Students at Universidad Mayor will soon tackle real-world social and productive challenges after the institution secured funding from the Ministry of Education’s 2026 Institutional Development Fund.
Securing Funding Through Institutional Development Grants
- Funding Source: Subsecretaría de Educación Superior, Fondo de Desarrollo Institucional (FDI) 2026.
- Core Methodology: Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP).
- Key Collaborators: Hospital Clínico Félix Bulnes, UNESCO International Centre for Higher Education Innovation, and the National Commission for Accreditation (CNA).
Institutionalizing Real-World Learning Through the Vertically Integrated Projects Model
The financing targets the project titled “Institutionalization of Real-World Learning for the Development of Competencies Pertinent to the Social and Productive Environment.” Under this framework, undergraduate and graduate students will work alongside faculty members across various disciplines. They will focus on solving concrete problems submitted by external organizations.
The initiative adopts the Vertically Integrated Projects methodology. This system brings together students from different year levels and majors. By embedding undergraduates and postgraduates into challenges posed by external institutions, the program aims to shorten the gap between academic training and labor market requirements.
Participants will also receive official certifications verifying the specific competencies they develop during these projects. Cristian Celedón, general academic director at Universidad Mayor, noted that the initiative marks a major step forward for the university’s educational model. He emphasized that the program seeks to reshape student training while contributing broader perspectives to Chile’s higher education system through collaboration with established domestic and international partners.
Strategic Alliances Across Health Care and International Bodies
To support the rollout across various campuses, the university has assembled a network of formational and consultative partners. In the health and applied teaching area, the Hospital Clínico Félix Bulnes and the Health Sciences and Medical Education Units Network of Chile participate as formative partners.
On the international and methodological front, the project integrates the International Centre for Higher Education Innovation under UNESCO as a consultative body, joined by the National Network of Centers for Teaching Support. Additionally, the initiative will hold technical working sessions and dialogue panels alongside the Comisión Nacional de Acreditación (CNA).
Celedón stated that partnering with recognized national and international institutions allows the university to extend the impact of the project beyond its own university. He added that the work aims to inform ongoing discussions regarding how universities prepare professionals for the evolving demands of modern society.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
