The agreement was signed by the Rector, Dr. Luperfina Rojas Escobar, and the general manager of EPCO, Ernesto Piwonka Carrasco, who valued this working alliance between both public institutions.

With the objective of developing joint initiatives of an academic, research, development, innovation and connection with the environment and extension, the University of La Serena and the Coquimbo Port Company signed an important collaboration agreement.

The agreement was signed by the Rector, Dr. Luperfina Rojas, and the general manager of EPCO, Ernesto Piwonka, who valued this working alliance between both institutions.

Rector Rojas highlighted that this agreement “marks a milestone in the development and strengthening of our academic community and the port sector. It also symbolizes our shared commitment to the progress and development of the region and the country.” And he added that this alliance will contribute to establishing effective mechanisms to promote joint research, “allowing our teachers and students to contribute to the advancement of knowledge and the development of innovative solutions in the port field. The carrying out of extension projects and links with the community will also be encouraged, with the aim of putting the knowledge generated in our institution at the service of society."

While the general manager of the Coquimbo Port Company, Ernesto Piwonka, C. expressed that, “we have always had the interest in having close ties with higher education institutions, because it allows us to be at the forefront of knowledge and at the same time we believe which for the university, teachers and their students allows them to have an approach to the practice of the discipline that is taught and researched. We celebrate this milestone as a company, we thank the University of La Serena for giving us the opportunity to finalize this agreement and we are fully willing to carry it out in the best possible way and have a very enriching relationship.”

The agreement seeks to encourage the participation of actors from the educational community of the University and the Port Company in joint activities; hold talks, seminars and workshops to promote topics of interest; coordinate internships for students, in addition to theses, degree works and research projects; and develop reciprocal internships, field visits and activities for academics, students and EPCO members.

The agreement signing ceremony was held in the premises of the ULS Headquarters in the presence of directors of the institutions.