• Universidad de Santiago is in the third place nationwide (among thirty in the list, leaving U. de Concepción behind in the 4^th place. Our university is in the 13^th place in Latin America, where the best-ranked institutions are Mexico, Brazil and Colombia. Eight of the top ten international universities in this ranking have strong state government support for their research and teaching tasks.

Universidad de Santiago de Chile (Universidad de Santiago) is in the 13^th place in Latin America  in the 2013 QS Top Universities Ranking  (Latin America University), an international measurement of high prestige.

Compared to others, our university has been  placed under Pontificia Universidad Católica, which ranks 2^nd  in the Latin American ranking, and  Universidad de  Chile (which went down one spot from the 4^th  to the 5^th place), and two places higher than Universidad de Concepción, which was in the 9^th place, in the last ranking, and in the 15^th place  now.

Under U. Concepcion, we can find:  Universidad Católica de Valparaiso, ranked 36th, Universidad Austral de Chile (39^th ), Universidad Técnica Federico Santa Maria (40^th ) , and Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez , the first national private university in the 45^th place.

As reported by QS, Chile ranked 30th among the top 300 schools in the region.

The ranking, which is led -as in 2012- by  Universidad de Sao Paulo, Brazil, showed a "relative stability", as reported by QS,  in London.

According to the analysis of those in charge of this international ranking, there was a "slight" performance drop in the case of the Chilean state universities, as a result of the 2011 and 2012 student demonstrations, which probably meant a relative decline in relation to the private universities positions which went up in the ranking.

The QS TOP University Ranking Latin America, ranks the top 300 institutions in the region using seven objective indicators, which include: research, graduate employability, teaching resources and web presence, among others.

• University community and public authorities witnessed the opening of the envelopes containing the backgrounds of the candidates who participated in the call to cover 40 vacancies made by the U. of Santiago, on December 3^rd.

On Friday 4^th , the public opening of envelopes containing the resumes  of more than 240 applicants for 40 positions was held in the Salón de Honor. This was another step in the national and international teachers’ application process, designed to cover this number of vacancies for the seven Faculties of the U. Santiago.

The event was chaired by Juan Manuel Zolezzi the University President. Some other authorities attending this meeting were:  Fernanda Kri, Academic Vice President, Dr. Oscar Bustos, Vice President for Research and Development and the lawyer Gustavo Robles, the General Secretary, who also served as Attesting Minister.

The deans, department heads, members of the academic units involved, and members of the university community, who wanted to follow this public and transparent process in detail, were also present.

The application remained in force during December and there were candidates for all the positions offered.

"Today is an important day because this is the continuation of an initiative that began in 2008 and it involves the incorporation of top-level academics to our university", president Zolezzi said.

The rules stipulate that those selected should teach at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and participate in current research projects and publications. They must also develop technical assistance, outreach and engagement and contribute to the university management, the continuous teaching improvement processes, the accreditation processes of careers, and syllabus revision, among other tasks.

If there are no candidates who meet the requirements for each position, the vacancy will be declared void.

The process also includes the job candidates’ psychological evaluation. This stage will be crucial and exclusive. "Those who do not comply with the rules and the spirit which the University seeks, will not continue in the process,” the president warned.

• Forty vacancies are offered by this State University. The applicants will integrate with the academic staff of various academic units. "They must have publications, and highly productive projects" Juan Manuel Zolezzi, president of the University, said.

The application starts on December 3 and finishes on December 28. The aim is to fill forty vacancies for various careers in the different Faculties of the Institution. The objective is to attract the best graduate academics and complete the renewal of the academic staff.

 Those selected should teach at the undergraduate and graduate levels, participate in research projects and technical assistance. In addition, they must participate in the University management and contribute to the continuous teaching improvement processes, careers accreditation, and syllabus revision, among others.

 This is stated in the rules of the application call which has been the fourth call made in the last six years (two massive and two in the Department of Education). According to the president of the U. Santiago, "these calls are part of the policies of this presidency.  That’s why we encouraged a retirement incentive law and followed the necessary steps so that this renewal could be produced."

