New collaborations in the Humanities and Social Sciences gain momentum with the Global Humanities Alliance at UC Chile
UC Chile welcomed Kate McGregor, president of the Global Humanities Alliance, as part of the launch of this network, which brings together eight universities from different continents and promotes collaboration among academics and students from the humanities and social sciences to address the most urgent global challenges.
photo_camera The Global Humanities alliance seeks to coordinate the efforts of academics and students of different continents to address global challenges. (Photo credit: Samuel Díaz, UC Chile Office of the Vice President for International Affairs.)
From March 23 to 25, UC Chile held out a joint program with the Global Humanities Alliance (GHA) network, aimed at promoting its opportunities and encouraging the participation of academics and students in collaborative projects.
In this context, UC Chile was visited by Professor Kate McGregor, Chair of the GHA Steering Committee, who also works as Associate Dean International for the Faculty of Arts of the University of Melbourne, and specializes in the contemporary history of Indonesia.
The event included the official launch of the GHA at UC Chile, which took place in the Auditorium of the Faculty of History, Geography, and Political Science, and brought together academics and students from various departments.
The event began with a welcome speech by Dalinda Pérez-Álvarez, Executive Director of the UC Chile Office of the Vice President for International Affairs, followed by Dean Valeria Palanza, who introduced the network and invited attendees to join the various initiatives GHA promotes to address global challenges through the humanities and social sciences.
The Global Humanities Alliance’s mission is to strengthen the visibility and social and political impact of the humanities and social sciences by promoting an approach to research and teaching aimed at global challenges, that integrates diverse perspectives and fosters opportunities for critical dialogue between academics and students.
During the launch, Professor McGregor presented her research, “Submerged Histories: Remembering Histories of the Spice Trade and the Banda Massacres in Indonesia”, a project that reflects on the GHA’s mission of bringing histories to light, preserving memories, and contributing to communities.
The event was fully covered by the Faculty of History, Geography, and Political Science, which elaborated and expanded upon the presentations.
International cooperation between UC Chile, GHA, and the University of Melbourne
To conclude her visit to Chile, Professor McGregor held a meeting on the morning of Wednesday March 25 with UC Chile Vice President for International Affairs Maria Montt, along with the team of the Office of Global Relations. At the event, a formal presentation was given on the Global Humanities Alliance network and UC Chile’s contribution, experience and role in this initiative were discussed.
The meeting also allowed Professor McGregor, in her role as an academic, to examine key areas of partnership with the University of Melbourne, exploring new opportunities to further strengthen collaboration between both institutions.
UC Chile and the University of Melbourne have maintained a formal relationship since 2004, following the signing of an exchange agreement at the undergraduate and master’s levels. Over the past decade, this relationship has been strengthened through sustained academic collaboration, demonstrated by more than 1,150 joint publications. In addition, both universities are part of the Global Humanities Alliance and of Universitas 21, promoting projects in various fields of knowledge.
The meeting served as a valuable space to outline UC Chile’s roadmap within the network and strengthen its work with the member institutions. It also reaffirmed the importance of encouraging the university community’s active participation in the opportunities offered by the GHA.
