Federico Santa María Technical University facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Federico Santa María Technical University

Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María
Former names	Escuela de Artes y Oficios y el Colegio de Ingenieros José Miguel Carrera (1926–1935)
Motto	Ex umbra in Solem
Motto in English	From the shadows to the light
Type	Private (traditional), technical
Established	20 December 1931 (93 years ago) (1931-12-20)
Academic affiliations	Cruz del sur Network G9 Network Clover 2030 Engineering
Chairman	Roberto Medina Cantariño
Rector	Juan Yuz Eissmann (2022-2026)
Academic staff	618 (equivalent full time 2019)
Students	19,291 (2020)
Undergraduates	18,239
Postgraduates	1,052
Location	Valparaíso, Santiago, Viña del Mar, Concepción , Chile 33°02′06″S 71°35′47″W / 33.0351°S 71.5963°W / -33.0351; -71.5963
Campus	Urban 14.82 hectares (36.6 acres)
Architect	Smith Solar & Smith Miller
Colours	Blue, red, yellow

The Federico Santa María Technical University (known as UTFSM or Santa Maria University) is a famous university in Chile. It is located in Valparaíso and was started in 1931.

This university has campuses in several cities in Chile. These include Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, Santiago, and Concepción. It also had a campus in Guayaquil, Ecuador, which closed in 2018. Many important business leaders, engineers, and scientists from Chile studied here. Students and graduates of UTFSM are called "Sansanos."

UTFSM was the first university in Chile to offer a doctorate degree in engineering. This happened in 1962. It was also the first in Latin America to offer this high-level degree. The university's radio station is the oldest campus radio in Latin America.

Getting into UTFSM is quite hard because it has tough study programs. Most courses are taught in Spanish. The university holds its graduation ceremony every year on December 20th. This day remembers the founder, Federico Santa Maria Carrera, who passed away on December 20, 1925.

University History: How It Started

Main UTFSM Campus in Valparaiso, 2016

The university is named after Federico Santa María. He was a kind person from Chile who lived in France. He became very rich by working in the sugar market in Paris. Before he died, he gave all his money to create a university in Valparaíso, his hometown. People believe he donated around 27 billion dollars in today's money.

In 1920, Federico Santa María wrote in his will that he wanted to build a top-quality technical and science school. He wanted this school to help Chile grow and offer great education. He wished for the best students from all backgrounds to be able to study there. The only requirement was that they had to be smart and achieve high academic results.

Some people were chosen by Santa María to make his dream come true. They were Agustin Edwards Mac-Clure, Juan Brown Caces, Carlos van Buren, and Andrew Geddes.

On March 31, 1926, an organization was created to carry out Santa María's wishes. In 1931, the School of Crafts and Arts and the School of Engineering José Miguel Carrera were founded. In 1935, the name changed to Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María.

Federico Santa María had one special rule. For the first 10 years, the university had to bring in teachers from the best science and engineering schools. So, Agustín Edwards Mac-Clure went to Germany. He met Karl Laudien, who was a rector at a technical school. Karl Laudien became the first rector of UTFSM. Because of this, the university's engineering education was greatly influenced by Germany. Many German engineers and scientists came to teach. They brought new ideas in physics, chemistry, and engineering.

For example, Arnold Keller, a physics professor at UTFSM, helped develop V-1 rockets during World War II. Also, new research areas like Solar Energy and Chemistry of Natural Products were started. These led to two professors, Herbert Appel and Juan Garbarino, winning the National Science Prize.

Scientia Magazine

In 1934, the Scientia magazine was first published. It shared the university's academic work.

In 1937, the Universidad Tecnica Federico Santa Maria Radio began broadcasting. It was the first university radio station in Chile and Latin America. It shared information and cultural programs. The radio still broadcasts today in Valparaíso and online.

In 1939, the Alumni association was created. It is now known as AEXA.

In 1960, the Graduate School was started. It offered PhD programs in chemical, electrical, and mechanical engineering. In 1963, UTFSM became the first university in Latin America to give a doctorate in engineering. This was done with the help of the University of Pittsburgh.

In the 1960s, the university began to grow across the country and internationally. In 1966, the technical campus in Viña del Mar was opened. In 1972, the "Rey Balduino de Bélgica" campus was founded in Concepción. This project received strong financial help from King Baudouin of Belgium.

