major FACILITY

Hemispheric University

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile 

Facility Name

Center for Local Development – Villarrica

Facility Description

The Center for Local Development (in Spanish, CEDEL) is in the central-south region of Chile, an area with vast natural richness, with a strong presence of Mapuche communities, and with the highest levels of poverty in the country. CEDEL is affiliated to UCʼs Villarrica Campus, and is made up of five Faculties at the University. Since its inception in 2010 it has sought to encourage research, development projects and training practices that contribute to a sustainable development of the area. It works from an integral, intercultural and interdisciplinary perspective to plan and manage local territory. Thanks to the success that its initiatives have had over time, the center has become a key platform in bringing the University closer to complex socioecological issues in the central-south region of Chile.

CEDEL facilities are located on the shore of Lake Villarrica and with CES certification (the only existing national sustainable architecture certification). The new facility is planning to develop a master plan for the lakeshore of the city of Villarrica, a project for lake natural habitat recovery and the creation of community urban gardens for the local cafeteria.

This building will also be the headquarters for undergraduate and graduate programs in sustainability that are currently in their curricular planning process. The aim is that one building will house research processes, education and extension activities that foster CEDELʼs values: interdisciplinary research, sustainability and interculturality.

Facility Past Projects

Some research areas: (1) Sustainability of Socio-Ecological Systems, (2) Sustainable Tourism and Local Economy, (3) Territorial Planning and Governance, (4) Education for Sustainability.

Facility Contact

Gonzalo Salazar, Director

gesalaza@uc.cl