UC Chile authorities open new doors of academic collaboration with India
On an unprecedented trip to India, UC Chile's President, Ignacio Sánchez, accompanied by the Vice President for International Affairs, Lilian Ferrer, met with university authorities in New Delhi and Bangalore to explore new and exciting opportunities for links with Indian universities in student mobility, research, and joint work in areas of common interest.
photo_camera Exploring opportunities for collaboration in research and promoting mobility agreements are some of the objectives of the tour. (Photo: Indian Institute of Science)
Crossing a street in New Delhi can seem like an impossible mission. You see hordes of motorcycles and rickshaws—colorful vehicles that operate with motors or human traction—cars, children, or older people who come to ask for alms and cows, which are considered sacred. Many people join them, with women wearing their saris or colorful traditional costumes, men wearing characteristic high-necked shirts, and young people wearing jeans and T-shirts.
This image gives an approximate idea of this country, the second most populated on the planet, with more than one thousand four hundred million people, according to the United Nations (2024), and the third largest economy in the world. Although poverty and inequality remain its most significant challenges, this country seeks to become the leader of the "global south" and the first-world superpower through investments, technology, and education while protecting its traditions and culture.
UC Chile's President Ignacio Sánchez and the Vice President for International Affairs Lilian Ferrer arrived on an unprecedented visit to India to enhance academic collaboration with this country. The one-week visit included six universities, three in New Delhi, the capital, and three in Bengaluru, known as the "Indian Silicon Valley" for its development in research and technology.
"This visit will be essential to open opportunities and collaborative university work of great impact in the future, with a country in full development, which has the largest population in the world and which will surely be a great economic and political protagonist in the coming decades," says President Sánchez.
"This mission seeks to explore opportunities for collaboration in research, promote mobility agreements, and meet students who have worked with UC Chile from India. For us as an institution, it is essential to expand the geographical areas where we have strategic partners to be able to provide our university community with new opportunities for training and joint work, which is part of the effort we have made to extend our collaboration networks with Asia, Africa and our continent," says the Vice President for International Affairs Lilian Ferrer.
Likewise, before the trip, President Sánchez and Vice President for International Affairs Ferrer met with the Ambassador of India in Chile, Abhilasha Joshi, who expressed great interest in supporting academic ties between both countries. "There are several areas of interest where academic relations could be promoted. Key areas may include renewable energy, focusing on sustainability and storage solutions, particularly solar and wind energy. Also, the research and development of green hydrogen fuel cells, their applications in electric mobility, and sustainable mining. Management, agrotechnology, biotechnology, telemedicine and health, artificial intelligence and digital innovation, climate change and disaster-resilient infrastructure, space and astronomy, and research and collaboration in STEM topics can also be promising sectors for mutual benefit and growth. Literature and the arts could also be excellent collaboration areas, given the literary traditions of India and Chile," details the ambassador.
"This visit will be essential to open opportunities and collaborative university work of great impact in the future, with a country in full development, which has the largest population in the world and which will surely be a great economic and political protagonist in the coming decades," says President Sánchez.
In the Indian capital
On the first day in New Delhi, UC Chile authorities visited the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD), located south of the capital. This is one of the twenty-three institutes of technology in India, established in 1961, as a center of excellence for training, research, and development in the fields of science, engineering, and technology. Located at number 150 in the QS World University 2025 ranking, it has more than 10,000 students and a teaching staff of more than 600 professors.
There, they were received by the director of International Programs, Prof. James Gomes, and a group of deans. During the meeting, academic collaboration, research in areas such as quantum computing, optics, and photonics, and the startup ecosystem of IITD were discussed. Then, they took a tour of the Research and Innovation Park and the Nanoscale Research Center (NRF), learning about different technology transfer initiatives.
In the afternoon, the UC Chile authorities met with the Chilean Ambassador to India, Juan Angulo, accompanied by Martín Gormaz, the third secretary of the mission. They analyzed academic activities with Indian universities and agreed on new academic exchange initiatives with which the embassy could collaborate.
"We are delighted to receive this high-level delegation from UC Chile in India since this is a country with a high degree of development in topics that are very relevant to the Chilean academy (such as STEM -science, technology, engineering, and mathematics- and medical sciences, among others), at the same time it has a vast potential for cooperation at all levels, both for students and teachers. In that sense, along with congratulating UC Chile for this great initiative, as an Embassy, we reiterate our willingness to support the internationalization processes of Chilean universities and in this way, achieve the strengthening of the bilateral relationship with India in matters of education and training. That is for the benefit of both countries," commented Ambassador Angulo.
The second day in New Delhi began with the O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU). Despite being the youngest of the institutions visited, founded in 2009, the discipline of Law is in position 72 in the QS World University 2025 ranking (general ranking: 1001-1200). Recognized as an Institution of Eminence by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, it has a total enrollment of 12,500 students and an academic staff of more than 1000 teachers.
Here, they were received by their vice-chancellor, Dr. C. Raj Kumar; Prof. Dr. Mohan Kumar, Dean of International Strategic Initiatives; and Prof. Akhil Bhardwaj, Associate Dean and Director of the Office of International Affairs and Global Initiatives. Together, they agreed to strengthen the general cooperation and undergraduate mobility agreement, signed in April of this year. They analyzed different strategies in an exciting meeting with several deans and representatives of other faculties.
