Chile’s Science Ministry presents strategy to promote scientific pathways from preschool to postgraduate level

Chile’s Science Minister, Andrés Couve, presented the Talent Development Plan: Ideas and Actions for the Future this morning at the Santiago Library. The strategy aims to promote a science culture in the country, strengthen training through national postgraduate programs and boost employment opportunities for those educated in scientific subjects. 

The initiative arose from a process set up by the Science Ministry in 2020, which included the participation of more than 330 professionals from different areas of science and technology. Following the development of a common diagnosis on the gaps and challenges to be met, 13 specific goals and 23 short-, medium- and long-term actions were proposed in areas such as developing scientific skills at an early age, strengthening postgraduate areas and making employment pathways more flexible by adapting incentives, rules and regulations.

“This plan is an initiative that seeks to develop skills and expertise in science, technology, knowledge and innovation among children, teenagers, young people and adults, so that they become critical and creative citizens who can use these tools in their daily tasks. It is born out of an ambition to widen the outlook, strengthening and connecting the training of people throughout their lives with multiple actions in various sectors of our society,” Minister Couve explained. 

The science minister stated that the strategy also seeks “to strengthen the training and employment opportunities of pre- and postgraduate professionals in these areas, so that we have a robust, dynamic and internationally connected R+D community that can contribute to a knowledge society.” He added that the plan will unite efforts over a five-year period to boost national scholarships, strengthen doctoral programs, strategically position Becas Chile (Chile Scholarships) and promote the development of postgraduate theses in the public and productive sectors.

The plan’s presentation ceremony also included a panel session with Sergio Urzúa, a researcher at the University of Maryland, María Olivia Recart, President of the Universidad Santo Tomás, Diego Cosmelli, Director of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Graduate School, and Roxana Nahuelcura, biology teacher and renowned scientific vocational educator at the Liceo de Niñas N°1 Javiera Carrera (Javiera Carrera N°1 Girls’ High School).