 The highest authority of the University, explained that the academic application call was scheduled to take place at this time. "We proposed a plan that included several stages: academic restructuring, organizational restructuring of the management team, a restructuring of the academic organic system – a discussion that we’ll begin with the Academic Council- and the recruitment of academics with doctoral degrees, publications, and highly productive projects.”

 The submission process ends on December 28, at 5:00 p.m, “and the new teachers can start working at the University in March," Zolezzi explained. 

Impact on quality

The U. Santiago president said he was confident that this faculty renewal will have a significant impact on institutional accreditation, because it has already been well regarded by peer evaluation people, he remarked.

Furthermore, it will impact fundamentally on the students’ perception. "They see that the U. Santiago is proposing something different to giving cars, chocolates or I Pads. We offer them the certainty of improving our faculty, in quantity and quality,” the authority said.

Finally, president Zolezzi assured that the fact of having a good faculty is the solution to the problem of quality in higher education. “I have always had this conviction and that’s why this presidency has struggled for achieving this improvement."

The academic application call will convoke national and foreign doctors and the rules can be found in www.udesantiago.cl.

• Universidad de Santiago was ranked among the 200 best higher education institutions worldwide in the subjects of Linguistics, Sociology, and Art and Design, according to the prestigious British QS Rankings. 

In the fields of Linguistics, Sociology, and Art and Design, Universidad de Santiago de Chile is among the 200 best higher education institutions of the world, according to the QS Rankings. The British consultant company Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), included 4,438 universities from around the world and on this occasion it classified them by study subjects.

In this way, in the subject of Linguistics, Universidad de Santiago was featured in the 151-200 rank, sharing that position with Universidad de Chile, behind Universidad Católica (101-150). Universidad de Santiago was also positioned in that rank in the subjects of Sociology and Art and Design, ahead of universities like George Washington University, Boston College, Beijing Normal University and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, among others.

The university was also ranked in subjects like Education and Training, Agriculture and Forestry and Modern Languages (201-250); Mathematics (301-350); Chemistry (401-450), and Medicine and Physics and Astronomy (451-500).

With regard to broader subject areas, Universidad de Santiago stood out in the area of “Arts and Humanities”, as it was ranked in the 360^th place worldwide, ahead of North Carolina State University (362), Washington State University (362) and the University of Westminster (376), among others. At a Latin American level, Universidad de Santiago was ranked in the 11^th place, ahead of Universidad Diego Portales (381) and Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (399). Universidad Autónoma de México was at the top of the Latin American ranking.

Although on this occasion QS did not deliver an overall average ranking, in 2016 Universidad de Santiago was ranked in the third place nationwide, behind Universidad Católica de Chile and Universidad de Chile.

Methodology

The QS survey involves 46 study subjects and universities in 128 different countries. The essential indicators include both employer and academic reputation and citations per paper/faculty and paper productivity and impact.

Translated by Marcela Contreras

• According to the international survey, this state and public university is in the 18^th place in the Latin American ranking, ahead of Universidad Católica de Valparaíso and Universidad de Concepción, among others.

   

  According to the QS Rankings, Universidad de Santiago de Chile is the third best university in Chile. Universidad Católica leads the ranking, followed by Universidad de Chiles.

  In Latin America, Universidad de Santiago was ranked in the 18^th place, one position below the previous survey. The study involved 4,322 universities out of which 916 were evaluated.

  On this occasion, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in USA, led the world ranking and Universidad de Buenos Aires, led the Latin American ranking (85^th place worldwide). Universidad de Santiago was featured in the 471-480 rank, ahead of institutions in India, Italy, USA, Germany and Canada. The survey includes six essential indicators: academic reputation, citations per paper/faculty, faculty/student ratio, employer reputation, and international student and international faculty ratio.

