In a new session of the Superior Council, Rector Franco Bartolacci confirmed the six programs that will be added to the undergraduate program offering.
At the session of the Higher Council of the Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR) this Monday, an assessment was made of the actions carried out by the University to highlight the importance of funding public education, and the curriculum for the new Occupational Therapy program to be offered at the School of Medicine was unanimously approved. This is one of six new programs being added to the 2026 program offering. It is joined by the University Technician's Degree in Therapeutic Accompaniment at the School of Psychology; and the four programs to be offered at the new School of Human Movement and Care Sciences: Teaching in Physical Education, Bachelor's Degree in Sports, Bachelor's Degree in Comprehensive Care Systems, and Technician's Degree in Elderly Accompaniment.
First, Rector Franco Bartolacci shared with the Board of Senior Advisors his reflection on the rejection of the veto of the University Financing Law achieved in the last session of the National Chamber of Deputies. "The great work carried out by the entire university community nationwide resulted in a very comfortable majority in the Chamber of Deputies to support the law. It now goes to the Senate, initially scheduled for October 2nd, where the political conditions are in place for its passage without major setbacks. This week, we will likely meet with some senators in Buenos Aires and are working on a post-Senate strategy to request the law's implementation."
He also recalled that "there was a lot of concern after the presidential veto" and the budget presented by the executive branch for 2026. "When reference was made to other aspects, percentage increases were mentioned, and when national universities were mentioned, a specific amount of 4.8 million was mentioned. It's no coincidence that it was referred to that way because there was virtually no increase or update," and explained: "It didn't even consider the inflation announced by the authorities themselves in the executive budget proposal that was being presented to Congress. What's positive about the law's approval? It implies an increase by the end of the year, and that lays a substantially different foundation for the discussion of the 2026 budget."
Bartolacci emphasized that he is very proud of the place UNR is occupying on the national stage, and how this has translated into many different actions that reflect the work done at the University. “Last week we had the Career Expo with the participation of more than 34 young people who came to learn about UNR's programs. There was a lot of innovation; all the schools and faculties brought very interesting things that made it a unique experience. Additionally, for the first time, the new School of Human Movement and Care Sciences was present. It will begin operating in 2026 and has attracted a number of new interested parties, as it includes training paths that were not previously available at UNR.”
Regarding this new academic unit, Bartolacci announced that the curriculum for the four programs that will be offered there will be considered at the next session of the Superior Council. “The Academic Department and the University Infrastructure Department are working on the launch of this new space. There is a great team committed to ensuring this new faculty can begin operating under the best conditions, and in the coming days we will be announcing its first officers. It is always wonderful news that we can continue to grow in this regard.”
More courses for UNR
On the other hand, during the session, the curriculum and related programs for the new Occupational Therapy program, which will begin next year at the Faculty of Medical Sciences, were approved. "It is a joy that the Board of Governors has approved this new program and that the University as a whole is supporting its implementation by 2026," explained the Dean of Medical Sciences, Jorge Molinas.
Laura Armoa, director of the Raquel Boero Group, who worked on this initiative from the beginning, commented on its origins and why it's so important that it joined the UNR. "Raquel Boero was a special education teacher who studied Occupational Therapy at the UNR School of Medical Sciences. The history of Occupational Therapy in Rosario began in the School of Medical Sciences, from 1970 to 1977, where it was closed by the last military dictatorship. Raquel Boero was a clinical practice teacher and has been closed since 1976. That's why we took her name when we began to group together in 2019 and have been working on this project for a little over five years. I want to thank the UNR because for us it truly is an act of historical reparation, of social justice, giving those interested in this career the opportunity to access public universities in this very difficult context."
In this way, from 2026 the Universidad Nacional de Rosario It will offer six new programs: Physical Education Teaching, a Bachelor's Degree in Sports, a Bachelor's Degree in Comprehensive Care Systems, and a Technician's Degree in Elderly Support, in the Faculty of Human Movement and Care Sciences, a University Technician's Degree in Therapeutic Support in the Faculty of Psychology at the UNR, and Occupational Therapy in the Faculty of Medical Sciences.
Present in the constitutional reform of Santa Fe
Rector Bartolacci took the opportunity to congratulate and highlight the work done by members of the UNR in the reform of the Constitution of the Province of Santa Fe, especially Esteban Serra in the area of science and technology. "It is very important that members of our University serve as role models and can work on key processes such as the reform of the Constitution, because it means that the UNR is fulfilling its objective."
Serra, a biochemist with a PhD from the Faculty of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, as well as a researcher and professor at that academic unit, explained that it was a long process involving many public institutions in the province. “There were many meetings, but we always moved forward with the idea of including science in the reform. I think a great deal of work has been done, and I am pleased that these efforts were collaborative. Santa Fe has a lot of work done in this area and a very high-quality research team.”
Journalist: Gonzalo J. García