UTalca expands its minor offerings for its students
These are six transversal minors that will begin to be implemented from 2026, enabling young people to delve deeper into new areas of knowledge.
Arts, technology, sustainability, creativity, entrepreneurship, and global citizenship. With these six areas of focus, the University of Talca will take a leap forward in its academic offerings: starting in 2026, it will expand the minors it offers, allowing students to complement their degree with new knowledge and skills.
“These minor tracks are a deeper exploration of topics defined by the institution, in areas we have discussed and consider important for our students to develop, deepen their knowledge, and, when they enter the workforce, have skills that complement their training,” explained Paula Manríquez, Vice-Rector of Education at this institution.
These specializations will begin to be offered from 2026 in six areas: Arts, Cultures and Heritage; Digital Transformation; Creative Strategies and New Media; Environmental Sustainability; Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management; and Global Citizenship and Democracy.
According to the vice-rector, the selection of these topics was based on an in-depth analysis of global trends and the country's current needs. "We looked at what the environment requires and what our existing capabilities as a university were," she explained.
Along those lines, he added that the minors correspond to areas where UTalca can make a solid contribution and that they represent highly valued skills for future professionals.
Who can access these specializations?
Regarding who will be able to access these new training programs, Vice-Rector Manríquez explained that they will be available to all undergraduate students at the University of Talca, regardless of their major.
“We want to empower their autonomy: each young person has interests and aspirations, and rather than a completely mandatory plan, here they will have an elective track that they can select according to their tastes,” the official explained.
The vice-rector pointed out that the minors will consist of five electives within the training plan, and each student will be able to decide whether to follow a complete track - which will give them certification - or take individual courses to explore different areas.
Furthermore, he emphasized that these courses will always be held during academic hours and will not overload students' schedules. "Another important aspect is that we are planning for these electives to have a strong online component, because we want students from Curicó, Linares, and Talca to be able to take them," he added.
Finally, the vice-rector emphasized that those who complete a minor will receive formal certification accrediting this additional specialization. “This represents a tremendous contribution to our students' education. It not only broadens their skills and perspectives but also strengthens their employability and the contribution they can make to society,” she concluded.
