The agreement was signed by the Rector, Dr. Luperfina Rojas Escobar, and the president of CORPAN, Rodrigo Díaz Cortés de Monroy. 

In the Raúl Bitrán Hall of the University of La Serena, the collaboration agreement was signed between the ULS and the Paso Agua Negra Development and Integration Corporation, CORPAN, whose main objective is to carry out joint activities and actions that favor the integration process of the Coquimbo Region with the rest of the world and preferably with the countries of the Southern Cone of Latin America in subjects and/or initiatives of an academic nature, research, development, innovation, links with the environment and extension cultural, social, economic, artistic, technological, among others.

The agreement was signed by the Rector, Dr. Luperfina Rojas Escobar, and the president of CORPAN, Rodrigo Díaz Cortés de Monroy, in a ceremony attended by regional counselors, members of the ULS Board of Directors, authorities and directors of the house of studies, partners and directors of the Paso Agua Negra Corporation, and representatives of various institutions.

The president of the Corporation, Rodrigo Díaz, valued the signing of this agreement, pointing out that it is an honor that a civil organization signs this document to work together with the ULS “on issues as important as the integration and development of the Coquimbo Region. with the countries that make up the central bioceanic corridor, from Coquimbo to Puerto Alegre.” And he added that establishing this type of alliance contributes to the work of CORPAN, which is to “support the region in the integration process with the aim of improving the quality of life of all its inhabitants. Today is in education, tomorrow will be in the area of ​​commerce or research. Thus, the Corporation will work to promote the potential of the region.”

While Rector Rojas highlighted that at the University “we have always believed in the transformative power of education and strategic collaboration; That is why today, we are here to celebrate the formalization of a partnership that will not only strengthen our institution, but will also have a significant impact on the sustainable development and integration of the community we serve. CORPAN has worked decisively to promote development and integration in the region, and therefore, it becomes a relevant actor in our work, joining forces to advance this common cause of integration with our sister country, Argentina."

The highest university authority added that the signing of this agreement “represents a tangible commitment to academic excellence, innovative research and social responsibility. Furthermore, this collaboration will give us the opportunity to combine our resources, knowledge and experiences in pursuit of shared objectives. I am convinced that together we can generate a positive and sustainable impact in key areas, from promoting research to creating educational programs that address the current and future needs of our society.”

Some of the actions that are sought to be carried out jointly are talks, seminars and/or workshops; instances of undergraduate and postgraduate internships abroad; development of thesis, degree works, and other types of research, development, innovation or creation projects; reciprocal internships, field visits and activities of academics, students of the University of La Serena and members of the Paso Agua Negra Corporation, among others.

This agreement is added to a series of current agreements that the University of La Serena has sealed in recent years within the framework of its cooperation work and whose purpose is to promote joint activities and actions of an educational, cultural and economic nature that favor the integration and linkage of the Coquimbo Region with other countries.  

Written by Gonzalo Lozano, DirCom