Albemarle and the University of Antofagasta signed a framework agreement with the aim of collaborating, linking and assisting each other in the development of promotion, training, teaching, exchanges and internships activities around the lithium industry. This agreement was made official by the rector (s) of the UA, Dr. Carlos Cabezas Cabezas and the vice president of External Affairs and country manager of the company, Ignacio Mehech Castellón, at the Angamos campus of the public university.
Ignacio Mehech stressed that this agreement is an umbrella under which "we are going to have different initiatives with the university and that we hope will be the beginning of a deeper relationship in which we can focus on very necessary issues for the region such as teaching, lithium research in academia, with students developing doctoral theses; and also throughout the territory, in social, patrimonial, and health matters."
Albemarle's country manager added that work will be done to develop the full potential of this agreement. "This instance is very important for Albemarle, it is the continuity and strengthening of a very long relationship with the University of Antofagasta. The signing of this agreement allows us to consider working in many areas with the UA in the future, not only in teaching, but also in extension, research and relationship with different actors in the region," said Ignacio Mehech.
Dr. Carlos Cabezas, meanwhile, stressed that for the UA this alliance means continuing on the path of relationship with public and private actors in the region, "especially one as important as Albemarle, and therefore, it fulfills the missionary duties of our institution, by giving us a wide possibility of relationship with a company that can contribute enormously in the field of teaching and research."
Scope of the agreement
The director of outreach and outreach of the UA, Catherine Urbina Pizarro, detailed some of the first actions that will be implemented within the framework of this agreement. "This relationship with Albemarle allows us to contribute to our territory with our capacity and with the contribution of the company, in areas such as research, which will allow us to accompany the company in the community of Peine for the rescue of heritage. In addition, in teaching, scholarships will be awarded for STEM careers to increase the entry of women into these careers that are so masculinized."
Another of the initiatives will be deployed in the communities with which the company is related, where the Department of Dentistry will serve the highland localities, added the director of outreach and outreach. "As a state university we are interested in being present in all instances where we can contribute from our work, from the fields of teaching, research and linkage," he said.
Within the projections, Urbina stressed that this is only the beginning and that the idea is to expand the initiatives and integrate other units, such as the Center for Advanced Research of Lithium and Industrial Minerals, CELIMIN.