UDP Internacional

Friday October 10th, 2025

On Tuesday, October 7, Diego Portales University (UDP) and the University of Santiago, Chile (USACH), in collaboration with the Internationalization Commission of the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH), held the Chile-Canada Cooperation Day. The event took place at the UDP Faculty of Education, as part of the visit to Chile by the Consortium of Canadian Universities (CALDO).

The event included the participation of representatives from Chilean universities and delegates from McMaster University, Ontario Tech University, Queen’s University, University of Ottawa, University of Waterloo, University of New Brunswick, University of Saskatchewan, and University of Alberta, among others.

This activity was held with the aim of strengthening academic collaboration between the two countries through the exchange of experiences, the promotion of mobility programs, and the identification of opportunities for joint research and training.

In this regard, Carlos Ahumada, Coordinator of Cooperation and Global Training at the General Directorate of International Relations, noted that this “was an excellent day,” as it “included the participation of representatives from CRUCH universities and academics interested in strengthening ties with Canadian institutions through cooperation in various research areas.”

During the meeting, a dialogue took place on mobility and research between Chile and Canada. Two working groups were also held to identify barriers hindering academic mobility, as well as to share previous experiences applying to the MITACS and ELAP programs. Strategies were also explored to facilitate contact between faculty and students interested in undertaking research internships in Canada.

For René Garrido, Director of the Department of International and Inter-University Relations at USACH, this dialogue was positive, as it will open doors for the internationalization of the entire CRUCH university community. “We are very pleased to be part of this opportunity,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Rodrigo Delgado, executive secretary of the Consortium of Canadian Universities (CALDO), stated that Chile and Canada can collaborate in various areas, especially given their existing partnerships in the productive development of mining and transportation, among other sectors.

“Canada is a large country with much to offer,” he said, adding that the country’s academic history has been marked by applied research. “Research is a fundamental part of knowledge development, both in the private and public sectors and in academia (…). But all of this must also be done with international support and collaboration,” he commented.

At the end of the meeting, the representatives of the academic institutions agreed to prepare a report to continue working together. The ultimate goal is to develop a program of activities that will further connect the universities of Chile and Canada.