Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC): UC launches the Accompaniment Program for the Retirement of Academics
With the inauguration of its first room in the Central House, this initiative was officially implemented, which seeks to value the trajectory and contribution of members of the academic staff, offering them the option of continuing to be linked to the university.
Every year between 30 and 35 UC professors begin their retirement period. Many have spent their entire academic career at university, forging very significant professional and personal ties throughout their careers. As a way to maintain these ties and recognize the contribution of those who have worked as professors at the university after their retirement, the UC Men and Women Academic Retirement Support Program was officially launched on April 25 .
The initiative seeks to “report the trajectory and contribution made by our professors and professors, facilitating a good retirement process, and offering them opportunities so that those who wish to do so, remain linked to the university at a later stage”, indicated the rector Ignacio Sánchez on the opportunity.
With the presence of university authorities, teachers, students, as well as civil servants, the first room destined for the use of professors and professors who have already retired was also inaugurated in the Central House.
“This initiative seeks to highlight the trajectory and contribution made by our professors, facilitating a good retirement process, and offering them opportunities so that they can remain linked to the university at a later stage” – Ignacio Sánchez, UC rector
This space was thought of as a meeting point with their peers, where they can maintain ties and dedicate time to their studies or other activities. The initiative was articulated from the joint work of the Academic Vice -Rectory , through the Academic Development Directorate, led by Silvana Zanlungo, and the Economic Vice -Rectory , through the Personnel Directorate , headed by Fernanda Vicuña.
The Accompaniment Program for the Retirement of Academicians aims to value the trajectory of the members of the academic staff and their contributions to UC, facilitating a good retirement process and offering opportunities so that they can remain linked to the university and continue being part of the UC community.
The person in charge of the program, Macarena Arellano, explained that this will be done from a perspective that considers the retirement process as a stage in the career of UC academics, “with a focus on the tranquility and well-being of professors in the change ”. The program also contemplates support for the Academic Units in the stage of retirement due to the retirement age of their academics.
The Economic Vice Chancellor, Loreto Massanés, highlighted the value to the institution that those who have served as members of the academic body can provide. “At UC we believe that it is important not only to support with benefit support, but also to maintain a real relationship with academics who have taken advantage of Retirement. His career, knowledge and closeness are, among many others, very important aspects that they enrich us as a university and we value that they can continue to remain in our university community”, he stated.
“Their trajectory, knowledge and closeness are, among many others, very important aspects that enrich us as a university and we value that they can continue to remain in our university community” – Economic Vice-Rector, Loreto Massanés.
Strengthen the sense of belonging to the UC community
The program consists of three stages, which begin a few years before retirement with preparation for the process. Then comes an accompaniment during the retirement process, and finally the stage in which academics have already retired, but optionally, they want to continue linked to the university.
In its initial stage, the process contemplates the invitation to informative talks on pension advice, personal finances, occupational health, among others. It will also provide benefits associated with the prevention of physical and mental health.
In the stage after the retirement process, you can voluntarily opt to participate in networking opportunities, such as access to talks for the general public and mentoring with new professors, benefits, advice, access to information content from the university community, among other services.
Among them is access to shared spaces on campus, reinforcing their sense of belonging to the UC community. “The room that we inaugurate today is the first of these spaces. The idea is to have one on each campus. It has a meeting room, a work room and a space to share a coffee and a good conversation”, commented the person in charge of the program, Macarena Arellano.
“The room that we inaugurate today is the first of these spaces. The idea is to have one on each campus. It has a meeting room, work room and space to share a coffee and a good conversation” – Macarena Arellano, coordinator of the Accompaniment Program for the Retirement of Academicians and Academicians