In 1964, Patricia Guzman became the first woman to earn a technical degree from the university. In 1965, Graciela Muñoz was the first woman to graduate as an engineer from UTFSM.

After a difficult period in Chile in 1973, UTFSM was the first of eight universities to reopen on October 15, 1973.

University Locations: Campuses and Branches

The university has three main campuses and two branch campuses.

• Casa Central: This is the main campus. It opened in 1931 in Valparaíso.
• Campus Vitacura: Opened in 1995 in Vitacura, Santiago, Chile.
• Campus San Joaquín: Opened in 2009 in San Joaquin, Santiago, Chile.
• Sede José Miguel Carrera: Located in Viña del Mar.
• Sede Rey Balduino de Bélgica: Opened in 1972 in Talcahuano, Chile.

The main campuses focus on undergraduate and graduate studies. The branch campuses (sedes) mainly offer technical degrees.

Main Campus in Valparaíso

Main Campus in Valparaíso, 1949

The main UTFSM campus, called Casa Central, is in Valparaíso. It sits on Los Placeres hill, where an old fort used to be. The campus looks out over the Pacific Ocean and can be seen from many parts of Valparaíso Bay.

The famous Chilean architect Josué Smith Solar and his son José Smith Miller designed the building. Its American Neo-Gothic style is considered one of Chile's best architectural works. The campus is also known for its beautiful gardening with many different plants.

In 2001, the lighting of the university's front was updated. In 2008, the main campus was chosen as one of the most important national architectural works of the 20th century. It has over 3 hectares of green areas, making it the largest urban park in Valparaíso, even though it's not open to the public.

Viña del Mar Branch Campus

In the 1960s, the university planned to expand. With help from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Ford Foundation, a new building was built in 1971 in Viña del Mar. It was named the "Jose Miguel Carrera" branch campus. This campus is located between Vina del Mar and Quilpué in Chile.

Concepción Branch Campus

In the mid-1960s, the university planned to open six schools across the country.

In October 1965, the Kings of Belgium, Baudouin I and Fabiola de Mora y Aragon, visited the university in Valparaíso. They learned about its education plans and decided to help build a branch campus in Concepción.

Many local businesses in Chile also helped with money and materials. The Archbishop of Concepción donated the land. Construction began in 1969.

Classes started on April 26, 1971. They offered degrees in Electronics, Electrical, Structural Mechanics, Maintenance Mechanics, and Chemistry. On February 14, 1972, the campus was officially opened. The President of Chile, Salvador Allende Gossens, and the university rector, Jaime Chiang Acosta, were there.

University Rankings and Quality

UTFSM is known as one of the best engineering schools in Chile. It is often ranked among the top universities in Chile and Latin America.

• For 10 years in a row, UTFSM has been in the top three universities in Chile for quality. This is based on what over 1000 important business leaders think.
• In 2012, it was ranked 5th among 9,500 engineering schools worldwide for its research impact. It was the top engineering school in South America.
• In 2019, UTFSM was ranked 2nd in Latin America for Engineering and Technology by Times Higher Education (THE).
• US News has ranked UTFSM as #64 globally, #15 in Latin America, and #3 in Chile.

Accreditations

The university is accredited by the Chilean National Accreditation Commission (CNA) for 6 years, until December 2022.

How the University is Organized

Agustin Edwards Mc-Clure, the first UTFSM Directive Council President, 1931

Directive Council

As of 2025, the president of the UTFSM Directive Council is Ms. Yessica Cartagena. This council helps guide the university.

Rector

The rector is like the university's main leader. The current rector is Professor Juan I. Yuz Eissmann. He started his role in 2022 and will serve until 2026.

Some rectors have had interesting stories:

• Two rectors, Armando Quezada and Commander Juan Naylor, passed away while in office.
• Carlos Cerutti had to resign in 1968 due to student protests.
• During a period of military rule in Chile (1973-1990), three rectors were chosen by the military government. They were retired military men.
• Jaime Chiang Acosta (1969-1972) was the first rector chosen by a vote from the university community. He was also the first rector who had studied at UTFSM.
• His brother, Gustavo Chiang Acosta (1989-1993), was the first rector chosen by popular vote after the military rule ended.

Academic Departments

UTFSM has many academic departments instead of different faculties. These departments do research and offer study programs. The first three departments were Chemical, Mechanical, and Electrical Engineering, founded in 1944.

