CLACSO at the University Publishing Seminar
On Thursday, June 4th and Friday, June 5th, the Eloísa Díaz room of the Central House of the University of Chile will host the international seminar “Challenges of University Publishing in Public Institutions"organized in conjunction with the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)."
The meeting brings together representatives of university presses, public institutions and specialists from the book world from different Latin American countries, with the aim of reflecting on the role, challenges and projections of university publishing promoted by public institutions.
Representing CLACSO is its Director of Editorial Production Fernanda Pampín, on Thursday, June 4, from 9:30-11:00 Chile time (UTC-4), at Table 1: “Role and mission of university publishing from public institutions", next to Socorro Venegas, General Director of Publications and Editorial Promotion of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico; louis quevedo, General Manager EUDEBA, Argentina; Pilar Barba, Vice-Rector of Extension and Communications of the University of Chile (UCH), Chile; and Nicole Fuentes, Director of Extension and Editorial Director of the Metropolitan Technological University (UTEM), Chile. Moderator: Sandra Lorenzano, Center for Mexican Studies UNAM-Latin America
The activity seeks to generate a space for reflection and exchange around the particularities of university publishing developed by public institutions, considering its vocation for national development, its contribution to the circulation of knowledge and the challenges they currently face in matters such as professionalization, internationalization, distribution and strengthening of editorial catalogs.
Along these lines, the role of regional and national articulation networks will be addressed, such as the Association of University Publishers of Latin America and the Caribbean (EULAC), which have made it possible to promote processes of collaboration, professionalization and internationalization.
Likewise, the organizers of the meeting emphasize that this first version will raise the need to open a specific space to address the challenges and missions faced particularly by publishers linked to public institutions.
For Pilar Barba, Vice-Rector of Outreach and Communications at the University of Chile, the institution stands out for its long history of publishing and its public responsibility in promoting books and reading. "Based on this experience, and valuing the diversity of university publishing projects that exist in Chile and Latin America, we want to put our capabilities at the service of a shared reflection on the specific challenges faced by publishers in public institutions."
The seminar will feature the participation of representatives from prominent institutions in Chile, Mexico, Argentina and Colombia, including UNAM, CLACSO, EUDEBA, the Metropolitan Autonomous University of Mexico, the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage of Chile, the Fondo de Cultura Económica and various national state universities.
The opening day, scheduled for Thursday, June 4, includes discussion panels focused on the role and mission of public university publishing, as well as the challenges related to professionalization, international circulation, publishing distribution, and the role of specialized bodies such as the International Book Fair of University Women and Men (FILUNI).
Also, in the afternoon a panel will be held dedicated to promoting gender and human rights perspectives from university publishing, addressing the role of academic and cultural publications in promoting contemporary debates and inclusive policies.
Meanwhile, Socorro Venegas, Director General of Publications and Editorial Development at UNAM, explained how this seminar arose from the University of Chile's participation as guest of honor at the 7th International Book Fair for University Students (Filuni). "This event allows Filuni to transcend its own boundaries and become a continuous and ongoing collaborative experience with the University of Chile on Chilean soil."
He also emphasized that for UNAM, "maintaining and continuing the link between the two institutions and consolidating the presence of the University of Chile in each edition of Filuni is a priority."
The second day of the meeting will focus on sharing publishing experiences, with representatives from various institutions presenting their projects, working models, editorial lines, main challenges, and future plans. Following this, a panel discussion will be held on the relationship between university publishing, sectoral and scientific public policies, and initiatives to promote books and reading.
Among the participants are Sandra Lorenzano, director of the UNAM-Latin America Center for Mexican Studies; Luis Quevedo, director of EUDEBA; Fernanda Pampín, representative of CLACSO; and Karla Eliessetch, executive secretary of Books and Reading at the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage, among other authorities and specialists.
Vicente Neira, Coordinator of Publications and Promotion of Books and Reading at the Vice-Rectorate for Extension and Communications, emphasized that this seminar faces the challenge of moving from isolated diagnoses to a strategic dialogue among public institutions, university presses, and stakeholders in the book ecosystem. “We are interested in considering university publishing not as a sum of scattered efforts, but as a cultural policy from a specific position within the ecosystem, capable of articulating access, cooperation, historical memory, internationalization, and publishing development.”
