University of Antofagasta

University of Antofagasta Overview

The University of Antofagasta, a distinguished traditional public institution in Chile, holds membership in the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities and the Association of Regional Universities of Chile. It is also a part of the Consortium of State Universities of Chile. Its main campus is located in the city of Antofagasta.

Currently, the university is accredited by the National Accreditation Commission (CNA-Chile) for a period of 5 years (out of a maximum of 7), from September 2022 to September 2027. It ranks 25th among Chilean universities according to the SCImago Institutions Rankings (SIR) 2022, and 17th according to the AméricaEconomía 2021 ranking.

History: Origins: The roots of the University of Antofagasta trace back to 1918, with the establishment of the first educational institution in the region, aimed at fulfilling the need for skilled labor. This institution, named the "Escuela Industrial del Salitre," laid the foundation for educational development in the Antofagasta Region of Chile.

Over time, the "Escuela Industrial del Salitre" evolved into the "Escuela Industrial del Salitre y Minas," which eventually became the "Escuela de Minas de Antofagasta."

In 1952, the "Escuela de Minas de Antofagasta" became part of the Technical University of the State (UTE), thanks to efforts by northern pioneers and the Ministry of Education of Chile.

In parallel, on June 28, 1957, the "Centro Universitario Zona Norte" was inaugurated under the auspices of the University of Chile. On January 10, 1961, preliminary work began on constructing the university campus. In 1962, it was renamed the "Colegio Regional Universitario de Antofagasta."

In 1962, a group of Pedagogy students from the "Colegio Regional Universitario," led by Alfredo Carrizo, Sonia Orellana, and José Frez, formed the university's theater company, known as "Teatro del Desierto." The company gained success, and in 1963, the theatrical section of the Department of Cultural Extension of the University of Chile was established.

On April 24, 1968, the first broadcast of the local branch of the radio of the Technical University of the State took place.

On October 3, 1968, the autonomy process for the branches of the University of Chile was approved. Thus, on October 24, 1968, the Regional Headquarters of the University of Chile was created, thanks to the University Reform.

Creation: After the military coup of 1973, the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet intervened in state universities through the appointment of delegated rectors. Later, by means of a Decree Law in December 1980, the restructuring of universities was made possible. Through various decrees with the force of law, the regional branches of the University of Chile and the Technical University of the State were transformed, leading to the birth of regional universities. This led to the definitive merger of the Technical University of Antofagasta and the Regional Headquarters of the University of Chile, giving rise to the University of Antofagasta. Its first appointed rector was Air Force Commander Tulio Vidal.

Organization: The University of Antofagasta is led by the Superior Directorate (headed by the rector, the highest authority), in collaboration with the Board of Directors and the Academic Council. The university has had 7 rectors since its foundation, 3 of whom were appointed rectors, directly named by the Military Junta of the military dictatorship led by Augusto Pinochet.

The Board of Directors is the highest decision-making collegiate body of the university, with powers conferred by the Organic Statute of the university (DFL 148 of 1981). The Academic Council is an advisory body to the rector, with specific attributes indicated by the Organic Statute of the university.

Students are organized into various Student Centers for each program, and they are grouped under the Federation of Students of the University of Antofagasta (FEUA).

The University of Antofagasta spans approximately 73,354 m² in four campuses. Academic and teaching activities are distributed across the Coloso Campus, Clinical Area, and Continuing Education Center, while administrative activities are centered in the Angamos Campus.

The university comprises 8 faculties, 3 institutes, and 12 centers, offering a diverse array of undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs across various disciplines.