Territoriality and Neoliberalism: the case of the <i>Universidad Estatal de Aysén</i> in Chile

Fierro, Francisco Durán del; Tumanoff, Roxana Pey

Brasil

Español English

THEMATIC SECTION: EXPERIENCES OF ALTERNATIVE HIGHER EDUCATION • Educ. Real. 46 (4) • 2021 • https://doi.org/10.1590/2175-6236118081 copy

Territoriality and Neoliberalism: the case of the Universidad Estatal de Aysén in Chile

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

ABSTRACT

This article reflects on the experience of the Universidad de Aysén as subversity. In order to do that we analyze how the University has translated national policies and local community’s expectations into institutional practices aimed at materializing the territorial project. First, we explore the impossibility of the University become subversity in light of the tensions ensuing from market-oriented policies. Second, we delve into the possibility of the subversity through the analysis of the Social Council. This analysis leads us to conclude that the University has a promise that rests upon the Social Council’s capacity of rethinking the foundational principles of the University.

Keywords
Subversity; Territorial University; Social Participation; MarketOriented Policies

Documents reviewed		Respondents
•	Social movement petition (2012)	•	Former authorities of the university
•	Regional commission report (2015)		(2015-2016)
•	Law 20.842 (2015)	•	University authorities (2020-2021)
•	Minutes of the executive committee	•	Members of the regional commission
	for the creation of the university (2016)		of the university that arose from the
•	Minutes of meetings of the pro-tempore		social movement (2015).
	Social Council (2016)	•	Members of the pro-tempore Social
•	Minutes of meetings of the Supervisory		Council (2016)
	Board (2016).	•	Members of the current Social Council
•	The many versions of the proposed		(2021)
	Statute of the university (2016)
•	Resignation letter from the Minister of
	Education to the Dean (2016)
•	Decree of dismissal of Presidency
	(2016)
•	Supreme Court decision voiding the
	dismissal (2017)
•	Decree setting basic rules for the Social
	Council operation (2018)
•	Minutes of meetings of the Social
	Council (2018-2020)

Directionality	Main tensions and challenges
1. Internal tensions of the SC	- Limited powers due to the advisory nature of the SC - Size to ensure representativeness versus operability - The danger of capture by some members (imbalance of influence) - Overwhelming presence of University representatives on the SC - The risk of nullifying the SC contribution due to excessive influence of internal authorities.
2. Tensions from the territory toward the SC	- The advisory nature of the SC does not allow for substantive ties. - Low priority and timely response of the university to territorial problems. - Insufficient representation of the society and the territory. - The risk that SC members do not represent their organization or sector, and that they advocate for personal interests. - Abrupt changes of members representing the public sector due to changes in central and regional government. - The SC may also prevent conflicts of interest, channeling them in a transparent manner if they are made explicit.
3. Tensions from the SC toward the university	-The tension between university autonomy versus linkage with the environment. - The tension between production of scientific knowledge as a response to the prevailing model, and recognition of other knowledge originated in the territory. - The tension between an academic profile disconnected from the problems of the territory and the needs of the local community.

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - Faculdade de Educação Avenida Paulo Gama, s/n, Faculdade de Educação - Prédio 12201 - Sala 914, 90046-900 Porto Alegre/RS Brasil, Tel.: (55 51) 3308-3268, Fax: (55 51) 3308-3985 - Porto Alegre - RS - Brazil
E-mail: educreal@ufrgs.br

Acompanhe os números deste periódico no seu leitor de RSS

[1] Francisco Durán del Fierro is a sociologist currently pursuing his Doctoral studies in England; his research project explores the ethical dimension of criticism in the academy in Chile. He is a professor and researcher at the University of Chile.