In collaboration with 16 internationally-recognized universities, the Luksic Scholars Foundation offers a portfolio of more than 30 undergraduate and postgraduate programs through which more than 1,650 Chilean and foreign people have benefited; 65% of whom are Chilean seeking to improve their skillset and knowledge, as well as contribute to building a better society. 

These are the figures that summarize the 22-year history of Luksic Scholars, an initiative that was born in 2000 by the Luksic Family, and that was formally established as a foundation two years ago in order to continue promoting academic learning experiences that connect Chile with people and universities around the world.

Since its inception, Luksic Scholars has collaborated with academic institutions to implement programs in countries such as China, Croatia, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and, of course, Chile. The Foundation’s work has provided access to programs such as a master’s degree in public policy, public administration, economics, business, global leadership, and law, in addition to symposiums on entrepreneurship, educational conferences, and research grants for a variety of fields. 

Currently, the work of Luksic Scholars is based on three main pillars: facilitating the access of Chilean talent to programs at international institutions via collaborative agreements; connecting those who have participated in these programs to a wider global network in order to provide them with more opportunities in their professional and academic careers, and; supporting the presence of Chile within international university offices. 

Looking toward the future, the Foundation plans to continue promoting education as a tool that creates collaborative networks in a globalized world, in which Chile has much to contribute to the exchange of knowledge.

The Luksic Scholars Foundation is part of the Fundación Luksic; the first and oldest of the Luksic family foundations that bring together and supports much of the family philanthropy.

Within the realm of international universities, The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is considered one of the most recognized academic institutions in the field of Social Sciences for its role in training future leaders, academics, and other relevant actors for the public sphere. 

In 2020, the Foundation Luksic Scholars created a new scholarship for Chilean students admitted to the Masters in Public Policy (MPP) and Public Administration (MPA) programs at LSE. To date, 16 Scholars have completed these programs, which last nine months and two years, respectively. Five of them, belonging to the 2020, 2021, and 2022 cohorts, share their experiences and note that the experience has made a difference in their professional careers.

The plans of some of these young students, especially those who started their programs in 2020, were nearly at stake due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Olivia Mullins, a lawyer who completed her MPP that same year, says, “the pandemic was a huge blow that threatened my plans to study at LSE, and I wouldn’t have been able to be there without this scholarship. The courses I took were both fascinating and challenging. I was able to meet people from every corner of the world, and with a wide variety of experiences and outlooks.”

The cross-cultural component of this program was also reflected in the experience of María Josefina Hubner, a lawyer, who finished her MPP in 2021: “LSE’s culture and community represent a unique mix of international backgrounds. The active student life, public lectures, and exposure to diverse political views are teaching me as much as the courses,” she stated. 

As for the MPA program, students work to acquire new knowledge about politics and public administration from a global perspective. Reflecting on her post-program goals, economist, María Ignacia Pinto affirms that “after graduation, I will work to translate the knowledge received into efficient public reforms to ensure equality of opportunities in Chile and drive social change.”

A similar motivation, to contribute in a transversal way to cultural changes in the country, is also shared by economist Camila Arroyo, who attended the same program. She says, “Chile’s critical situation will require professionals capable of rethinking economic policy from all spectrums: from the creation and implementation of public policies to structural reforms in terms of citizen participation, education, health, and social security.”

Ignacio Loeser, an economist set to graduate this year, joined the MPA in 2020 and only after his first few months at LSE defined the institution as “a modern and global university where you learn from great professors and brilliant classmates from all around the world.”

Finding new teaching methodologies that interest and attract students is one of the greatest challenges faced by teachers around the world. In response, the Luksic Scholars Foundation has opened calls for two academic opportunities at Sciences Po and Babson College, aimed at university professors who are seeking to incorporate innovative methodologies in their classrooms or who work in the area of entrepreneurship, in order to enhance their professional development. 

–SCIENCES PO–

To address the challenges in education from a global perspective, the Institute for Capabilities and Innovation Sciences Po will hold an international Teaching and Learning Workshop whose call considers the participation of five Chilean academics supported by the Luksic Scholars Foundation. This opportunity is part of the ‘Faculty Seminar at Sciences Po.’

This year’s program theme is “The Future of Pedagogy Post-COVID” and will take place from June 7th to June 10th in Paris, France. 

Who can apply?

