A total of 24 fourth-grade students from the communes of Vicuña, Coquimbo and La Serena began their training period in the program, which has recognition from the MINEDUC.

Promoting the development of teaching identity in high school students who express interest in being a teacher is the objective of the program for preparation and access to pedagogies for high school students, implemented in 2017 and belonging to the Academic Vice-Rector's Office of the University. of La Serena, and that responds to the requirements of Law 20.903 of the Teacher Professional Development System.

Due to the contingency that the country is going through, the activities of the “I want to be an Education Professional” (QSPE) program have been adapted to the remote modality for this third version, where new students, belonging to different establishments educational institutions of the province of Elqui, participated in their first instance of training, with the conviction of enhancing their skills as students who choose pedagogy by vocation, and entering university life in 2021.

For Andrea Palma, a fourth-year student at the Liceo Bicentenario Institute of Administration and Commerce State of Israel (IAC), Coquimbo, this is an opportunity to fulfill her goal of being a teacher in the future, “my desire is to become a professional in Pedagogy in History and Geography, I have very good expectations about this program, since from the interview I could see all the love and effort that the program's teachers put into it, which shows me that I am in good hands. Personally, I would like to learn more, since it will be very useful in my future university, work and daily life,” she expressed.

Regarding the development of this instance, Dr. Karla Campaña, QSPE Coordinator, stated: “Revealing the importance of being a teacher in a changing society, in front of students who feel the call to educate, is a great challenge. The program exists because we know that there are young people who are not satisfied with taking a university entrance test, but who also want to have the experience of getting to know the professor's work, before becoming a university student. We thank the educational establishments for trusting once again in the work of our university.”

This third version of the QSPE program ends in November 2020 and students who pass the program can enter the institution's pedagogies without a transitional test score requirement. In this way, the University of La Serena responds to the call of the Ministry of Education to open spaces for those who decide to be education professionals.

For more information about the “I Want to Be an Education Professional” program, contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Written by Daniel Aguayo, APRENDE Programs - PACE ULS