The PUCV recently welcomed the visit of Professor Michele Simons, Dean of the School of Education at Western Sydney University (WSU) in Australia, associate professor Christine Woodrow and Lucía Salinas, Latin American Relations’ official at the School of Education at WSU, who joined PUCV scholars in a series of meetings.
The objective of this visit was to strengthen the relationship between both institutions, to delve into collaboration areas and explore new opportunities for joint work in topics of common interest.
The itinerary included meetings with the Rector of the PUCV, Nelson Vásquez, the General Director of International Affairs, Orlando de la Vega, the Vice Dean of the College of Philosophy and Education, Virginia Iommi; the Director of the School of Education, Marcela Jarpa, and the Director of the Líderes Educativos Center, Carmen Montecinos.
This visit was an opportunity to consolidate the relationship between the PUCV and WSU, opening spaces for future collaboration projects in research and development of inclusive education, teacher education and gender equality issues, in order to benefit the academic community of both institutions.
The General Director Orlando de la Vega stated that there are new possibilities being explored in order to strengthen the relationship between both institutions. “We are working to establish a closer link with the new Education Ph.D program, which is part of the College of Philosophy and Education. We are also in contact with a group of scholars led by Professor Virginia Iommi, related to Humanities and Arts”, he mentioned.
The director of the School of Education, Marcela Jarpa, noted that they are “looking for spaces to establish an exchange agreement and internships for our Education and Psychology Ph.D programs. The idea is that students from WSU can visit us and carry out internships in our classrooms, pursuing research-related exchange”, she explained.
On the other hand, she mentioned that they are also looking to strengthen a work area related to education on interculturality, immigration and refugees. On this field, and as a way of providing context, she explained that they are working on some topics related to inclusion together with the EduInclusiva Center from our university and an Australian colleague.
“We are currently developing a pilot project at the Latina School in Villa Alemana, a school with a high rate of immigrant students. We are working with them through literature for children and youth, reading mediations to promote intercultural acknowledgement and value”, she stated.
Along the same line, Vicedean Virginia Iommi, added that the collaboration between both institutions will be strengthened through the development of a project aimed to migrant students in the school system in the Valparaíso region.
“This initiative includes the participation of scholars from the Schools of Education, Psychology and the Literature Institute and Language Sciences. We also addressed the features of our graduate programs with the purpose of exploring areas of possible cooperation that will benefit students of different institutions and contribute to the internationalization of the PUCV Ph.D programs”, she concluded.
By Juan Paulo Roldán and Juan Pablo Guerra
Strategic Communications Department
