Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile: Ideas in education. Evolution of a reform

This book seeks to promote dialogue and the contribution of other perspectives on the current state and development of education, with the aim of being able to advance in the consolidation of an education at all levels, that is of quality, equitable, inclusive, innovative and, especially, sustainable for the future of Chile. “This work, without a doubt, testifies to UC’s commitment to the future of education,” says the rector in a column in El Mostrador.

“We have presented the book“ Ideas in Education III. Evolution of a reform ” , which finds the country in a deep process of constitutional analysis, after a social crisis and in the midst of the greatest health pandemic of the last century. We have found it necessary to update the reforms and changes to education that have been developed in our country, evaluating the effect, progress and, on occasions, setbacks in each of them. In addition, an attempt has been made to address important issues that arise from progress at the different levels of initial, secondary and higher education.

The books in this series “I Deas in Education” -started six years ago- emphasize that education is a vital process, of personal transformation, in which students develop, with the help of their families, environment and community, their capacities in order to put them at the service of society. Education is a true lever for social transformation, not only personal, but also community. Likewise, it was understood as a key factor in social cohesion, in the construction of a fairer and more equitable country, in which its inhabitants can fully develop all their qualities and characteristics.

“Education is a true lever for social transformation, not only personal, but also community. Likewise, it was understood as a key factor in social cohesion, in the construction of a fairer and more equitable country, in which its inhabitants can fully develop all its qualities and characteristics “- rector Ignacio Sánchez.

Education is undoubtedly the issue that most concerns families and the vast majority of citizens. It is the area in which the greatest attention must be paid, and which will probably be one of the great concerns in the constitutional process that is currently being developed in the country. As is known, at UC we continuously participate in education through the training of teachers in early childhood, initial, school and secondary education through an effort to attract the best students to be able to jointly develop their pedagogical vocation. On the other hand, in higher education, our university mission is to achieve excellence in the creation and transfer of new knowledge and in the integral formation of people, inspired by a Catholic conception,

In this way, we aspire to build a frontier university that, based on its Catholic identity, imagines new realities, expands opportunities and is committed to the reality of our society. This is done through the comprehensive training of our students and the creation of new frontier knowledge with its transfer to society. Likewise, we actively participate in the public debate through the analysis of the challenges posed by the reform to higher education.

“Education is undoubtedly the issue that most concerns families and the vast majority of citizens. It is the area in which the greatest attention must be paid, and which will probably be one of the great concerns in the constitutional process that in the actuality is developing in the country “- rector Ignacio Sánchez.

This book analyzes themes and proposals that evaluate the changes in recent years, especially regarding the reforms implemented at different educational levels. The work has been carried out by a group of more than seventy collaborators – teachers, researchers and professionals – who belong to ten faculties and a significant number of vice-rectories, directorates and centers of the university. Likewise, in this edition we have the contribution of academics from other universities and professional and technical training centers, which has undoubtedly enriched the proposal.

Cross-cutting aspects and more specific elements of initial, school and university education are included, together with the development of science and research. As in any university in which academic freedom and plurality stand out as essential values ​​of university life, different perspectives are raised and exposed, depending on different academic proposals, which are also complementary. In this sense, it has been privileged to carry out an interdisciplinary task, with different perspectives and perspectives, which enrich these proposals. Therefore, the book does not pretend to be an official voice of the university on each subject, but, rather, to provide an academic contribution to stimulate a fruitful debate.

Topics in the book include university autonomy, quality assurance, early childhood education; changes in school education in recent years; the intake system; its financing; the demunicipalisation process; teacher professional development, and the main aspects of educational innovation. In higher education, we evaluate the changes and impact of the recent reform; access and retention; the structure of degrees and degrees; its financing, and the challenges of technical-professional education. In addition, inclusion is analyzed; curricular modifications and advances in sustainability. We wanted to address the development of education; scientific development; advances in internationalization; intercultural education; aspects of academic integrity; progress on gender issues,

This book -which is now in its third edition- is being updated as often as the changes require, in order to incorporate new arguments and proposals into the national debate on a priority issue for the development of our country. The current edition has been carried out despite all the difficulties we have had in our country in the last two years.

We hope that this book promotes dialogue and contributes other views of the current state and development of education, with the aim of being able to advance in the consolidation of an education at all levels, that is of quality, equitable, inclusive, innovative and, in special, sustainable for the future of Chile. This work, without a doubt, testifies to UC’s commitment to the future of education ”.