How UC Global Engagement creates new opportunities for the university community

Following work plans, ongoing evaluation, and a strong commitment to strengthening ties between the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, international networks, and institutions from other countries, important international authorities visited the university in January to strengthen relations and promote global collaboration.

El trabajo que realiza la Dirección de Vinculación Global de la Vicerrectoría de Asuntos Internacionales UC ha posicionado a la universidad como un destino clave en las misiones de autoridades de universidades extranjeras hacia América Latina. Fotografía por Karina Fuenzalida, Dirección de Comunicaciones.

Since the creation of the Vice-Rectorate for International Affairs (VRAI) as a new structure based on the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile’s experience with international relations, the Global Engagement Directorate was established in 2022. It has worked on building a strategic plan that seeks to position the UC as an institution connected to partners from different regions and present in international dialogues addressing global challenges.

The work of the Strategic Relations Department with Academic and Management Units has helped position the UC in recent years as a key destination for international partners on their tours throughout Latin America, facilitating opportunities for UC stakeholders to interact with visits from other institutions to spark conversations that later translate into initiatives.

The Agreements and Evaluation department has worked to consolidate agreements that allow for collaboration in research, global mobility, knowledge exchange, and innovation. Furthermore, formalization processes have been reviewed and optimized, which has drastically reduced processing times.

“The way we connect globally is a key foundation for any initiative aimed at internationalization. Opening doors to and from the world, being efficient in formalizing opportunities and agreements, and properly monitoring our ties are essential to successfully monitoring our international relationships.”

This was expressed by the Director of Global Engagement, Ana María Sepúlveda.

The purpose of global engagement is to build bridges of collaboration between the knowledge developed at UC and that of other institutions, in order to contribute, together with international partners, to achieving objectives for the common good of a globalized world.

During 2024, ties with institutions in other countries were strengthened. UC received 85 visits and 27 missions were conducted from the UC to the world, especially encouraging participation in regional and global networks. As a result, 54 international agreements were renewed and 118 new ones were signed, which have resulted in successful collaborative initiatives among researchers and have enabled global student mobility to new institutions around the world.

Following that outstanding year, this January, the University of Malaga welcomed representatives from universities and global networks: Jenny Dixon, Provost of Universitas 21; Abhishek Singh, Chair of International Relations at the Indian Institute of Science; Mike Hildreth, Dean of the Graduate School, Associate Provost, and Vice President for Graduate Studies at the University of Notre Dame; Beatriz Blázquez-Parra, Vice Chancellor for International Mobility at the University of Málaga; Francis Müller, Professor at Zurich University of the Arts; and Béla Merkely, Rector of Semmelweis University.

As a result of these visits, new collaboration and global mobility agreements were signed, opportunities for the university community were disseminated, and discussions began on joint initiatives.

Strengthening relations with India

El Indian Institute of Science se posiciona en los primeros lugares de importantes rankings dentro de la India y cuenta con acuerdos de colaboración con destacadas instituciones como MIT y Harvard. Fotografía Karina Fuenzalida, Dirección de Comunicaciones UC.

In August 2024, Rector Ignacio Sánchez and Vice Rector for International Affairs Lilian Ferrer made an unprecedented visit to India with the aim of opening up new opportunities for collaboration with institutions in the country. As a result of this initiative, UC authorities welcomed Abhishek Singh, Chair of International Relations at the Indian Institute of Science , in January.

This public institution is positioned as a leader in research and higher education in India. Located in Bangalore and founded in 1990, it is widely recognized for its excellence in scientific and technological research.

The visit aimed to consolidate bilateral relations. They recently signed a cooperation agreement that will formalize collaboration between the two institutions in research and innovation, with a special focus on engineering and science programs. A semester mobility agreement was also signed, allowing UC students to exchange with the Indian Institute of Science and vice versa.

“India is a country with a long history of innovation, particularly in the fields of science, engineering, and medicine. We hope to expand opportunities for UC students to visit India and continue strengthening collaboration in research and development. In this sense, the mobility of students, academics, and professionals between universities in both countries is a first step toward bringing us closer together and achieving common goals, both for the Global South and for the country’s development.”

Cristian Díaz, Director of Global Mobility, highlighted this.

After her time at UC, the official also participated in meetings with officials from the Graduate School, the School of Medicine, the School of Biological Sciences, the Innovation Center, and a seminar with Jenny Dixon, Provost of the Universitas 21 network. She also traveled to the Villarrica campus, where she visited the EduFabLab and participated in a discussion focused on the Mapuche people.

Collaboration opportunities in a major global network

La UC se incorporó a la red en el año 2012, siendo una de las dos universidades latinoamericanas en U21. Fotografía por Karina Fuenzalida, Dirección de Comunicaciones UC.

Following strategic engagement efforts and participation in prominent global networks, the Global Engagement Department has positioned UC as a key destination for institutions from these networks throughout Latin America.

This is the case of the Provost of the global network Universitas 21 (U21) , Jenny Dixon, who was received on January 13 by the rector Ignacio Sánchez and the vice-rector of International Affairs, Lilian Ferrer, after numerous conversations in international spaces about the opportunities of the network and how it encourages the participation of the UC community in it.

The authority’s mission was primarily aimed at disseminating and encouraging the participation of the UC community in the network’s working groups, in preparation for the 2025 summit. During his time at our university, he also spoke at the UC 2025 International Higher Education Summit .

This is part of a series of milestones in the relationship between the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and the U21 network. Of particular note is the November 2024 mission of a UC delegation led by Vice-Rector Ferrer to Shanghai.