There are 17 different academic departments across the Chilean campuses. Not all departments are at every campus, and not all degree levels are offered everywhere.

UTFSM is the only engineering school in Chile where sports is a required class. Students must take it for their first three semesters at the Valparaíso and Santiago Campuses.

The university also offers degrees for Commercial Pilot and Aeronautical Engineering. This is done through its Academia de Ciencias Aeronáuticas [1] with the Chilean airline Lan Chile.

What You Can Study at UTFSM

Original UTFSM design (1935)

The university offers different types of degrees. Undergraduate degrees can take 6, 8, 10, or 12 semesters (about 3 to 6 years). Graduate degrees, like Masters (MSc.) and Doctorates (PhD), take longer. A Master's degree usually takes 2 years, and a Doctorate takes 3 to 5 years. You need a bachelor's degree to start a graduate program.

Engineering Degrees

UTFSM offers many engineering degrees. Some are called "Civil" engineering degrees. These usually take 12 semesters. Other engineering degrees take 10 semesters.

• Bachelor of Engineering Degrees:

* Engineering * Civil * Environmental * Electrical * Electronics * Computer Science * Industrial * Mathematics * Mechanical * Metallurgical * Chemical * Telematics * Mining * Business management * Product design engineering * Aircraft business engineering * Manufacturing and industrial drawing engineering * Occupational Health and Safety Engineering * Mechanical processes and maintenance engineering (4 years)

• Master of Science Degrees:

* Civil Engineering * Electrical Engineering * Electronics * Computer Engineering * Mechanical * Chemical Engineering * Industrial Engineering * Telematics Engineering * Metallurgical Engineering * Physics * Chemistry * Mathematics

• PhD Degrees:

* Biotechnology (with Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso) * Physics (with Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso) * Chemistry * Electronics Engineering * Chemical Engineering * Computer Science Engineering * Mathematics (with Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso and University of Valparaíso) * Mechanical Engineering

Chemical Engineering

The Chemical Engineering School at UTFSM started in 1935. It is one of the oldest degrees offered. The first PhD in chemical engineering in Chile and Latin America was awarded in 1962. This was to Walter Gaete Castro, with help from the University of Pittsburgh, USA.

Today, the chemical engineering department is called the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering. It offers degrees in Chemical Engineering and Environmental Engineering. Researchers here study things like:

• Designing industrial processes
• Environmental Engineering
• Food Science and Bioprocesses
• Minerals Processing
• Automation and process control

The department has 12 professors, most of whom have PhDs. It offers Master of Science and PhD programs in chemical engineering.

Mechanical Engineering

The Mechanical Engineering School also started in 1935. The first four mechanical engineers graduated in 1939. This department was one of the first to offer a PhD program in 1964.

The mechanical engineering department focuses on research in:

• Thermodynamics (the study of heat and energy)
• Energy and Renewable energies (like solar or wind power)
• Process engineering (how to design and run industrial processes)

The department has 20 full-time professors, most with PhDs. Besides the Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering, they offer Master of Science and PhD programs.

Graduate School

The UTFSM graduate school began on August 1, 1960. It was created to meet the growing need for advanced research. Herbert Appel was the first director from 1960 to 1964. The school first offered PhD programs in chemical, electrical, and mechanical engineering. Walter Gaete Castro was the first person to get a PhD from UTFSM. He earned his PhD in chemical engineering, making him the first PhD graduate in Latin America.

Doctor Honoris Causa

The "Doctor Honoris Causa" is the highest award UTFSM can give. Only a few people have received this honor. In 2022, Lorena A. Barba, a former student, received it. Other notable people who received it include:

• Georges Mikenberg (2019): A physicist known for his work in particle physics.
• Raul Zurita (2015): A famous poet and the first UTFSM alumnus to receive this award.
• Wolfgang Riesenkönig (2014): For his work in computer science in Chile.
• Michelle Bachelet (2007): Who was the president of Chile at the time.
• Frederik Hayek (1977): An Austrian economist.
• Francisco Cereceda (1964): For his contributions to society and the university as a former Rector.

University Research

Since 2010, UTFSM has received almost US$8 million for 76 research projects. Many of these projects involve working with other famous institutions. These include places in Latin America (like the ANDES Laboratory Project), Europe (like CERN and Max Planck Institut), and the USA (like MIT and SLAC).

