The president of PUC Chile, Ignacio Sanchez, talks about the actions that have earned recognition to his university in this continent
Por: PUCRS Magazine
Photo: Bruno Todeschini – Ascom/PUCRS
The Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC Chile) has achieved a prominent position in Latin America. In 2014, it topped the QS Quacquarelli Symonds ranking as one of the best higher education institutions in the region. The ranking shows the 300 best Latin American universities based on indicators such as academic reputation of international research and the job market, the relationship between students and the university, citations in research, ratio of international students and international teaching faculty. Ignacio Sanches, a medical doctor, has been the president of PUC Chile since 2010. He came to PUCRS in July, for the celebration of the Champagnat Day, for a conference on the Identity of Catholic universities. In an exclusive interview, he mentioned the challenges faced by Catholic universities and their operation, which are founded on strict, permanent and continuous work involving the entire academic community; drawing human talent of excellence in every dimension: students, professors, staff; and the pursue of international qualification.
What is the main challenge Catholic universities face today?
One of the main challenges lies in the permanent connection which must be established between reason and faith, and which must gain momentum. Hence, it is necessary to combine the insights arising from each area of knowledge with the insights we gain from Theology, which is where its real significance comes from. This is not easy because it makes us abandon our comfort zones so that we can establish close connections with students who make use of other perspectives and languages in order to address similar phenomena. This challenge is a sign of the development of a university community.
Is quality a permanent challenge?
Yes. And one cannot conceive a Catholic university if it is not constantly seeking excellence in order to excel and transcend. On the other hand, we have to be aware of the commitment we have towards the development of professionals who are not only competent in their areas of expertise, but are also aligned with our identity. Our alumni are recognized as individuals who are fully qualified, as they are guided by Christian values and who appreciate the concept of family, who value ethics, who have comprehensive culture, who have critical and propositional attitude, who have aptitude for the common good and who are aware of sustainability in view of inclusive beliefs and attitude.
To find out more about it, please visit PUCRS Magazine 2016 annual issue.
