10 Years of Campus Arauco: A Partnership That Transformed Technical Education in Chile

A decade after the start of its classes in March 2016, Campus Arauco—a joint project between ARAUCO and Duoc UC—consolidates a pioneering model in the country that integrates academic training with industrial practice from day one. What began with the laying of the first stone in 2015 is today a national benchmark in technical-professional education.

In these ten years, 1,253 people have graduated from the campus, of which 340 did so under the dual system. 85% are first-generation university students. Of the total, 420 are women and 833 are men. Currently, the campus offers six technical programs distributed across three schools: Engineering and Natural Resources; Construction; and Administration and Business. Its educational community consists of 57 teachers and 26 staff members.

For Carlos Díaz, rector of Duoc UC, this anniversary symbolizes "the confirmation that the partnership between Duoc UC and ARAUCO was not an experiment, but a strategic decision that united educational excellence with industrial practice to open real opportunities in Biobío and in Chile."

Charles Kimber, People and Sustainability Manager of ARAUCO, adds to that vision: "This campus reflects a deep conviction: the development of people drives the development of communities. Seeing our tutors and guide mentors accompany new generations, and many alumni join our teams, confirms that education can transform lives and strengthen the sustainability of the territory."

For his part, the Mayor of Arauco, Mauricio Alarcón, highlights that "Campus Arauco marked a before and after for our municipality. This partnership allowed us to address a historical demand of our youth: to study and train here, with an unprecedented model like dual education. For us, this project has not only expanded the educational offerings; it has strengthened the human capital of the province and demonstrates what is achieved when the municipality, academia, business, and community work together."

The Presidential Delegate of Arauco Province, Humberto Toro, is emphatic: "For this province to be competitive, production alone is not enough; we need to strengthen human capital. The partnership that gave life to Campus Arauco understood that challenge and went further: with the dual model, our students not only acquire knowledge, they also develop the capacity to lead in the workplace. Today we see graduates entering the industry with real preparation, with a trade, and with vision. That is the true added value this initiative has given to Arauco province."

Experience in the Plant

The training experience is also lived from the plants. Claudio Díaz, a guide mentor at Celulosa Arauco, says: "Students enter understanding everything on-site: schedules, rules, requirements. They face early on what many of us only saw upon graduating, and that creates a work culture that later makes the difference."

And the student perspective reaffirms that impact. Víctor Carrera, a technical graduate now pursuing further studies in Engineering, summarizes: "The dual training was the best thing that could have happened to us. Being between the classroom and the plant from the start changes everything. The campus rejuvenated the municipality; it allowed many young people to continue studying without having to emigrate."

Ten years after its launch, Campus Arauco consolidates a model in which education and industry work together to open real paths of development. A decade later, its impact is measured in personal trajectories that advance, communities that are strengthened, and a territory that now has an educational center that forever changed its horizon of opportunities.

The article inRevista Contratistas Forestales