Fun Cultural Activities

University Radio

The Federico Santa Maria University radio started on April 7, 1937. It is the oldest university radio in Latin America. You can listen to it on 1450 AM, 99.7 FM, and online.

University Chamber Choir

The Chamber Choir of UTFSM was founded on August 4, 1951, in Valparaíso. It is the second oldest choir in Chile that has been active continuously. The choir performs many types of music, from old to new. Its first performance was in December 1951.

Demosthenes Penna, an engineering student, founded and directed the choir until 1954. Many other directors have led the choir since then, including Silvio Olate Valenzuela (for 28 years) and Eduardo Silva Cerda (for 23 years). Since 2010, Felipe Molina Lavandera has been the director. The Guayaquil campus in Ecuador also started a choir in 2015.

Folklore Ensemble "Alimapu"

The university also has a long history of music through its folkloric group "Alimapu".

Famous People from UTFSM

Alumni (Graduates)

Many organizations for former students, called AEXA, have been created at UTFSM campuses:

• AEXA Valparaíso, started in 1939
• AEXA Santiago, started in 1941
• AEXA in the United States, started in 1995

These groups are run by the alumni themselves. They work with the university's Alumni Network office.

Here are some notable alumni:

• Homero Capona: The first engineer to graduate from the university (1939).
• Abelardo Quinteros: A composer known for his unique music style (1941).
• Carlos Ceruti Gardeazabal: The first Chilean to receive an honorary doctorate from an international university (University of Pittsburgh). He was also a UTFSM rector (1941).
• Mario Luxoro Mariani: The first Chilean to earn a PhD abroad. He won the National Sciences prize in 2000 (1948).
• Boris Rotman: The first UTFSM alumnus to become a professor at an Ivy League University (Brown University). He is known for doing the first single molecule experiment in biology (1948).
• Max von Brand Kuhlmann: Vice president of the Chilean nuclear energy commission (1956).
• Sergio Contreras Navia: A Bishop who helped build the new Temuco Cathedral (1957).
• Miguel Kiwi: Won the National Sciences Prize in 2007 (1963).
• Eugenio Villaseca: The first child of a UTFSM graduate to also graduate from the university (1963).
• Patricia Guzman: The first woman to graduate from this university (1964).
• Graciela Muñoz: The first woman to graduate as an engineer from this university (1965).
• Raul Zurita: A civil engineer and famous poet who won the National Literature Prize in 2000 (1967).
• Ivan Schmidt Andrade: A physicist who helped create anti-hydrogen atoms in a lab. He is a member of the Chilean academy of sciences (1968).
• Armin Kunstmann: The founder and CEO of "Kunstmann", a well-known Chilean beer brand (1977).
• Mario Pérez: An astrophysicist who works at NASA Headquarters (1976).
• José Rodríguez Pérez: Won the National Applied Sciences and Technology Prize in 2014. He was also a UTFSM rector (1977).
• Ricardo Meruane: A comedian (1981).
• Charles Menevau: A member of the Chilean academy of sciences (2006). He is a professor at Johns Hopkins University (1985).

Notable Faculty (Teachers)

• Robert Frucht: A German-Chilean mathematician known for his theorem (1948-1968).
• Robert Breusch: A mathematician known for his new proof of the prime number theorem (until 1939).
• Herbert Appel: Won the National Sciences Prize in 1971. He worked in the chemical engineering department and graduate school (1937-1981).
• Agustín Edwards Mac-Clure: He was in charge of Federico Santa María's will. He also held many important government positions.
• Francisco Cereceda Cisternas: A state minister and former UTFSM rector (1936-1958).
• Juan Garbarino: Won the Natural Sciences National Prize in 1998. He was a UTFSM professor from 1981.

Alumni in Politics

• Eduardo Esteffan: Governor of Copiapo Province (2012–2014).
• Jorge Brito Hasbún: President of the UTFSM Student Federation and a Chilean Deputy since 2018.
• Gaston frene Saavedra Chandia: A Chilean Deputy since 2018.
• Liliana Kusanovic: Governor of Magallanes and Antarctica Province (2010–2011).
• Marino Penna: A Chilean Deputy (1969–1973).
• Miodrag Marinović Solo de Zaldívar: A Chilean Deputy (2010–2014).

See also

In Spanish: Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María para niños