Advancing Education Together: UC Chile Hosts 2024 Magalhães Network Assembly

In October 6, representatives from member universities of the Magalhães Network gathered in Chile for the 2024 General Assembly. The event aimed to showcase the progress and developments over the past year in the key areas of collaboration within the network and exchange experiences on innovation, internationalization, and technology. 

The summit, held from October 6 to 9, was held at three prominent Chilean institutions: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Universidad de Chile, and Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María.  

Over 60 delegates participated in eight thematic sessions, covering topics such as:

• Research and Development (R&D),
• global mobility,
• postgraduate research exchange,
• Collaborative Online International Learnign (COIL), and
• the role of universities in technological development. 

"The connections fostered through this summit and the ongoing communication between the member universities enable us to share experiences and outcomes and collaborate in future projects between Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean, all focused on knowledge exchange, project development, and technological modernization," said Catalina Gerstmann, Head of Strategic Relations at UC Chile's Office of the Vicepresident for International Affairs. 

The summit concluded with a strong sense of optimism, with discussions centered on joint projects and internationalization strategies. To celebrate the network's 20th anniversary, the next General Assembly will take place at the Politecnico di Torino in Italy. 

Assembly at UC Chile 

Despite a rainy morning, the delegation of representatives arrived at the Lo Contador campus on Tuesday, October 8, for the second day of the summit hosted by Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. 

The Office of the Vice President of International Affairs organized the event in collaboration with the Schools of Architecture, Engineering, and Civil Construction. The day began with opening remarks from UC Engineering Dean Loreto Valenzuela and School of Architecture Director Luis Eduardo Bresciani. Both emphasized the importance of collaboration between the network's member institutions across different academic fields. 

"This international connection allows us to work together on finding solutions to global challenges that impact our societies today, such as climate change, sustainability, digital transformation, and social equity," said Dean Valenzuela. 

The School of Engineering highlighted its ongoing collaboration with other universities in the network through the Erasmus Capacity Building ELA4ATTRACT Project Meeting, which aims to attract diverse talent in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. 

The School of Architecture, which hosted the delegation in its auditorium, stressed the significance of the meeting, particularly in student mobility. In recent years, the school has seen intense exchange with universities such as:

• Aalto University in Finland,
• Universidad Politécnica de Madrid,
• Politecnico di Milano,
• and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.

Additionally, the event provided an opportunity to discuss renewing the Dual Degree Agreements between the School of Architecture and Politecnico di Torino (celebrating 20 years since the first agreement) and Politecnico di Milano (18 years since the first agreement). These agreements have been key to fostering student and knowledge exchange. 

Four sessions were held throughout the day, showcasing various network projects and initiatives. Representatives from Politecnico di Torino, TEC de Monterrey, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Grenoble INP, and Magalhães Network authorities made presentations. 

The group also toured the Lo Contador campus, located near Cerro San Cristóbal and known for its architectural heritage. The campus's blend of modern structures and the historic 18th-century mansion, a National Monument, impressed the visitors.