The value of equal opportunities in access to education has marked the history of the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso, which is reflected in its values and identity. Proof of this are the programs taught by the Inclusion Directorate, including the PACE, BETA and Propedeutic Programs that seek to integrate students from various social strata and school communities, providing opportunities for personal and academic growth.
In this sense, the Propedeutic Program promotes access to the University and strengthens the academic experience of 4th grade students who present good academic performance where more than 70% of those selected come from municipal and subsidized private establishments, which favors a adequate integration into university life.
This year, more than 2 thousand students applied to the program, which represents a significant increase of 75%, considering that last year there were 1,200 who applied through this route to enter our classrooms.
In this regard, the director of Inclusion, Jacqueline Páez, expressed that previously the interest of students for some careers was high, but today the application is much more diversified, which shows that our University stands out for the complexity of all the disciplinary areas that it covers. develops.
“This application shows how the PUCV strengthens its positioning day by day as one of the five best universities in our country and shows that there is an early interest in being part of this university community,” he noted.
The progress in this application process is explained by several factors and quality indicators of the PUCV, which was reinforced because a communications and dissemination plan was developed that began at the end of 2023, where different school establishments in Viña del Mar, Valparaíso, Quillota, Quilpué, Villa Alemana, San Felipe, Los Andes, Casablanca, Hijuelas, among others, also reaching the Metropolitan Region.
The Propedeutic program is free for families and has places reserved for students who then take subjects taught by academics from the University, having the possibility of validating them if they join our House of Studies.
The director added that an alliance was recently made with the National Service for Specialized Protection of Children and Adolescents, dependent on the Ministry of Social and Family Development to welcome students in vulnerable conditions.
“We carried out a direct coordination to provide 20 places reserved for young people in residences under direct and collaborative administration. We understand that there we make the great social change, providing opportunities to students in conditions of vulnerability and violation of rights, these programs seek to eliminate gaps and thus we faithfully represent the founding objective of the PUCV. For them we also created a special support program, in conjunction with the service,” added the director.
STUDENTS FROM REGIONS ENTRY
The Propedeutic program is annual, between 18 to 22 weeks, and includes six training axes: Engineering, Social Sciences and Humanities, Sciences, Law. Architecture and Design, and Pedagogy.
“The students come from more than 120 educational establishments, they attend special courses aimed at various areas of knowledge. There is a high percentage that passes the Propaedeutic and then enrolls in the career they choose according to their quotas. We have students with excellent grades, but we notice that they have different abilities. In addition, we offer an assistantship program, where they strengthen their skills and thus everyone has the opportunities to improve,” she said.
By offering hybrid training courses, the program had applicants from Easter Island, Puerto Varas, Alto Hospicio and Iquique. In Santiago, it will also be taught for the second consecutive year in the field of Engineering in person at PUCV Santiago, located in Providencia, which demonstrates the national character of our University.
An aspect worth highlighting about the 2023 cohort is that a significant group of students who took and passed the Propaedeutic met the score necessary to enter the University due to their good results in the PAES, which allowed some places to be released for those who entered. for this program.
“About 91% of students pass the first year and the same figure is repeated in retention. These young people are good students, they just need an opportunity and an Institution that believes in them. We should feel proud as a University that we are providing opportunities, eliminating gaps and transforming lives,” concluded Jacqueline Páez.
By Juan Paulo Roldán
Strategic Communication Department