"To improve collaborative ties between Indian and Chilean universities, O.P. Jindal Global University proposes a multifaceted approach. First, we must focus on establishing joint research initiatives in fields of mutual interest, such as renewable energy, public policy, and sustainable development. These programs will allow researchers and students from both nations to address global challenges together. Second, encouraging student and faculty mobility programs will broaden academic perspectives and promote intercultural understanding, which is crucial in today's globalized world," details the Associate Dean and Director of the Office of International Affair and Global Initiatives, Professor (Dr.) Akhil Bhardwaj.
The manager also proposes organizing short-term programs and workshops for international students, developing collaborative online platforms for knowledge sharing and virtual engagements, and jointly organizing conferences and forums. "Through these efforts, we must aim to build a strong and sustainable partnership, benefiting both the Indian and Chilean academic communities," adds Professor Bhardwaj.
During the afternoon, UC Chile authorities visited the University of Delhi, founded in 1922 and considered one of the largest university systems in the world, with more than 400,000 students. Located in position 328 in the QS World University ranking, it has an enrollment of more than 40,000 master's students and 5,000 doctorate students. With the UC Chile, we have maintained a cooperative relationship since 2022 through two agreements—one for general cooperation and one for mobility for undergraduate and master's degrees.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Yogesh Singh, received the UC Chile President and Vice President for International Affairs at the Vice Regal Lodge, a building built in 1902 that houses the offices of the university's highest authorities. The Vice Chancellor was accompanied by the Vice Chancellors and Deans of the university. Exciting opportunities were presented at the meeting for joint research projects involving doctoral students and research professors from both institutions.
At the end of the visit to New Delhi, President Sánchez said, "We have had an extraordinary welcome and an enjoyable experience in the universities of New Delhi, both the state and the private ones we have visited. In some, science and technology are predominant; in others, the social sciences, humanities, and arts are the main focus. This is very important to focus and find the main areas of exchange to develop in the coming years."
The city of technology
The second part of the trip continued to the southeast of the country, to Bangalore, the capital of the Karnataka state and the center of India's high-tech industry. Bangalore is also known for its parks and former royal residences.
UC Chile authorities visited the Indian Institute of Science, a renowned public university of scientific research and higher education founded in 1909. Located at number 225 in the QS ranking, it is known for its focus on cutting-edge research in science, natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, and humanities and has contributed significantly to the advancement of knowledge and innovation in various disciplines.
They met with its director, Prof. Govindan Rangarajan, along with other institution authorities. They were also able to visit the National Nanofabrication Center (NNFC), which houses state-of-the-art research equipment for the manufacturing and characterization of online devices. It has a staff of 50 engineers and technicians dedicated to the maintenance of process tools and the development of modules to support the integration of complex processes in research and prototyping.
They also toured the Advanced Facility for Microscopy and Microanalysis (AFMM), a unit directed by a group of experts from various departments. Its objective is to facilitate interaction with the Institute in research, training of researchers, solution development, and collaboration with national laboratories, R&D, and industry. The visit ended with an extensive tour of the campus.
"UC Chile is one of the best universities in Chile, and the Indian Institute of Science is among the best in India. We already have some interactions at the teaching level between the two institutions in ecology and materials. It would be wonderful to foster collaborations in these areas, to begin with, and then expand them further through bilateral exploratory workshops on specific topics and areas of mutual interest," commented Director Govindan Rangarajan.
On the last day in Bangalore, UC Chile's President and Vice President Vice President for International Affairs were at St. Joseph's University, belonging to the Jesuit congregation, founded in 1882, one of the oldest educational institutions in Karnataka and most renowned in the region. It has an enrollment of more than 9 thousand students and an academic body of more than 300 teachers.
There, they met with the president and Vice Chancellor of the University, Father Víctor Lobo, along with authorities from the higher management and deans of several faculties. They learned in greater detail about their academic activities and the most appropriate points of contact and collaboration between both institutions.
In the afternoon, President Sánchez and Vice President Ferrer were received at Christ University, a private Catholic educational institution founded in 1969 by the Carmelite Congregation of Santa Teresa. Their Vice Chancellor, priest Jose C.C., was waiting for them there, along with deans and authorities from the university's research areas. The development of this institution was highlighted, which, along with being broad and comprehensive, has focused on the extensive training of its students, where academic integrity and ethical aspects are a fundamental part of this educational proposal.
In the end, Vice President for International Affairs Lilian Ferrer said: "The visit to India has been enormously enriching, both for the university, by opening important opportunities for future collaboration and strengthening existing ones, and for me. I had the opportunity to learn inspiring life stories, like that of Zikra, a young woman from a small village where women are not expected to study. However, her parents have supported her, and she achieved one of the best university entrance scores, completing her undergraduate degree in physics at age 20. She has just started a master's degree in quantum physics and is working towards her PhD at UC Chile, where she has completed two online research internships. Her dream is to create a research center in her town to contribute to the development of her community. Stories like this reinforce our role as higher education institutions in providing opportunities that can change the lives of young people, not only in our country," concludes Vice President Ferrer.
"The development of the universities in Bangalore is impressive, a region with great growth and development," concluded President Sánchez after the visit to this city, adding about the tour in general: "Now, the task of determining the areas of collaboration is significant to be able to enhance joint work and find the main areas of academic exchange to develop in the coming years."