  As regards the employer reputation, Universidad de Santiago was ranked in the 156^th place worldwide, and concerning the academic reputations, the university was in the 233^th place.

  Other Chilean universities included in the ranking are the following: Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (601-650), Universidad de Concepción (601-650), Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez (651-700) and Universidad Austral, Universidad de Valparaíso, Universidad Diego Portales and Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María.

   

  Translated by Marcela Contreras

• To prepare the report for 2010-2011, the university used the GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) international standard.

Environmental protection aspects, like reducing the energy consumption and having a better use of water in the campus during the period 2010-2011, are only some of the many indicators and relevant data included in the fourth version of the Universidad de Santiago’s Sustainability Report. The document was released on December 04th in the Salón de Honor, with the presence of the university’s authorities, union representatives and special guests.

According to the Report, Universidad de Santiago reduced its energy consumption by 6%, while its use of water decreased by 5.7%, going from 489,758 m3 to 470,631 m3 between 2010 and 2011.

The elaboration of the 2011 Sustainability Report mainly involves general aspects with respect to measuring, informing about and accounting for the University’s performance in relation to its sustainable development goal during the year included. With this aim, it’s worth to mention the sections “University Profile”(Perfil de la Universidad), “University Government” (Gobierno Universitario), “Interest Groups” (Grupos de Interés), “Management” (Gestión) and “Additional Indicators” (Complementarios).

The document is the result of the commitment stated by the University to being a University known for its social responsibility and transparency. During his presentation in the Salón de Honor, President Juan Manuel Zolezzi assured that the University is aware of the path along which the international community is progressing and the importance of concepts like Social Responsibility and Sustainability nowadays.

“We are aware that sustainability is one of the main axes for future development,” President Zolezzi pointed out.

“This Report is public information and is a task that we have set ourselves to do. Through the Report we show the national community that we are accountable for the care of a public good like Universidad de Santiago de Chile. In this way, we show once again the responsibility that we have with all people that directly or indirectly take part in our daily activities,” he stressed.

In this context, President Zolezzi highlighted several institutional initiatives, such as the Sustainable Campus Program, the University Pathway Program (Propedéutico) and the Rucahueche Youngsters´ Center for Integral Health. This latter is led by the School of Obstetrics and Child Care of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, together with the Municipal Corporation for Education and Health of Municipality of San Bernardo.

Excellence and social inclusion

When asked about the impact of this Sustainability Report, Dr. Sergio González, the Vice President of Outreach and Engagement, said that the document accounts for the institution’s responsibilities regarding social, environmental, economic, labor and professional matters, in a clear and accurate way.

“This Report highlights the University’s two core concepts that embody the focus and the DNA of the institution: Excellence and quality orientation and social inclusion. It accounts for how we answer to our mission,” the Vice President explained.

The Universidad de Santiago’s 2011 Sustainability Report was elaborated by the University’s Social Responsibility Program (RSU, in Spanish), which depends on the Vice Presidency of Outreach and Engagement.

The RSU Program’s Executive Director, Ricardo Armijo, expressed thanks to all people in the academic and administrative units who contributed with the information required to elaborate this Report.

The full text of the Universidad de Santiago’s 2011 Sustainability Report will be available in our web page in the following weeks.

Translated by Marcela Contreras

• The 2016 International Conference of the National Association of Universities and Higher Education Institutions was held at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. On the occasion, Dr Juan Manuel Zolezzi, President of Universidad de Santiago de Chile and President of the Montevideo Group Association of Universities met with different authorities, like the Secretary of Public Education of Mexico, Aurelio Nuño Mayer.

The second International Conference of the National Association of Universities and Higher Education Institutions (ANUIES) was held at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM, in Spanish) between November 07^thand 11^th. The main topic of the activity was “Higher Education in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

The ANUIES- formed by 179 institutions- has the goal of promoting debate and discussion on current challenges in higher education and the exchange of experiences and good practices among authorities, academics and students from different higher education institutions in charge of public policies, with the contribution of representatives of international organizations.