This program is for professors from Chilean universities who work in any discipline; deans and administrators of higher education institutions with a mission focused on pedagogical and educational innovation; and teachers who research within the area of ​​pedagogy. 

Interested candidates can apply via this digital form. Applications close on April 22nd. 

–BABSON SEE CHILE–

Also during the month of April, the annual Symposium for Entrepreneurship Educators, organized by Babson College and supported by Fundación Luksic Scholars, is open to professors from Chilean universities. This program, known as Babson SEE Chile, will take place over the course of three days, from June 13th to June 15th, in Santiago, Chile, during which teachers will learn the relevance of the way in which knowledge is transmitted.

Via this initiative, Babson College seeks to develop an international network of innovative educators in the field of entrepreneurship. Some of the topics to be addressed are managing classroom challenges; immersion-based teaching; market tests and experimentation, and learning from failure, amongst others. 

Who can apply?

Professors from Chilean universities who teach and/or research entrepreneurship. Applications close on April 25th and must be sent via the following form.

Selection and admission decisions are made exclusively by the universities. The Luksic Scholars Foundation has no interference in the application, admission, selection or awarding of financial support processes.

On June 22nd, 2021, the 13 recipients of the Luksic Scholars Fund were announced. This initiative was a novel funding opportunity through which the Luksic Scholars Foundation granted US $46,000 to encourage the development of academic research and participation in executive education courses amongst the members of its community. 

Of the total number of beneficiaries, 46% were able to research topics ranging from entrepreneurship, climate change, and citizen participation and politics, including science & technology and the effects of the pandemic on school systems. 

The Scholars who were granted professional support were able to participate in executive execution courses carried out respectively by seven nationally and internationally recognized universities such as London School Economics, Harvard University, MIT, Universidad de Chile, and Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez. The topics of the Scholars’ courses included circular economy, business, sustainability, politics, and the Chinese fintech market, among others. 

Seven months later – upon the closing the Fund 2021 – the winners have commented on their experiences and how the results of their projects or courses have impacted their professional development.

Researchers

Sebastian Uriarte, a professor of entrepreneurship, conducted research on working with hybrid entrepreneurs. He says, “I was able to study hybrid entrepreneurs (those who simultaneously work as paid employees and run a business) globally, who make up about 20% of entrepreneurs around the world. I found that these entrepreneurs are more likely to recognize opportunities and create more innovative ventures when they are part of a team.”

Another interesting analysis was developed by Alejandro Cataldo, an academic at Universidad de Talca, who researched family and economic effects of technostress on students due to online classes. Among the conclusions of the study, the professor detailed that “technostress caused by online classes is a complex problem that requires coordination amongst national education, housing, and health policies. As such, the inequality of Latin American countries amplifies the negative effects of the digital divide which have become more evident due to COVID.”

Josefa Villarroel, Director of the Observatory of Entrepreneurship Policies in Chile, investigated the entrepreneurship ecosystem of Easter Island. Through the use of surveys and field visits, she was able to discover how entrepreneurship develops in this culture, the role women play, and the main challenges presented given the territory’s geographical isolation.

Another research project was led by Dr. Xiao Chen, Assistant Professor of Management at the University of Prince Edward Island in Canada. His investigation explored the link between climate change and organizations’ social, environmental, and governance performance. The results will be published in 2022.  

Lastly, in politics, Loreto Cox, Assistant Professor at the School of Government of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, alongside Carmen Le Foulon, Ph.D. in Political Science, studied how electoral participation shifted after the change in the electoral system in Chile. Some of the study’s conclusions show that the new, more proportional system strongly increased the number of candidates on the ballot, which resulted in a significant increase in invalid and blank votes. According to the research, this would have mostly affected groups with lower levels of education due to the complexity of an extensive ballot.

