In a solemn ceremony of installation of the new university´s governing body, the Rector, Dr. Eduardo Hebel Weiss, delivered his first message to the university community.

In presence of local, regional and national authorities, academics, teachers and students, the Universidad de La Frontera held a ceremony of assumption of office for the rector, Dr. Eduardo Hebel Weiss, and the university´s new governing body after 16 years of leadership by rector Sergio Bravo Escobar.

On this occasion, the outgoing rector delivered a message to the university community, reflecting about the advances as an institution and thanking for the trust placed in him as the leader of this institution of education for four terms.

“Today, we have to celebrate, because we have learned to face what separates us, that agreements are more effective than disagreements, compromises much more than splits, and that the possibilities of continuous growth always have to be in favor of what protects the health and well-being of this institution,” he said, and explained: “It is not a question of avoiding or ignoring our legitimate disagreements but rather of striving to make prevail what unites, inspires and mobilizes us. I am convinced that the progress of the Universidad de La Frontera has been and will continue to be our greatest meeting point.”

Furthermore, Bravo Escobar invited the members of our university community “to maintain our option for quality, to safeguard the public spirit, to maintain the working atmosphere at our institution and to defend the positions and results that we have achieved together over all these years.” Regarding the new university´s governing body, he said: “I am sure that Dr. Eduardo Hebel and his team will be capable of maintaining and increasing this institutional capital and legacy, that was patiently built by each and everyone of us. My best wishes and my commitment to continue cooperating with this institution.”

After that, Sergio Bravo was awarded with the Distinguished Professor Medal, a recognition which is awarded to the rectors of this institution who govern for a period of four or more years, and in this case, Sergio Bravo Escobar was recognized because of his outstanding commitment and his role in the growth and consolidation of the institutional development project.

PUTTING PEOPLE AT THE CENTER

Under the motto “putting people at the center”, in his inaugural speech the rector Eduardo Hebel declared his full commitment to the essential principles as fundamental pillars for his university´s governing body: putting people, mutual respect, transparency and integrity at the center.

“With these virtues as the fundamental bases of our daily work we will be able to advance in this new chapter, at an unprecedented moment for the country, that we receive with the conviction that we will be part of deep cultural changes in Chilean universities,” he said.

He will be accompanied in this undertaking by Gloria Rodríguez, the new Vice-rector for Academic Affairs; Pamela Ibarra, Vice-rector for Undergraduate Affairs; Renato Hunter, Vice-rector for Research and Postgraduate Studies; Jorge Petit-Breuilh, Vice-rector for Administration and Finances; Plinio Durán, the General Secretary; and Ricardo Herrera Floody, the Chairman of the Board of Directors.

CHALLENGES AND OPORTUNITIES

For Dr. Eduardo Hebel, the Universidad de La Frontera has the challenge to become the main reference regarding knowledge creation at the service of the region, being a complex university, with projections and recognition of its work at the national and international level.

At the same time, the installation of a culture of quality and the view from local to global are going to be part of the work. From there, a new world of opportunities will emerge for all the members of this university community. “For a lot of us, it is the moment to fulfill ourselves professionally and academically. We do have the tools to empower ourselves in our daily work and to make our dreams come true,” the rector said.

It is also a time of collaboration. In his inaugural speech, Dr. Eduardo Hebel emphasized the need to visualize possibilities and all opportunities the world offers. “We will have to work hard based on our strengths, seizing the opportunities that are opening when you have exceptional human capital. We have to convince ourselves that it is possible and to defeat the apathy and individualism. Therefore, it is essential that we are able to distinguish between what is urgent and what is important. The pyramidal concept of leadership is not enough and it is essential to be more horizontal when it comes to decision-making,” he added.

Parallel to this, the authority said that it is urgent to deepen institutional relations with real-life problems, with the peoples´ needs. “We really have to understand what is happening socially and politically, at the national and international level, and to establish links with the ones who expect the Universidad de La Frontera to be a guide, a support and an example, responding to their needs.”

THE UNIVERSITY AND ITS NEW CHAPTER

Considering the above, and that the Universidad de La Frontera has to follow its course of excellence in order to reach this and other goals, the rector Dr. Eduardo Hebel reaffirmed his tireless commitment to working with and for the people in a sense of community. “The times that lie ahead, with all their challenges, must lead us to the enrichment of our institutional project, producing in turn the reinvention of our identity. This renewal of identity must take up again the building of trust, based on the interaction between colleagues and rich communication. In order to do this, we have to give a practical and real meaning to coexistence, strengthening spaces to make the condition of an open, dialoguing and participative institution stronger", he concluded.

The university community, as well as local and regional authorities came together at the Aula Magna of the UFRO in order to express their wishes for the success in this new chapter for this state and public university in the Auraukania Region.

The governor of the Araukania Region, Luis Mayol, emphasized the work of the outgoing rector that allowed the university to be among the best in Chile. “It is a great challenge for Rector Hebel, but there is no doubt that he will be heading in the same direction. This is why we wish the Universidad de La Frontera the best.” He added that this university plays a fundamental role: “Especially in the training of professionals for a new important era for this region.”

On his behalf, Ricardo Herrera Floody, the chairman of the UFRO´s Board of Directors, also valued the work of Sergio Bravo as solid and sustainable. “The work of the new rector will also give continuity to the work that has already been carried out, and that gives us confidence as the Board of Directors, because we need to have a clear university governance that is projected over time.”

One of the guests was Álvaro Rojas, the current rector of the Universidad de Talca: “The UFRO is a university that has been notably growing over the last 16 years. As part of the Consortium of Universities of the State of Chile, I have seen its development. I feel close to the ideology of regional work and international commitment that this institution has and it felt appropriate to come to this ceremony and live this important moment in institutional history and to accompany the new rector.”

Written by: UFRO Rector´s Cabinet