During the second half of this year, Stanford and Harvard universities in the United States will open applications for the “Luksic Visiting Scholars” programs. Both aim to support the development of research in any discipline carried out by Chilean academics.

In order to promote the development of interdisciplinary knowledge from a local perspective, in addition to linking Chilean academia with the world and vice versa, the Luksic Scholars Foundation has coordinated support for these two research opportunities with applications opening this year. 

The “Luksic Visiting Scholars” programs are developed in collaboration with the Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) of Stanford University and the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies (DRCLAS) of Harvard University. Both allow accepted applicants to spend a semester in the United States to develop research related to their areas of expertise.

During their stay, researchers will be able to liaise with other academics, make use of the university facilities, as well as request to sit in on certain classes. Below, we have outlined the programs’ requirements, application processes, and details:

Luksic Visiting Scholars at CLAS – Stanford University 

Requirements: to have a doctorate AND a current academic position in a university or research institution, or in the case of independent researchers, to have a demonstrable professional career. A letter of Sponsorship is required which means applicants need a nomination endorsement by a Stanford University faculty member, either affiliated or not affiliated to CLAS. Women and researchers from regional institutions in Chile are especially encouraged to apply.

Application dates: October 1st, 2022 to January 31st, 2023 (by 11:59 p.m. PST). Those interested must apply directly to Stanford CLAS. All application materials must be submitted in English.

Location: California, USA. 

Duration and terms: four months. Scholars can begin their research period in September 2024, January 2025, or April 2025 to coincide with the fall, winter, and spring terms at Stanford.

Includes: a stipend, support for housing and transportation, and library access.

An information session was organized between Luksic Scholars Foundation and Stanford CLAS that took place on September 12th, 2022. It included a presentation from Stanford CLAS, as well as a conversation with two Luksic Scholars regarding the application process and their program experience. You can find the event recording below:

Luksic Visiting Scholars at DRCLAS – Harvard University

Requirements: Scholars must hold a Ph.D. and be proficient in both written and spoken English. Applications will be assessed on the basis of the applicant’s qualifications, the quality of an applicant’s research plans, and the relevance of both to the Center’s mission and objectives. 

Application dates: September 5th, 2022 to November 7th, 2022. Interested individuals should apply directly to Harvard DRCLAS. All application materials must be submitted in English.

Location: Massachusetts, USA.

Duration and deadlines: four months. The program will be carried out during the 2023-2024 academic year.

Includes: a stipend, travel support, emergency health insurance coverage, and access to university services.

An information session was organized between Luksic Scholars Foundation and Harvard DRCLAS that took place on September 13th, 2022. It included a presentation from Harvard DRCLAS, as well as a conversation with two Luksic Scholars regarding the application process and their program experience. You can find the event recording below:

It is important to note that all selection, admission, and fund allocation processes are managed exclusively by the academic institutions. The Luksic Scholars Foundation has no participation in said processes.

Apply for a tuition-free doctorate in Political Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US: a program that seeks to push the scholarly frontier.

The MIT Political Science Luksic Fellowship, established in 2010, is granted annually to one Chilean candidate who is accepted onto the Doctorate of Political Sciences program at the Department of Political Science at MIT. The Fellowship contributes to the overall comprehensive funding package that MIT offers to all candidates on the program and in the case that a Chilean candidate is not accepted for that academic year, the Fellowship may be offered to a candidate from one of the following countries: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, or Panama.

How does the MIT Political Science doctoral program work?

The doctoral students at MIT explore the empirical phenomena that produce new scholarly insights—insights that MIT believes improve the way governments and societies function. 

The program requires preparation in two of the following major fields: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Models and Methods, Political Economy, or Security Studies, and MIT recommends that candidates take a broad array of courses across their two major fields. Students are also free to take subjects in other departments across the Institute.

What does the program entail?

