The objective was to bring the University closer to the youngest members of the home and contribute to their future professional training, through 7 theoretical-practical workshops.

During these winter holidays, the Extension Directorate of the University of La Serena held a new version of the “Children's University 2014”, where children between 8 and 17 years old were the protagonists of entertaining and playful vocational workshops in the who learned and learned about some of the courses taught by the higher education institution.

Workshops on Architecture, Kinesiology, Nursing, Design, Chemistry, Astronomy and “Making Radio” (FM University Radio), made up this winter panorama in which boys and girls enjoyed and actively participated in the theoretical and practical classes taught by the same academics and professionals of the institution in the facilities of the U. de la Serena. 

In this regard, the Physics teacher and person in charge of the Astronomy workshop, Sergio Torres, said he was very happy to strengthen relations between the ULS and the school community. “I thought it was an excellent activity, it is a very good way to disseminate what the research that is done at the University is and disseminate it to the new generations, because they are all high school or basic education students, so for them to find out about science What is done at the University is fundamental,” he stated.

“It was fun, I learned a lot of things and I think I decided to study Astronomy when I am older and leave fourth grade,” said Catalina Muñoz. On the other hand, Emilia Guzmán, 4 years old and who participated in the Nursing workshop, indicated that she “wanted to know what were the things she should do for a healthy life. I learned that you have to eat healthy, brush your teeth so that cavities don't form, and I also learned that you have to eat healthy food and exercise a lot and love yourself.” Meanwhile, Vicente Plaza, a student in the Kinesiology workshop, pointed out that the day was very entertaining and educational, “he taught several things that I had not normally learned. He explains certain parts of the body in detail. “It was pretty interesting.”

The “Winter Children's University 2014” ran from July 21 to 25 and ended with a closing ceremony in the ULS Exhibition Hall, where the Extension Directorate gave each of the participants a certificate of participation for his time at the University and in this new winter university version.

Positive balance 

In this regard, the Director of Extension, Dr. Catalina Cvitanic, made a positive evaluation of this version and gave emphasis to the vocational objective. “What the University is contributing by carrying out these workshops is increasingly valued, the children perceive it as a possibility of discovering what their future vocation may be, and on the other hand, it is also a way of helping families, because many Sometimes, the fact that the student does not know how to choose his future profession deteriorates the family economy, it becomes a problem when the young person has to change careers because he does not like it or has chosen poorly. But the most relevant thing about this activity is that the children are delighted and we already have cases in which students from previous versions have returned to our classrooms to study a ULS degree," she explained. 

Visit the Children's U. Gallery