The Development of the Research Capabilities of Chilean Faculty

Over the past 30 years, Chilean faculty’s progress in terms of size, academic training, and research productivity has been outstanding. In the last decade, the number of faculty in Chilean higher education increased by about 40%, and the number of them holding doctorate degrees doubled. This progress has occurred in the context of multiple national initiatives and policies attempting to migrate the country from an economy based on the exploitation of natural resources to one based on knowledge and innovation. This chapter describes these changes and explores the challenges and opportunities for faculty members in the emerging Chilean knowledge economy and its innovation system. In particular, we discuss issues and new demands surrounding faculty’s research work. This building of research capabilities includes modernizing doctoral education, increasing the participation of women in leadership positions and STEM fields, navigating internationalization, and meeting new demands for outreach with industry and society.