Executive education courses

As for professional support stream of funding: the seven Scholars who participated in an executive education course were able to acquire knowledge specific to their professional development in areas such as entrepreneurship, international business, innovation, interpretation, and data recovery; all with the aim of continuing to build bridges and connecting realities and cultures around the world. These were the programs that the recipients participated in:

• Alejandra Astorquiza – Marketing digital: estrategia, procesos y ROI, IESE Business School, Universidad de Navarra
• Alexis Celis – Venture Capital: Investing in Early-Stage Startups, Columbia Business School
• Belén Guede – Diplomado de Estudios Chinos, Universidad de Chile
• Francisco Castañeda – Business, International Relations & the Political Economy, The London School of Economics and Political Science
• Ivana Marsic – Disciplined Entrepreneurship: A Systematic Approach for Building Innovative Products and Ventures, MIT
• Paulina Gutiérrez – Formando Directores, Universidad Adolfo Ibañéz
• Simon Smart – Circular Economy and Sustainability Strategies, University of Cambridge Judge Business School

The Luksic Scholars Fund 2021 was a funding opportunity for up to US$ 5,000 offered by the Luksic Scholars Foundation to the members of its online network in line with the Foundation’s commitment to supporting the continuous learning and personal development of the Scholar community.

The opinions and conclusions presented in the works carried out by the Scholars who received funding from the Luksic Scholars Foundation are the sole property and responsibility of those who have expressed them and do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Foundation.

In establishing this Fund, the Foundation does not endorse or support these opinions or conclusions as it has only sought to motivate Scholars to develop academic research and carry out executive education courses that allow for their professional development.

In collaboration with the University of Oxford, the Luksic Scholars Foundation created the Oxford Blavatnik School of Government Luksic Scholarship for Chileans pursuing a Master’s in Public Policy at this School, located in Oxford, United Kingdom. The first Luksic Scholarship was awarded in 2014 and since then, 10 other Luksic Scholars have received support via this scholarship opportunity. The 2020-2021 cohort of Luksic Scholars graduated in August of last year and the 2021-2022 cohort has now arrived on-campus to start their MPP journey.

The 2020-2021 cohort of Luksic Scholars graduated from the Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford University in the United Kingdom under particularly difficult circumstances due to the pandemic; nonetheless, despite the hardships, the level of camaraderie and teamwork created between this group of three helped turned their MPP program into a great experience.

One member of this cohort, Luksic Scholar Camila Valenzuela (who, since graduating, has taken up a position as an Advisor at the Cabinet of the Minister of Labor and Social Security), says, “studying abroad during a time of lockdowns and restrictions was challenging, especially with my young kids at home, and all of these previous notions I had of what it would be like to obtain a Master’s degree abroad had completely changed – it became more about survival.” 

Camila credits having an amazing study group by her side as one of her biggest pillars of support and one of the most impactful aspects of studying this specific program. “We learned to rely on each other and be there for one another, and this interestingly goes hand-in-hand with an MPP program and learning about public policy – one learns how to work well in teams, divide responsibilities, and build groups of support”, she adds.

As the 2020-2021 academic year came to an end, Camila and the rest of her cohort were introduced to the newest generation of Luksic Scholars: Francisco Carrillo and Miguel Pelayo, Class of 2021, to pass along first-hand advice before the latter two embarked upon their own MPP journey, which began in September of this year. 

Francisco Carrillo, an economist from Universidad de Chile, and the first in his family to receive a university degree has years of economic experience in both private and public sectors. During his previous position at Chile’s Ministry of Social Development, he directed a new program called Clase Media Protegida which aided in the digital transformation of social services in Chile – an initiative that won a National Innovation Award. Francisco aspires to continue learning more about social protection systems and believes that Oxford’s MPP will be able to provide him with the necessary capabilities to design and implement public policy in the social development sector.

Miguel Pelayo, a Law graduate also from Universidad de Chile, seeks to use his skills to find solutions to matters pertaining to climate change and occupational standards. A testament to this is a recently-designed strategy that Miguel helped to craft while working at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, which aimed to alleviate adverse effects in the labor market in Chile caused by the pandemic. In terms of his future aspirations, Miguel sees himself in an NGO or public institution continuing to serve the public good in Chile and inspiring others to do the same. He sees Oxford’s MPP as key to this, allowing him to strengthen his policy-making and analytical skills.

Since the start of the collaboration between the Luksic Scholars Foundation and Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government, 11 Luksic Scholars have stepped foot on Oxford’s campus to receive their Master’s in Public Policy with the support of the Oxford Blavatnik School of Government Luksic Scholarship*; an opportunity for Chileans pursuing a Master’s in Public Policy (MPP) at this School. The MPP program specifically aims to give students critical tools to find answers to public policy challenges and to develop the academic knowledge and professional skills to address some of the century’s most complex public policy challenges.

*Selection and admissions decisions are made exclusively by the University of Oxford.