UNCA students selected for the undergraduate scholarship program

The students Camila Agostina Mercado, Milagros Soledad Barrionuevo and Luis Facundo Pérez, who at the Faculty of Technology and Applied Sciences of the National University of Catamarca (UNCA) are studying the Bachelor’s Degree in Geology and Electronic Engineering, respectively, were selected to be part of the Program of Undergraduate Scholarships from the YPF Foundation.

The young people were received by the dean, Eng. Carlos Savio, who was accompanied by the Academic Secretary, Lic. Natalia Fernández and the director of Student Affairs, Tec. Abel Aragón.

It should be noted that of the 36 UNCA students who were admitted, the three mentioned entered within the framework of the 2024 call for new scholarship holders. The scholarship lasts for twelve months with the possibility of renewal. The program is intended for students from national public universities who are pursuing degree programs linked to the energy and technological development of the country.

The objective is to support inclusion, promote gender equality, promote permanence and graduation, and recognize academic performance. In this year’s call, 3,831 applicants were registered, of which 48% were women. There are 125 scholarships, 77 for incoming students and 48 for advanced students with the objective of making up for losses due to graduation or non-renewal.

Universities from Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (CABA), Catamarca, Chubut, Córdoba, Jujuy, Mendoza, Neuquén, Río Negro, Salta, San Juan, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Tierra del Fuego and Tucumán participated. The evaluation was carried out by a selection committee, made up of representatives of the YPF Foundation and YPF SA and representatives of mentors and scholarship recipients of the program.

The 125 new scholarship recipients join the 188 who managed to renew in 2024: 58 entering second-year scholarship recipients, 42 advanced third-year scholarship holders and 88 advanced scholarship holders who are between the fourth and fifth year, discriminated against in 187 women (60%), 121 men (39%) and 5 LGTBTIQ+ (1%). 73% focus on geosciences, petroleum engineering, electromechanics, electronics and chemistry.

The requirements to renew are to continue studying a degree and at an applicable university, to have taken and passed at least half of the subjects with final or promotion, according to the study plan.

However, due to the weaknesses that occurred around academic trajectories, as a result of not being present and/or connectivity problems during the pandemic, some requirements were made more flexible considering each case in particular to continue accompanying those with more fragile situations and who present at least one subject taken and approved.

Selection criteria

Socioeconomic situation: variable that considers the socioeconomic conditions and household composition of the applicants, such as income range in the household, number of minors in the household, number and gender of the contributor, educational level of the PSH, distance from from home to university, health system used, housing situation, etc. This criterion seeks to contribute to guaranteeing equal conditions of access to education, permanence and graduation of students with lower incomes.

Gender and diversity: positive weighting in female applicants studying careers whose enrollment is less than 40%. This variable seeks to increase female and diverse participation in careers in which their representation is a minority.

Prioritized communities: weighting of applicants who belonged to indigenous communities and/or had a disability.

Strategic disciplines: weighting on applicants who study major careers in the Oil & Gas industry and Academic situation: average of the last year of high school.