Once again, the UFRO shows that it is one of the most prestigious universities in Chile, by obtaining 31 scholarships for doctoral studies by CONICYT (Chilean National Commission for Scientific and Technological Research) in 2018.

This is a new achievement in the management of postgraduate affairs for the Universidad de La Frontera. The recent approval of scholarships by CONICYT shows the quality and excellence of the programs offered and their students. Compared to last year, in which nineteen projects have been accepted, the number in 2018 is a very important indicator for the University.

“This is an extraordinary result that underlines the training of advanced human capital and also shows professionals who aspire to do high-level postgraduate studies which programs have the biggest impact at the national and regional level”, the Vice-rector of Research and Postgraduate Affairs, Dr. Eduardo Hebel, commented.

He pointed out that this is an advance within a working line incentivized by the Vice-rectory together with the programs that has to do with four fundamental pillars: firstly, diligent work in regard to accreditations, since five of the 10 doctoral programs of the UFRO are accredited and the other five are in the process of accreditation. Secondly, the strengthening of the programs´ research lines by including postdoctoral students who increased the critical mass and the research indicators.

Another important factor is the internationalization management, which significantly contributed to the international accreditation of the Doctorate in Natural Resource Sciences and the Doctorate in Sciences with specialization in Applied Cellular and Molecular Biology, both recognized by the European agency AQAS. “I also want to highlight the communicational effort the Vice-rectorate and the University put into the dissemination of the work of the programs, what makes it possible to be recognized at the national and international level.”

THE BEST

The Academic Director of Postgraduate Affairs, Juan Carlos Parra, said that these 31 scholarships emphasize not only the quality of the programs, but also the academic excellence of the students. “Here, we are working with rigor. The ones who want to do their postgraduate studies at our university clearly have a high level and that is something that makes us proud, because an important number of professionals is interested in our programs.”
The above mentioned shows that the doctoral programs are searching for the best. And, without a doubt, the internationalization efforts, team work, the BIOREN-UFRO platform and the constant institutional concern about excellence have been decisive factors for this result.

BENEFITED PROGRAMS

Doctorate in Sciences with specialization in Applied Cellular and Molecular Biology: 7
Doctorate in Morphological Sciences: 6
Doctorate in Social Sciences: 6
Doctorate in Engineering Sciences with specialization in Bioprocesses: 5
Doctorate in Natural Resource Sciences: 4
Doctorate in Medical Sciences: 2
Doctorate in Psychology: 1