In his capacity as President of the Montevideo Group Association (AUGM, in Spanish), Dr Juan Manuel Zolezzi Cid, President of Universidad de Santiago de Chile said, “I am very proud of being involved in the analysis of the contributions that all higher education institutions make to meet the goals set by the Agenda for Sustainable Development for 2030.”

With regard to the meetings that Dr Zolezzi had with different authorities, like Aurelio Nuño Mayer, Secretary of Public Education of Mexico, and Claudia Ruiz Massieu Salinas, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the same country, Dr Zolezzi said that they had the possibility of analyzing together the importance of having a quality education that is directly related to science, technology, innovation and the future of sustainable development.

Becoming bridges between knowledge and national demands

With regard to the conference, the Executive Secretary General of ANUIES, Jaime Valls Esponda said, “This is a meeting in which participants exchange ideas, visions and proposals in relation to key issues in higher education and, particularly, to the social responsibility that higher education institutions must take to contribute to the goals of sustainable development.”

For his part, Enrique Graue Wiechers, President of the UNAM, the institution that hosted the conference on this occasion, said, “We share the goal of boosting and improving the educational system, because we are all concerned about the quality of curricula, academic coverage, institutional funding and regulations, promotion of culture and outreach and engagement”. “We must understand our institutions as connecting bridges between knowledge and the demands of the countries where we live in,” he concluded.

In this context, President Zolezzi also participated in the 2^nd Summit of Presidents of Councils of Rectors of EU-CELAC countries.

• The 2015 QS University Rankings: Latin America states that our University is the third best higher education institution in Chile. This is, undoubtedly, the consequence of meeting the institutional strategic guidelines and objectives.
• Universidad de Santiago is the 16^th best university in Latin America, out of more than 300 institutions. Universidad de Santiago pushed Universidad de Concepción into the fourth position. Universidade de Sao Paulo ousted Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile from the first place.
• According to the report, Universidad de Santiago stands out in indicators like academic reputation and web impact, in which it reached the third and fourth place, respectively.
• In the survey, QS considers seven essential indicators: academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty/student ratio, papers per faculty, citations per paper, proportion of staff with a PhD, and web impact.

The last version of the QS University Rankings: Latin America stated that Universidad de Santiago is the third best higher education institution in Chile, followed by renowned universities: Universidad de Concepción, in the fourth place; Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, in the fifth; Universidad Austral de Chile, in the seventh; and Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, in the eighth place.

Besides, our University is the 16th best university in Latin America, out of more than 300 institutions included in the survey. According to the report issued by QS, it stands out for its academic reputation, what places it among the first eleven institutions.

In Chile, Universidad de Santiago is not only one of the three best higher education institutions: it also stands out in indicators like academic reputation and web impact, in which it was ranked the 3rd and 4th place, respectively.

Methodology

The survey is based on a methodology that includes seven essential indicators: academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty/student ratio, papers per faculty, citations per paper, proportion of staff with a PhD, and web impact.

The academic reputation is the indicator which has been given the higher weighting (30%). It is related to the prestige of every institution. It is based on two large worldwide surveys that involve academics and business people.

The employer reputation indicator (20%) relates to the renown that every university has in the world and the impact it has on its graduates’ employability. 

The faculty/student ratio indicator has a weighting of 10% of the overall score.

According to QS, the number of papers per faculty indicator (10%) reflects the size of the universities, their strength and impact of their research works. 

The citation per paper indicator (10%) refers to the number of research works being conducted at every faculty of a university. 

The proportion of staff with a PhD indicator (10%) refers to the number of academics holding this degree and working at the faculties of a university. 

The web impact indicator (10%) provides an insight into the impact and efficacy of every university on the Internet.

Efforts that reflect the excellence

The third place obtained by Universidad de Santiago corresponds with the efforts made by the university community to improve its standards for academic excellence.

