With the signature of their respective rectors, Universidad Católica del Maule and Universidad Tecnológica Metropolitana signed an agreement that will promote an exchange of technology, innovation and entrepreneurship among undergraduate and graduate students from both institutions.
An agreement aimed at upgrading the training of undergraduate and graduate students in the field of basic sciences was signed between the Catholic University of Maule and the Metropolitan Technological University, by their rectors.
The agreement is part of a project that the institutions are carrying out jointly, under the title of «Elementum».
«It links two universities by connecting their council of rectors; two institutions that seek to promote innovation and entrepreneurship with a scientific-technological base. It also connects them with other international higher education institutions and referents. The students are the ones who will benefit the most from this union,» said the highest authority of the UCM, Dr. Claudio Rojas, during the launch of the initiative at the San Miguel campus in Talca.
“Working in consortium is always complex,» he said, «but if it is achieved successfully, the learning will be significant».
«Elementum» is financed by the National Agency for Research and Development (ANID), through its Science 2030 competition.
«I see a very promising future. It is a large-scale project because it has institutions from two different regions. Science unites us (…) and it can generate a tremendous impact on the development of the country,» said UTEM’s rector, Marisol Durán.
Straight for the curriculum
The first challenge of «Elementum» will be to carry out a diagnosis of gaps and opportunities in the undergraduate and graduate programs of science departments, considering gender policies, their link to the environment, and R+D+i. The idea is to strengthen–in a later phase–the transfer of knowledge and technology, innovation and entrepreneurship in the curricula.
«We will determine the gaps that exist with respect to other institutions with the same characteristics as ours, but which are more advanced in the area of innovation, technology transfer and entrepreneurship, and based on these gaps, we will see what modifications we should make in the curricula», emphasized the dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and the Environment of the Santiago campus, María Soledad Toledo, alternate director of the project.
The initiative will seek transformations in the careers of Industrial Chemistry and Biotechnology Engineering and the Master’s Degree in Chemistry, mentioning Materials Technology at UTEM; and in Geology, Mathematics Engineering, Statistics Engineering, Natural Resources Engineering, Biotechnology Engineering and the Doctorate in Applied Mathematical Modeling at UCM.
«We seek to collaborate with UTEM for the benefit of the students by providing them with a solid training in science and also for them to be able to transfer this knowledge to society, through innovation and entrepreneurship, competencies that will be strengthened through curricular harmonization», said the project director, Dr. Evelyn Villagra, director of the Department of Forestry Sciences of the Maule’s University.