• Candidates will take classes in statistics, advanced statistics, empirical research methods, and political philosophy. First-year students also partake in a one-semester seminar that introduces the principles of empirical and theoretical analysis in political science.
• Field research is also encouraged and it helps candidates to develop close working ties with faculty members engaged in major research activities. As for second-year students, there will be a second-year paper/workshop which is designed to involve students in advanced research problems under faculty supervision.
• Lastly, the program incorporates two examinations (a general written and oral examination) and a doctoral thesis. The doctoral thesis requires at least one year of original research and data collection and the thesis process includes a first and second colloquium and an oral defense.

What does the program include?

The funding package provided by MIT includes 6 consecutive years of full tuition and health insurance coverage, plus a 12-month stipend in years 1-5 and a 9-month stipend in year 6, provided students remain in good academic standing. Funding consists of a combination of fellowships, research assistantships, and teaching assistantships.

Application:  

The 2022-2023 admissions cycle will open on 9th October 2022. All applications for the PhD programs must be submitted online through GradApply by December 15, 2022 for Fall 2023 admission. Students are admitted as degree candidates only for September 2023. 

Please check MIT’s Graduate Admissions webpage for application details. 

Additional resources:

– MIT Graduate Admissions FAQs

– MIT Specifications for Thesis Preparation

– Check out where MIT PhD Alumni are working around the world

An information session was organized between the Luksic Scholars Foundation and the Department of Political Science at MIT that took place on August 23rd, 2022. It included a presentation from MIT, as well as a conversation with two Luksic Scholars regarding the application process and their program experience. You can find the event recording here.

Over 90 people representing more than 11 universities throughout Chile attended the Schwarzman Scholars-Luksic Scholars Foundation’s information session to learn more about The Luksic Fellowship of the Schwarzman Scholars program. Luksic Scholars, Felipe Flores (2020) and Hugo Wood (2019), joined the event to share their experiences.  

Last month, the Luksic Scholars Foundation in collaboration with Schwarzman Scholars held a virtual information session to share more on The Luksic Fellowship of the Schwarzman Scholars program: an annual funding designation for one Chilean or Latin American candidate for the Master’s program at Schwarzman College at Tsinghua University.

The event included welcoming remarks from the Luksic Scholars Foundation followed by an informative presentation by Schwarzman Scholars. The main part of the webinar was dedicated to an open-ended conversation between Luksic Scholars, Felipe Flores (Class of 2020) and Hugo Wood (Class of 2019) who shared their program experience with the more than 90 interested candidates. The webinar concluded with a Q&A session. 

Below, you will find a snippet of Felipe and Hugo’s experiences in the program, alongside their advice for those considering applying:

Why did you decide to apply?

→ Felipe: “I found this program to be a great way to see where my career path could go as when I graduated college I wasn’t sure what my next step was going to be. I’ve also always been curious about China so the Chinese aspect of the program drew me in.”

→ Hugo: “Panama recently celebrated their 5th anniversary of diplomatic ties with China and I had been working in the public sector before this and therefore, essentially in the process of making that happen, and as a spokesperson, I realized that if I wanted to keep being involved in Panamanian-Chinese ties I needed to go to China.” 

What was the language immersion component like?

→ Felipe: “You’re supported via the program the entire way through the language-learning experience and you take Mandarin classes which definitely help. With a basic knowledge of Chinese, I feel you can get around, even in the first semester. 

→ Hugo: “The [Schwarzman Scholars] program is key in this component because they give you tools so you feel confident before you arrive in Beijing. Once you do arrive, you start to take formal language classes.”

Can you describe the academic part of the program? 

→ Felipe: “The first thing you do every morning is go to Chinese class. In regards to the rest of your schedule, you choose how you would like your schedule to be and adapt it to your interests. You also take courses outside of the Schwarzman College campus and that is- you take courses at Tsinghua University and that’s where you get to meet Chinese classmates. 

→ Hugo: “Tsinghua University is the alma mater of the previous two presidents of China so that itself gives you a sense of the academic rigor. Schwarzman is unique in the sense that you have a core curriculum, but aside from that, you can craft how you want the experience to be.”