In this sense, the Institutional Strategic Plan (PEI, in Spanish) 2011-2015, states that Universidad de Santiago’s mission “seeks to reach the highest standards in quality, innovation and relevance, in an environment of mutual respect for others, freedom of thought, diversity and social inclusion, providing space for discussion and proposals in a multidisciplinary and pluralist dialogue.”

In addition, Universidad de Santiago has signed several agreements with renowned foreign institutions and countries. For example, the Memorandum of Agreement signed last January with the University of Oxford (United Kingdom) that involves the implementation of an experimental laboratory in order to conduct research on Social Sciences.

Likewise, the agreement signed by our university and Universidade de Sao Paulo- top at the 2015 Latin American QS Ranking- seeks to promote academic outreach through conferences, teaching and research activities, and student exchange, both at a graduate and undergraduate level.

Besides, the six years (2014-2020) of accreditation given by the National Accreditation Commission (CNA-Chile, in Spanish) to Universidad de Santiago are the result of the constant efforts made by the University to strengthen the different areas of the institutional work.

Translated by Marcela Contreras

• According to this international survey that included the 300 best universities in Latin America, Universidad de Santiago de Chile was ranked the 17^th place in the region, before other universities like Universidad Católica de Valparaíso and Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, among others.

Universidad de Santiago de Chile is in the fourth place nationwide in the ranking of Latin American universities 2016, according to Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), the international company specializing in education.  Universidad Católica de Chile led the survey, followed by Universidad de Chile and Universidad de Concepción.

In Latin America, Universidad de Santiago was ranked the 17^th place, falling one place since the 2015 ranking. The survey included 300 Latin American Universities and it was topped by Universidade de Sao Paulo (Brazil) and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.

QS highlights that four Chilean higher education institutions are considered “among the elite of Latin America”, as they were ranked among the 20 best regional universities. Other Chilean universities included were the following: Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (31), Universidad Austral (36), Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez (37), Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María (43), Universidad Diego Portales (46), Universidad de Valparaíso (76) and Universidad Católica del Norte (94).

The QS University Rankings Latin America is based on a methodology that evaluates universities according to different criteria, “recognizing the particular opportunities and challenges of each university in its own context to become regional and global institutions.” The survey included more than 40 subjects and criteria like academic and employer reputation, faculty/student ratio, citations per paper and papers per faculty, among others. It is worth to mention that Universidad de Santiago de Chile was ranked the tenth place in academic reputation in Latin America.

Translated by Marcela Contreras

• During the ceremony, President Dr Juan Manuel Zolezzi invited the university community to be part of the debate over the Higher Education Reform Bill.

On July 06^th, Universidad de Santiago de Chile celebrated its 167^th anniversary in a ceremony held at the Aula Magna. The ceremony was attended by authorities, academics, administrative staff and students.

In his speech during the ceremony, President Juan Manuel Zolezzi invited the university community to be part of the debate over the Higher Education Reform Bill.

“This is a historic time. We have achieved major progress, but we still have big challenges to face. One of them is, undoubtedly, the Higher Education Reform Bill that has just been introduced in the Congress,” he said.

Dr Zolezzi expressed his concerns about the future of this reform. “Now that we have examined the Educational Reform Draft, we cannot feel satisfied with or committed to it. I am concerned about this,” he said.

According to President Zolezzi, the bill, as it is now, “confirms a market model funded by the State. It does not strengthen public education. It does not take care of State universities. On the contrary, more resources are allocated to private universities, professional institutes and technical training centers.”

Awards

After President’s Zolezzi speech, members of the university community were awarded President Manuel Bulnes medals for their 10, 20, 30 or 40 years of service at this institution. It is important to mention that Professor Fernando Henríquez Barrientos, at the Department of Mining Engineering, was awarded the gold medal for his 50 years of service.

Besides, the best student of each faculty and school of the university received an award in recognition of his/her high academic achievements, and eight academics were made full professors.

To close he ceremony, the Orchestra of the University performed for the audience, under the direction of master Nicolas Rauss.

Translated by Marcela Contreras