Consejo Interuniversitario Nacional
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K O O B R A E Y 2 1 0 2 . 1 C O N S E J O I N T E R U N I V E R S I T A R I O N A C I O N A L 1 National Interuniversity Board Y E A R B O O K 2 0 1 1 . 2 0 1 2 0 2 Year Book 2011-2012 National Interuniversity Board 2 Authorities President Martín Gill, Attorney Vice President Dr. Guillermo Crapiste Executive Committee Commission for Academic Matters Prof. Juan Carlos Del Bello Commission for Science, Technology, and Arts Architect Fernando Tauber Commission for Postgraduate Studies Engineer Flavio Fama Commission for Economic Matters Prof. Francisco Morea Commission for International Matters Engineer Arturo Somoza Commission for Extension Prof. Liliana Demaio Commission for Institutional Relations Engineer Walter López Commission for Communication and Media Prof. Daniel Martínez Executive Secretary Norma Beatriz Costoya, Attorney 3 2011.2012 Y E A R B O O K I n s t i t u t i o n a l Institutional Overview The National Interuniversity Board (CIN, by its Spanish acronym) was created by a Decree Law passed by Argentine President, Dr. Raúl Alfonsín, on December 20, 1985. The Board is a non-state controlled entity under public law mainly supported by the contributions of its members. For the first ten years the CIN was exclusively formed by those National Universities that willingly decided to be part of it pursuant to their autonomy and, thus, adhered to the board as a coordinating body for university policies. As of the enactment of the Higher Education Act in 1995, University Institutes and Provincial Universities recognized by the Nation have been incorporated. The CIN is a compulsory consultation body in case of major decisions for the university system. Together with the Board of Private University Presidents (CRUP, by its Spanish acronym) and representatives of the Regional Planning Boards for Higher Education (CPRES, by its Spanish acronym), the CIN is part of the Board of Universities presided by the Minister of Education of the Nation. The functions of the CIN are: a. To propose and coordinate common policies for the university institutions that form part of it. b. To define and coordinate plans and activities in academic fields, scientific research, extension, and management among the institutions that form part thereof. c. To coordinate the policies of member institutions with different educational levels and jurisdictions and with scientific and technical research and cultural bodies. d. To form part of interuniversity coordination regional bodies. e. To express well-founded opinions with regard to any project for the creation or closing of national university institutions. f. To create and support self-assessment and external assessment for its members. g. To coordinate, ensure compatibility, and establish proposals on the validity of full and partial studies as well as on the degrees thereof. h. To propose and promote a scholarship policy for professors and students that allows for actual implementation of policies for equal opportunities. i. To promote common research programs, both national and regional. j. To analyze the problems of general and higher education in the Argentine Republic and to present proposals to public powers. k. To analyze the problems of general and higher education in the world, specially in Latin America, and to present proposals for academic exchange and integration. l. To establish, increase, and coordinate relations of any kind with other public and private, national or foreign institutions that may grant financing lines, contributions or donations of funds or supplies and technical support for the execution of programs, projects and activities in the areas of science, technology, culture, and sports. m. To report its activities to the whole national education system. n. To cooperate, assist, and advice in the activities and undertakings of each of its members when required. o. To act as a consultant body in the topics and matters submitted for advice and to participate at the Board of Universities pursuant to the provisions set forth under the Higher Education Act (Statute Section 2) Functions As a member of the Board of Universities, the CIN carries out the following actions: a. Decides, together with the Federal Board of Education, all criteria and guidelines to coordinate with other educational levels. b. Participates in the Consulting Board of the Teacher Training Institute. 5 c. Determines which first degree university careers shall be subject to accreditation, the minimum number of hours for their curricula, the basic curricular contents and criteria on the intensity of practical training, and the patterns and standards for accreditation processes. The CIN government bodies are: a. The Plenary. b. The Executive Committee. c. The President. d. The Vice-President. The Plenary of University Presidents meets twice a year, in March and September, in ordinary sessions that take place at any CIN member University. In addition, when urgent or highly important matters arise, extraordinary sessions are held at the CIN headquarters located at the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. The Executive Committee is formed by ten members: the President and Vice-President of the CIN and eight members of the Board. Among them CIN representatives for the Board of Universities are elected. The permanent Executive Secretariat manages the Board's different activities. Permanent Commissions Permanent Commissions analyze all matters that the CIN will consider. Each member of the Executive Committee presides one of the Permanent Commissions, with the help of a coordinator. The coordinator is also a University President. In 1996, the Technical Advisory Commission for collective bargaining was formed, and has been working since then for improving both teaching and non-teaching staff work conditions. Within this commission is the Subcommission for Hygiene and Safety. Commission presidents and coordinators are technically assisted by professionals specially hired as advisors, and within the framework of the commissions there are networks that institutionalize and coordinate the work of those responsible for the different areas of the University Institutions that are members of the CIN. 6 Interuniversity Organizations The national university system is a complex group of institutions that in order to implement its essential functions of teaching, research, and extension, generates different interrelation instances. Thus, intermediate organizations that carry out a series of activities in specific areas have originated, sometimes thanks to the initiative of the person responsible for the area and sometimes thanks to the initiative of the Plenary of the National Interuniversity Board (CIN). In general, the representatives of each CIN member are the university officials working in the specific area, thus in their participation both academic specialty and university management experience are combined. In order to organize work, the Plenary of Presidents approved a series of regulations that, essentially, set forth the following rules: “Interuniversity organizations shall be constituted within the National Interuniversity Board, such as networks or associations, devoted to considering, analyzing or developing proposals and activities related to different areas of university management. In addition, those groups already formed may request to be recognized as such as long as they meet the terms of this description” (section 1). In all cases they shall: . Set objectives that are compatible with the objectives of this Board and the interests of the whole university system. Be open to the participation of all CIN member university institutions. Ensure that the participation of each member in the organization is supported by the authority of the university institution they represent or to which they belong. Design work regulations that ensure the participation of all members in decision making and democratic election of authorities, that shall be approved by the Plenary of Presidents" (section 2). Distance Education Network (RUEDA, by its Spanish acronym) It was created in August 10, 1990 and incorporated to the CIN by Plenary Agreement No. 630/07 of March 29, 2007. The objectives of this network are: a. To promote, generate, and support the development of distance academic, research, and extension projects prioritizing collaborative and innovative proposals. b. Advice, upon request of the different organizations, on pedagogical, political, economic, legislative, and technical aspects related to those topics within its competence. c. Promote educational, upgrading, and permanent training opportunities for its members. d. Organize, hold, and participate in national, regional, and international meetings related to the area. e. Promote communication of teaching, research, and extension experiences and projects in order to optimize and increase the resources available at National University Institutions. f. Update the roster of teaching, research, and extension academic projects linked to this learning mode and developed by National University Institutions that are part of RUEDA. g. Develop and support bibliographic material production related to this learning mode in order to create spaces for theoretical and methodological production. h. Promote the subscription of interinstitutional agreements for the development of those activities inherent to the Network. i. Develop promotion and communication strategies for RUEDA's activities. RUEDA publishes a periodic journal and, so far, it has published three books on distance education.