What was life on campus like?  

→ Felipe: “In terms of the housing, you live in a building with the rest of the Scholars which is a great experience in itself and it lends itself to creating great bonds with your peers from whom you’ll learn a lot. Also, the program itself attracts people who love China so you already have something in common with your peers. As for traveling, you’re encouraged to explore and venture out.”

→ Hugo: “I loved interacting with the other Scholars and also with the special guests who visited campus to give the keynote speeches. In terms of extracurricular activities, I was part of the debate team and the basketball team. I was also able to travel around China with my peers, discovering the history and culture of China.”

What advice would you give to those looking to apply?

→ Felipe: “Give yourself plenty of time to apply, fill out your application early, and have people revise it and give you feedback. If you’re planning on applying for the next cohort, start applying today.”

→ Hugo: “Be confident in your statement of purpose and try to share that in a way that really shows who you are. Be genuine and authentic – don’t hesitate to showcase your true passions in your application.”

Want more information on the Schwarzman Scholars program? Please click here. 

APPLY TODAY. Interested individuals must apply directly to Schwarzman Scholars. The application cycle for the Class of 2024 opened on 13th April 2022 and will run until 20th September 2022. Candidates selected during this cycle will participate in the program from August 2023 until July 2024.

More about Felipe and Hugo:

Felipe Flores:

Luksic Scholar, Master in Global Affairs, Schwarzman College, Class of 2020

Felipe Flores has a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology & Secondary in Physics from Harvard University. His interests include the healthcare, pharmaceutical, and biomedical industries to improve regulation and research practices. He is currently a medical student in Chile. 

Hugo Wood:

Luksic Scholar, Master in Global Affairs, Schwarzman College, Class of 2019

Hugo Wood has a Master’s in Law and International Development from Tulane University and a Master’s in Public Policy from The London School of Economics. He is currently a Government Affairs & Policy Senior Manager of Venezuela, Central America & Caribbean for Johnson & Johnson and an Associate Professor of Behavioral Economics and Political Science at Universidad Católica Santa María La Antigua.

More than 47,000 people are studying for a master’s degree during the first semester of this year in Chile. What are the motivations for choosing this type of program? In this article, we have outlined five advantages that this type of postgraduate degree has compared to other alternatives.

During the first semester of 2022, the enrollment of students in higher education in Chile recovered remarkably, returning to levels closer to those prior to the pandemic. This is shown via the Informe de Servicio de Información de Educación Superior (SIES) (“Report on Higher Education Information Services”), recently published by the Ministry of Education, in which a general increase of 0.6% was seen in comparison to the year 2021. 

In the same report, it can also be concluded that in Chile there are 1,301,925 people enrolled in higher education, 47,704 of which are master’s students, making it the most popular option among postgraduate alternatives. Why is this? There are several reasons why pursuing a master’s degree brings about different benefits, both personal and professional. 

Therefore, if you are considering taking this step in your career, but are still unsure, here are some of the advantages of choosing to complete a master’s program:

Specialization in an area of interest: acquiring new knowledge about a specific profession or field will not only allow you to improve in an area of your profession but will also provide you with new tools and methodologies to address the different challenges that arise within a company or organization. 

Learning about the latest knowledge and tools: in a world of constant change, it is necessary to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technology that arise in our areas of work. A master’s degree can help your full potential shine by knowing how to use the right tools.

Expanding your professional network: you will be able to connect with other professionals who share common interests and who can also be of help in enhancing your professional development within the workplace. 

Climbing in your work environment: in today’s world, managerial or executive positions may require a postgraduate degree; therefore, completing a master’s degree can help increase your chances of being promoted or accessing higher-held positions in a company or organization.

Salary incentive: according to data from the 2021 Supplementary Income Survey carried out by the Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas (INE) (“National Institute of Statistics”) in the midst of the pandemic, professionals who hold a postgraduate degree reported the highest income level in the country, with an average of more than $1,600,000 Chilean pesos.

