The UNR and the National University of the South signed an agreement cooperation to promote improvement in this area.

The rector of the Universidad Nacional de RosarioFranco Bartolacci and Daniel Vega, from the National University of the South, signed a mutual collaboration agreement aimed at strengthening their Quality Management Systems. The agreement seeks to develop joint actions of cooperation, technical assistance, and exchange of experiences geared towards optimizing process management and continuous improvement, under the requirements of ISO 9001, including the digitization and modernization of tools to ensure institutional quality standards.

The signing of this agreement consolidates the working relationship between both institutions and establishes a framework for cooperation in the development of initiatives aimed at excellence in university management.

“Cooperation between public universities is a strategic tool for strengthening our institutional capacities and addressing increasingly complex challenges. This agreement reflects the shared commitment of both institutions to quality and continuous improvement, and will allow us to develop concrete actions that contribute to strengthening and perfecting our academic and administrative processes. The opportunity to exchange experiences, knowledge, and best practices enriches the work of our university communities and fosters the development of increasingly efficient, participatory, and service-oriented management,” stated Carina Gerlero, Secretary of the Academic and Learning Area.

Areas of joint work

Through this strategic alliance, both universities will coordinate efforts to promote actions strictly related to institutional quality. The main areas of cooperation include:

• Technical assistance and internal audits: Exchange of knowledge and experiences for conducting cross-audits, reviewing processes, and identifying opportunities for improvement in administrative and academic circuits under international standards.
• Process management and documentation: Development, updating and standardization of procedures and documented information required to support and audit Quality Management Systems.
• Performance indicators and evaluation: Design and implementation of monitoring tools, control panels and analysis methodologies for the ongoing evaluation of results, risks and opportunities for system improvement.
• Digitalization applied to quality: Development of projects aimed at eliminating paperwork, simplifying and virtualizing procedures, in order to optimize the digital support of the processes achieved by the quality certification.

Training and exchange of experiences

The agreement also includes a significant training and professional development component in this area. Both institutions will promote the joint organization of seminars, workshops, conferences, and training courses in quality management for teaching, non-teaching, technical, and administrative staff.

The activities may be carried out in face-to-face, virtual and hybrid modalities, favoring the participation and exchange of knowledge between the audit and technical teams of both universities.

According to Cecilia Scándolo, Quality Management Director of the Universidad Nacional de Rosario: “This agreement is the result of a path that the Universidad Nacional de Rosario For over fifteen years, we have been developing and maintaining a Quality Management System. We have consolidated an institutional culture based on continuous improvement, process management, and the ongoing search for tools that strengthen our work. The National University of the South also has a track record in developing its Quality Management System, so this agreement presents a valuable opportunity to exchange experiences, share knowledge, and promote best practices. Being able to mutually enrich ourselves through this shared journey represents a significant contribution to continuing to build an increasingly efficient, participatory, and transparent university management system.”

A commitment to collaborative work

For the implementation of the different lines of action, technical teams will be formed, made up of representatives from the Quality Systems of both institutions, who will work in an articulated manner under criteria of confidentiality and safeguarding of institutional information.

The agreement will also promote the exchange of experiences and the development of joint actions that contribute to strengthening the certified academic and administrative processes of both universities.

By: Lucía Fernández Cívico / Photography: Camila Casero.