The need to create the UNR Social Economic Observatory arises from the experience of the participation of the Universidad Nacional de Rosario, together with representatives of four other National Universities, in the Academic Council for Evaluation and Monitoring of INDEC Activity (CAES), created by Decree 927/2009 of the National EP, with the priority mission of evaluating the development and application of methodologies used to prepare the Consumer Price Index.
The universities that were designated for the task were: Universidad Nacional de Rosario (A R), the National University of Mar del Plata (UNMdP), the National University of February 3 (UNTREF), the National University of Tucumán (UNT) and the National University of Buenos Aires (UBA). Our then Director, Mg. Ernesto Seselovsky was the representative of the UNR, with the collaboration of Dr. Elda Gallese and Mr. Norberto Martín; throughout the management period that led to the creation and presentation of the final report.
Since its institutionalization at the end of 2011, the Observatory focused its activity on promoting institutional links, working under the orbit of the Secretariat of Intersectoral Relations, with the aim of developing and consolidating relations with civil society organizations.
Under this line of work, on October 23, 2012, the Directorate of Interinstitutional Affairs and the Observatory held a Conference on the role of the University in the Development of Cooperatives and the Solidarity Economy. As a corollary of this, the “Declaration of Rosario” was approved and the signing of the “Act-Agreement of Cooperation and Reciprocal Assistance between the Ministry of Production of the Province of Santa Fe and the Universidad Nacional de Rosario".
Starting in 2015, we sought to give a new approach to our work modality. With the incorporation of Germán Tessmer in the role of Deputy Director, the Observatory 2.0 project was launched.
With its implementation, the agency adds to its activities the generation of analysis reports aimed at society as a whole, thereby seeking to contribute to the improvement of citizens' opinions on economic and social issues, with a view that serves as a bridge between journalistic information and the production of academic knowledge.
In this period it was incorporated as staff from the Mg Observatory. Carolina Paz, and later, Lic. Luciano Jara Musuruana and Patricio Almeida Gentile.
In mid-2018, the decision was made to improve the quality of information processing in the databases, through the use of the open source program R. At the end of 2019, and following the change in the general organization modality of the UNR , which dissolves the Secretariat scheme, to replace them with Management Areas; The Observatory becomes dependent on the Vice-Rector's Office.
Likewise, and on the same date, Mg. Diego Marfetán Molina and Lic. Lucía Papa. Both are statisticians by profession, and convened with the intention of enhancing the process of improving the management of the databases with which our agency works.
Also joining the team is Lic. Alfredo Bula, an economist with specialization in agricultural issues, with the intention of expanding the coverage of local problems in the area of influence of the UNR. Finally, at the end of 2019, Mg. Germán Tessmer assumes the position of Director and Lic. Luciano Jara Musuruana assumes the position of Deputy Director.