In June, a group of five Chilean academics traveled to France to be part of an international conference on education, organized by Sciences Po. This annual event brings professors together from around the world to exchange knowledge, and experiences and advance the search for new and innovative teaching methodologies.

Each year, Sciences Po organizes an international conference on pedagogy and through the Sciences Po Faculty Seminar program, a select group of Chilean academics is chosen to participate. This year’s conference focused on the challenges and opportunities of education post-Covid-19 pandemic, the development of skills in students, the creation of new teaching methodologies, and the flexibility of evaluations.

The objective of this seminar is to create a space that allows for the exchange of new strategies on pedagogical innovation and best practices within the classroom, as well as forming a community among those participating. 

This year, five professors from Chile traveled to Paris, France, to be part of this 4-day opportunity organized specifically by the Institute of Capabilities and Innovation of Sciences Po. The first two days consisted of a pre-Workshop seminar solely for the Chilean professors and on the following two days, the professors were able to participate in the International Teaching and Learning Workshop which brought together around 30 experts in pedagogy from around the world. 

One of the Faculty Seminar participants, Marianne Daher, Assistant Professor at the School of Psychology of the Pontificia Universidad Católica, described the seminar as an opportunity for great personal and interpersonal development. She says, “what I liked the most was being able to firsthand experience the workings of the Institute [of Capabilities and Innovation] as we have a similar organization at my university called the Faculty Development Center. In addition, it was really interesting to learn about the Institute’s course offerings and its lines of innovation in creative writing and data visualization.” 

Paulina Gutiérrez, Assistant Professor at the Universidad Católica del Norte, shares a similar experience pointing out, “I have been able to learn new teaching and learning strategies to bring professors together and create a community, and what’s caught my attention the most has been the implementation of these in the classroom. Since my experience is mainly in educational leadership, I think the greatest challenge for us is how we work inside the classroom.” 

Regarding the process of exchanging experiences with other teachers, the Director of the School of Pedagogy in English of the Universidad de Talca, Mauricio Véliz, emphasized that this kind of opportunity “offers a space for intellectual, social and academic oxygenation because sometimes one loses a more global view of the educational phenomenon and training of future professionals, as well as having the opportunity to share with other teachers who have a common interest, but from different disciplines, which is something very positive”. 

Finally, the Director of Vertically-Integrated-Projects (VIP) of Universidad Mayor, Jorge Rosales-Salas, stated that “this is a wonderful experience to be able to change society through the use of innovative education. I believe that the projects that we can develop from here to the future, implementing thinking about skills, competencies, and even values ​​in our students, can make not only a better Chile but also advance both Latin America and the world.” 

After this version, the Faculty Seminar program -which has included Chilean professors since 2019- will have a total of 16 national participants who have been able to share experiences with other academics from universities such as Harvard, Princeton and The London School Economics, amongst others.

The symposium was divided into three days of theoretical-practical activities, in which participants were able to share experiences, work collaboratively, and learn new techniques to teach entrepreneurship.

Wednesday, June 16th, marked the final day of the Babson SEE Chile program, which is an Entrepreneurship Symposium organized by Babson College -a leading university in the area of ​​entrepreneurship- in collaboration with the Luksic Scholars Foundation. The program aims to provide academics at Chilean universities with new teaching techniques related to entrepreneurship. 

This year’s symposium took place in Santiago for a three-day period. More than 40 professors and academics were present and they represented over 24 universities and academic institutions found throughout Chile, such as the universities of Antofagasta, Concepción, Valparaíso, and Adolfo Ibáñez. These professors participated in classes, workshops, and seminars given by two experts in innovation and entrepreneurship: Andrew Corbett, Director of the Butle Institute for Free Enterprise through Entrepreneurship at Babson College, and Matt Allen, academic from the Entrepreneurship division of the same faculty. 

Since the program’s first version, held in 2011, Babson SEE Chile has had more than 462 participants and has been held in other cities throughout Chile, such as Temuco, Concepción, Viña del Mar, and La Serena. An online version was held in 2021. After this year’s session, the program will have 504 participants in total.

