This alliance will allow to strengthen a productive relationship of great importance with KU Leuven, one of the oldest universities in Europe, and a young institution in Oceania, the Macquarie University in Australia.

The partnership between the Universidad de La Frontera (UFRO) in Chile and KU Leuven in Belgium is very strong and based on mutual trust and collaboration. They are working together for more than a decade and the link is each time stronger and more productive in terms of research, double graduation and joint publications. Now, the Macquarie University in Australia is also joining this link, converting it into an interesting trilateral partnership with great international impact.

An auspicious meeting was recently held within the framework of the conversations about the creation of an international research institute. Therefore, they came together to work on the issue. In representation of the UFRO the academics Jorge Farías, Gabriela Briceño, Jaime Garrido and Francisco Matus, the nucleus directors Marianela Denegri and María de la Luz Mora, and the director of the Institutional Analysis and Development Office, Ricardo Herrera, were present, as well as Dr. Lorena Vieli, the director of the International Affairs Office, and Dr. Pamela Leal, the person in charge of International Contacts.

On this occasion, Dr. Sakki Pretorious of Macquarie University in Australia presented the main areas of institutional development and the reasons for his visit: “I met Dr. Adison Altamirano a few years ago and we are very aspirational, very hungry to change things, and very entrepreneurial. The purpose of my visit was to meet more people, so that we can start to build a relationship and that I can start to explain what are the things we are doing and interested in. It was a very interesting brainstorming between the participants.”

Dr. Pretorius explained: “Within a year, we will have identified the areas we want to collaborate on, also with KU Leuven in Belgium, which is a very good old university, together with two young universities that are very aspirational. If we put these things together we can start our collaboration as a virtual research institute between the three universities, on specific areas, with specific aims. We can put skills together and complement one another, so that we can exchange students, phd students and academics.”

Dr. Koppin of KU Leuven, who plays an important role in this alliance, commented: “This trilateral agreement seeks to strengthen the interest of each of the universities. But it is not that easy, because there are only few initiatives of this kind in the world. However, our idea is to overcome the differences and to come together regarding the common issues.”

Three institutions from Australia, Belgium and Chile with three different points of view and three different cultures – it is an interesting challenge that could multiply their productivity. In this context, Dr. Koppin explained that the geographical location of the UFRO is unique, the technology of Macquarie University is the most advanced and the knowledge of KU Leuven is indispensible.

Dr. Lorena Vieli, the director of the UFRO International Affairs Office, pointed out: “This link will become an interesting scenario for research, since it creates great opportunities for joint development. We are talking about a possible synergistic research center or institute between universities on three continents.”

The director added: “It will encourage the academics, undergraduate and graduate students, and researchers to participate in mobility programs, and also strengthen the fields of research, obtaining even more positive results. We have a lot to offer at UFRO.”