of inclusion and universal accessibility”, ULS project 1799.

The event, aimed at students along with their parents and teachers from different schools in the La Serena commune, was led by professionals from the Comprehensive Support Plan and aimed to provide information on the characteristics and processes developed within the Education Support Program. Disability ULS, and to publicize the experiences of students with disabilities at different levels of basic and secondary education until entering university and maintaining it.

The talk made it possible to raise academic and life project expectations in the group of students, parents and teachers attending it, from the development of personal skills that promote their autonomy and independence to facilitate their entry, permanence and graduation from higher education. as their future work and social performance.

Attendees became aware of the experiences of personal improvement, resilience and perseverance narrated by the students of the Program and highlighted their strengths in their achievement of entering and remaining at the University despite the difficulties and changes that are being generated towards a culture more inclusive.