CNA GRANTS MAXIMUM ACCREDITATION TO THE DOCTORATE IN PHILOSOPHY, RELIGION AND CONTEMPORARY THOUGHT AT THE UCM

octubre 2, 2023

After this significant achievement, the Faculty of Religious and Philosophical Sciences is positioned as an academic unit that has all its undergraduate and graduate programs accredited.

After undergoing a quality certification process for the first time, the National Accreditation Commission (CNA) decided —last Thursday, August 10—to grant three years of accreditation to the Doctorate in Philosophy, Religion and Contemporary Thought, attached to the Faculty of Religious and Philosophical Sciences of the Universidad Católica del Maule (UCM). This is the maximum possible period for programs that have not yet graduated.

The doctorate, taught since 2020 and directed by Dr. Rafael Miranda Rojas, is a postgraduate degree of academic character, oriented to train advanced level researchers in the field of philosophy, religion and the different scientific and humanistic traditions of contemporary thought.

«The doctorate accreditation is a relevant milestone since the future consolidation of the program, which implies its continuous improvement through the development of the improvement plan. Our program desire is to provide a space for reflection and respectful dialogue from a perspective that draws on various traditions in the field of philosophy and religion through its lines of research. This first result in the accreditation process is a relevant incentive for strengthening humanistic research in the Maule region,» said Professor Miranda Rojas.

The academic took the opportunity to invite those interested in the humanities, and in particular in philosophical dialogue with an interdisciplinary openness, «to consider our doctorate at the Universidad Católica del Maule as an option for their research progress. We will soon open the call for new admissions 2024.»

«I would also like to thank the various UCM institutional bodies for their support in the self-evaluation process. Of course, I would also like to thank the relevant role played by the CNA in the Chilean university environment. We will be attentive to the guidelines that the accreditation agreement will offer,» said Miranda.

For his part, the dean of the Faculty of Religious and Philosophical Sciences, Fr. Dr. Mauricio Albornoz Olivares, emphasized how important it is for the institution to accredit a doctorate that strengthens the disciplines in the humanities, in particular, philosophy and interdisciplinary dialogue with culture and the question of God. «It is a great challenge that is materialized in this accreditation process that ratifies the quality of our program. For us, it is a reason for great joy, considering that it is the highest accreditation to which we could aspire, given that our doctorate still has no graduates. It is news that encourages us to continue strengthening and working in the humanities from the south-central zone of the country. I also believe it is great news for the Maule Region, because it allows men and women who are interested in the humanities and, in particular, in the philosophical or religious questions, to find in our program an opportunity for specialization, professional development, and to achieve high quality goals and high standards.»

For the UCM Postgraduate Director, Dr. Karina Vilches Ponce, the accreditation «ratifies the institutional commitment to offer quality programs, in line with the requirements of the CNA and the standards that we self-impose to ensure a culture of permanent excellence (…) We thank all those who supported this long process, especially the staff of the Postgraduate Directorate, the General Directorate of Institutional Quality Assurance and the Faculty of Religious and Philosophical Sciences. Our Doctorate in Philosophy, Religion and Contemporary Thought was accredited for the maximum period of years. This is undoubtedly a significant achievement for the Institution, which already has five accredited doctoral programs».

All Programs Accredited

After the recent decision made by the CNA, the Faculty of Religious and Philosophical Sciences is positioned as an academic unit that has all its undergraduate and graduate programs accredited. «This news allows us to say today that all our programs are accredited, which is no minor thing in the current context of quality standards. It also reveals of a joint and serious work, of all of us who contribute, from our side, to the success of the work of our faculty […] We hope to continue working at the University, with the different directions of our Institution and within our faculty with the same commitment and quality, having same strength that has distinguished us for more than 25 years,» said Dean Albornoz Olivares.

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