Proyección del impacto de los minors en la Facultad de Ingeniería de una universidad chilena.
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Date
2025
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universidad de Concepción
Abstract
Esta investigación tuvo como objetivo proyectar el impacto de los programas minors en la Facultad de Ingeniería de una universidad chilena, identificando sus fuentes de valor, sus posibles impactos en distintas dimensiones (académica, personal/social, institucional, económica y profesional), y las condiciones necesarias para una implementación efectiva. Para ello, se utilizó una metodología mixta que combinó encuestas a 125 estudiantes de pregrado, entrevistas semiestructuradas a 28 autoridades y expertos, y un análisis comparado de experiencias nacionales, mediante un benchmarking. Los resultados indican que los estudiantes perciben fuertemente que los minors pueden agregar valor en su formación profesional (82,4%), facilitar nuevas trayectorias académicas (66,4%) y generar impactos personales como mayor motivación o sentido vocacional (62,4%). También se identificaron impactos proyectados a nivel institucional, como la competitividad, la modernización curricular y la diferenciación frente a otras universidades. No obstante, se evidencian diferencias en las apreciaciones entre actores: mientras el estudiantado reconoce impactos personales y sociales, las autoridades tienden a enfatizar únicamente lo académico, profesional o administrativo. Dentro de las condiciones necesarias para una implementación efectiva, se identificaron factores clave como la necesidad de una gestión académica eficiente, claridad en la difusión, pertinencia curricular, disponibilidad de infraestructura y evaluación continua. También se reconocieron riesgos como la sobrecarga académica, la falta de cupos y la burocracia institucional, especialmente señalada por actores de la Facultad de Ingeniería. Una limitante importante de los resultados es el sesgo en la muestra estudiantil, compuesta mayoritariamente por estudiantes de quinto y sexto año y de Ingeniería Civil Industrial, lo que condiciona parcialmente la generalización de los resultados. Se concluye que los minors tienen un alto potencial transformador, pero su impacto real dependerá de cómo se diseñen, gestionen e integren en la cultura académica de la universidad.
This research aimed to project the impact of minor programs in the Faculty of Engineering at a Chilean university by identifying their sources of value, their potential impacts across various dimensions (academic, personal/social, institutional, economic, and professional), and the necessary conditions for effective implementation. A mixed-methods approach was used, combining surveys of 125 undergraduate students, semi-structured interviews with 28 authorities and experts, and a comparative analysis of national experiences through benchmarking. The results show that students strongly perceive that minors can add value to their professional training (82.4%), facilitate new academic pathways (66.4%), and generate personal impacts such as increased motivation or vocational purpose (62.4%). Projected institutional impacts were also identified, including increased competitiveness, curricular modernization, and differentiation from other universities. However, differences in perceptions among stakeholders were observed: while students recognized personal and social impacts, authorities tended to emphasize only academic, professional, or administrative aspects. Key factors for effective implementation were identified, such as the need for efficient academic management, clear communication, curricular relevance, infrastructure availability, and continuous evaluation. Risks were also acknowledged, including academic overload, limited availability of spots, and institutional bureaucracy, especially noted by actors from the Faculty of Engineering. A relevant limitation is the sample bias, as most surveyed students were in their fifth or sixth year and from the Industrial Civil Engineering program, which partially constrains the generalization of the results. The study concludes that minors have strong transformative potential, but their actual impact will depend on how they are designed, managed, and integrated into the university’s academic culture.
This research aimed to project the impact of minor programs in the Faculty of Engineering at a Chilean university by identifying their sources of value, their potential impacts across various dimensions (academic, personal/social, institutional, economic, and professional), and the necessary conditions for effective implementation. A mixed-methods approach was used, combining surveys of 125 undergraduate students, semi-structured interviews with 28 authorities and experts, and a comparative analysis of national experiences through benchmarking. The results show that students strongly perceive that minors can add value to their professional training (82.4%), facilitate new academic pathways (66.4%), and generate personal impacts such as increased motivation or vocational purpose (62.4%). Projected institutional impacts were also identified, including increased competitiveness, curricular modernization, and differentiation from other universities. However, differences in perceptions among stakeholders were observed: while students recognized personal and social impacts, authorities tended to emphasize only academic, professional, or administrative aspects. Key factors for effective implementation were identified, such as the need for efficient academic management, clear communication, curricular relevance, infrastructure availability, and continuous evaluation. Risks were also acknowledged, including academic overload, limited availability of spots, and institutional bureaucracy, especially noted by actors from the Faculty of Engineering. A relevant limitation is the sample bias, as most surveyed students were in their fifth or sixth year and from the Industrial Civil Engineering program, which partially constrains the generalization of the results. The study concludes that minors have strong transformative potential, but their actual impact will depend on how they are designed, managed, and integrated into the university’s academic culture.
Description
Tesis presentada para optar al título de Ingeniero/a en Civil Industrial.
Keywords
Minors, Ingeniería, Formación profesional, Universidades Chile, Benchmarking (Management)