Workshops and seminars

The symposium took place over three days and had a mixture of theoretical and practical activities, throughout which the following themes were discussed: the flexibility of the entrepreneurship model, the importance of the techniques used to teach entrepreneurship, the perception that Chileans have regarding this matter, as well as the search for innovative solutions to solve problems that affect the country. 

“In general, Chile looks pretty good in the area of entrepreneurship. It’s not something that happens transiently, but rather Chile consistently looks very strong in this area,” said Matt Allen. 

Divided into seven groups, the participants were able to exchange knowledge, strengthen their skills to work collaboratively, and analyze the challenges facing the area of ​​education after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic in which they had to adapt their teaching techniques. 

Gabrielle Trasatti, Community Coordinator for the Luksic Scholars Foundation, stated that “both the professors and participants really valued that this year’s symposium was able to be held in-person. They were able to actively participate, share their academic experiences, and make the most of networking with other academics, which is one of the main goals of the program: to develop a powerful network of educators who can then apply innovation and entrepreneurship in their classes or projects.” 

The event ended on Wednesday, June 16th, with a certificate ceremony.

Apply for a one-year, fully-funded master’s program in Global Affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing, designed to prepare the next generation of leaders for a complex new world.

The Luksic Fellowship of the Schwarzman Scholars program, established in 2018, is an annual funding designation for one Chilean or Latin American candidate for the Master’s program at Schwarzman College at Tsinghua University. 

What is the Schwarzman Scholars program?

Schwarzman Scholars is the first scholarship created to respond to the international landscape of the 21st century, under the belief that the success of future leaders around the world depends upon an understanding of China’s role in global trends. 

Each year, up to 200 future leaders from the U.S., China, and the rest of the world matriculate as Schwarzman Scholars at Tsinghua University in Beijing to pursue a one-year Master’s Degree. Scholars, chosen exclusively by the Schwarzman Scholars program, demonstrate exemplary leadership qualities and the potential to understand and bridge cultural differences.

Program Experience:

The Schwarzman Scholars’ experience is anchored in an immersive Master of Global Affairs degree program at Tsinghua University in Beijing.

• Core curriculum – access a curriculum designed by leading academics and faculty to build students’ leadership abilities and deepen their knowledge of China’s role in global affairs.
• Immersive leadership experience – spend a year in China and create lifelong friendships and a valuable set of cross-cultural leadership skills.
• Global network – partake in an international network of high-caliber global leaders, academics, and innovators who will together serve as a bridge between China and the rest of the world.

What’s Included: 

All participants receive a full funding package that includes: tuition & fees, room & board, an in-country study tour, travel to and from Beijing, health insurance, and a stipend for personal expenses.

Application: 

Applicants are evaluated on three key factors: demonstrated leadership, intellect, and exemplary character and integrity. Additionally, eligible candidates must:

• Have completed their undergraduate degree (in any subject area) by August 1st, 2023;
• Be between the age of 18 and 28 (and must not have turned 29 by August 1st, 2023); and
• Be proficient in English.*

*More details about the eligibility requirements can be found here.

APPLY TODAY. Interested individuals must apply directly to Schwarzman Scholars. The application cycle for the Class of 2024 opened on 13th April 2022 and will run until 20th September 2022. Candidates selected during this cycle will participate in the program from August 2023 until July 2024.

Additional resources:

Schwarzman Scholars website

Virtual tour of Schwarzman College

Virtual information sessions

Academics representing various universities from Arica to La Serena will participate in a 5-day seminar, organized by the University of Antofagasta, in collaboration with the Luksic Scholars Foundation.

With the return of in-person events, Babson College, a leading university in teaching entrepreneurship worldwide, will be conducting the fourth version of the “Symposium for Entrepreneurship Educators“ in Antofagasta.

Over 40 professors from various study centers in the north of the country are to participate. The program aims to elevate the art and the way of teaching entrepreneurship and is a unique learning opportunity for professors to broadly establish a strong spirit of entrepreneurship towards their students, managing to transform undergraduate and postgraduate teaching towards an entrepreneurial approach.

This year’s edition, which is focused on digital transformation, is organized by the University of Antofagasta via its Transfer and Licensing Office, in collaboration with the Luksic Scholars Foundation, and will take place at the Enjoy Casino in Antofagasta until Friday, May 27th.

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

Workshops, classes, and presentations are part of the usual activities of the seminar, and for the first time this year, there will be a visit to the Port of Antofagasta and the company Enaex Chile SA, both of which implement innovation and transformation projects in their functions.  

Scholars will receive insight into the logic of business thought and action, and how it can be taught and applied to students. They will also learn about the entrepreneurial mindset, recognizing the key aspects of the process and the content of teaching in entrepreneurship, through the case study method and the growing importance of other methodologies based on experience and action.

For Dr. Luis Alberto Loyola, rector of the University of Antofagasta, this initiative “aligns with the guidelines of the university’s mission and its connections to other higher education institutions in the country. We are proud of this virtuous alliance, which via the Luksic Scholars Foundation, allows us to deliver tools of the highest level to teachers throughout the northern macrozone in such a priority area such as entrepreneurship.” He also highlights the hard work of the Transfer and Licensing office. 

The Luksic Scholars Foundation is looking forward to resuming this symposium in person. Ben Thompson, Head of Programs, stated that “the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Chile is growing and evolving in leaps and bounds, and therefore, it is necessary for academics to be able to acquire new knowledge to pass on to their students, especially regarding digital transformation given that most areas are moving in this direction. We are happy to be able to contribute to this objective, promoting instances such as this symposium, in which participants can share experiences with leading academics from Babson College.”

Classes will be taught by Babson College academics, Andrew Corbett and Matthew Allen, experts in innovation and entrepreneurship, who have vast experience from previous versions of the “Symposium for Entrepreneurship Educators”, for the universities of the northern zone of Chile.

Matthew Allen, Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at Babson College, highlighted that “the main objective is to help participating professors teach entrepreneurship in a more effective way. The idea is to take the base that they bring as university professors and entrepreneurs in some cases, and give them tools that complement their teaching theory and their practical experience by sharing the methodologies that we use at Babson.”

BABSON COLLEGE

Babson College is one of the leading entrepreneurship colleges in the United States. The institution’s goal is to develop a growing international number of educators of innovative entrepreneurship. The program has already reached 6,173 educators from more than 1,475 institutions around the world.

This symposium has been conducted in numerous countries and regions of the world, such as Argentina, China, Ecuador, Ireland, Malaysia, Puerto Rico, Russia, Scotland, Switzerland, Venezuela, and Costa Rica.

During the year 2021, more than 80,000 people in Chile enrolled in postgraduate diplomas, master’s, or doctorate degrees in order to specialize in different areas of expertise. If you are also considering enrolling in a post-graduate program, these five tips may be helpful for you.

Continuing to study after a pregraduate degree is a decision more people are choosing to undertake. According to data provided by the Higher Education Information Service (SIES), there were 80,189 men and women in Chile who completed a post-graduate diploma, master’s, or doctorate program in the year 2021.

Of that total, 34% of students opted for post-graduate diploma programs, 58% opted for master’s degrees, while the remaining 8% chose to pursue the highest academic degree awarded by a university: a doctorate. 

When comparing these figures to those of 2020, which had a total of 60,946, a notable interest can be seen amongst those living in Chile who are deciding to pursue additional studies. However, choosing which postgraduate program is not always an easy decision, which is why we have outlined some guiding tips.

Define your goal: whether it is to get a better job or to specialize in a certain area, it’s important to define the purpose behind your decision to enroll in a postgraduate program. Once you have this laid out, you will be able to move on to the second step. 

Analyze the labor market: acquiring new knowledge can be enriching, however, understanding the labor market is also important. When you have already decided on which graduate program you want to do, it is recommended to evaluate the projected trends in your area of interest in order to prepare for the market’s future needs.

Organize your time to study: usually, those who decide to undergo a postgraduate degree have dual work and family responsibilities. With this in mind, it may be worth considering programs that adapt to your schedule, such as evening programs and/or blended or online programs offered by different institutions.

Consider the financing: many institutions nowadays offer scholarships or financing opportunities for their students. Check out the different options offered by each academic institution as well as their pricing and payment methods. Additionally, some companies may contribute financially towards their employees’ studies as a way of investing in their professional development.

Compare course curriculums: much like undergraduate degrees, postgraduate diplomas, master’s or doctorate degrees may have different areas of focus depending on the university. In order to choose the specialization that best suits your requirements, you should review and compare the curricula of different institutions to get a point of comparison.

Source: EducaLT (information only available in Spanish)

After a year’s wait, 10 professors from different Chilean universities were finally able to participate in the Babson Luksic Fellows program, which consists of a one-week deep dive on campus at Babson College in the United States. The objective of the program is to prepare entrepreneurship professors with the knowledge and skills to adapt to changes and seek innovative solutions. 

Seminars, classes, and practical excursions were part of the activities that 10 professors from Chilean universities participated in via the Babson Luksic Fellows program, organized by Babson College and supported by the Luksic Scholars Foundation. The experience took place on Babson’s campus in the US from March 27th to April 1st. 

The visit, which was originally scheduled for 2021, but finally carried out in 2022 due to the pandemic, invited Luksic Scholars to experience what it is like to work alongside Babson professors solving problems related to business and within a society that is constantly changing. 

The 2021 cohort

During the week spent at Babson, this group of Luksic Scholars selected exclusively by Babson College to partake in this program, were able to acquire knowledge designed to strengthen their professional development. Five of the 10 participants tell us about their experiences:

• “The mentoring and support we received at Babson will allow us to incorporate new practices being developed in various fields such as entrepreneurship, venture financing, ideation, gamification, alongside many more.” 
  -Raúl Valdés, Founder of RetailPivo, and Professor of Entrepreneurship II and Information Technology at Universidad del Desarrollo

• “Dare to innovate; even taking small steps can lead to building something great. Sometimes we may see many opportunities in front of us, which can make it difficult to understand where to start, and one of the greatest lessons I learned from this trip is to build a viable path that allows you to build big changes little by little.”
  -Luciana Mitjavila, Director of the MBA Full-Time International Programme and Business Challenge MBA at Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez

• The “Entrepreneurial Thought and Action” course taught me how entrepreneurs act under increasing levels of uncertainty and how to find opportunity even when the whole world sees chaos. It also taught me how to develop and change my mindset, the growth mindset, and why it is important to train students/colleagues to accept mistakes through process and effort.”
  -Yuliya Ossipovich, Consultant for Universidad de Chile and Director of Product Marketing for Anica S.A. 

• “The experience at Babson has been really fantastic for both my teaching and research activities. They were extraordinarily supportive of my idea of developing a new MBA course that will now be available in the second semester at UAI. The interactions at Babson have helped me to implement ideas that I had but had not yet been able to transform into something concrete. The Babson faculty has been very generous in their contributions.”
  -Flavia Cardoso, Assistant Professor at Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez 

• “The ideation process, the interaction and dynamism of the classes, prototyping processes, and connection is all a part of what I have learned through this program, which will be incorporated in the pilot incubation program that’s being carried out at AIEP later this year.”
  -Carolina Castillo, Head of Early Entrepreneurship at the AIEP Professional Institute 

The Babson Luksic Fellows Program, founded in 2011, forms part of the wider portfolio of academic opportunities offered by The Luksic Scholars Foundation. It encompasses a 5-day residential program for Babson SEE-Chile alums to experience an extended learning journey to Babson College. To date, 59 professors representing more than 25 universities have participated.