• In the last 7 years, UNSA has moved up approximately 5,000 positions in the world university rankings.

Universidad Nacional de San Agustín (UNSA) in Arequipa has solidified its position as one of the top 10 universities in Peru and the leading institution in the Southern Macroregion for scientific production. This achievement is attributed to the significant contributions from the mining sector, according to Henry Polanco, the Vice-rector of Research.

The UNSA representative pointed out that resources from fiscal redistribution, additional fiscal redistribution (sobrecanon), and mining royalties have enabled the university to conduct more research studies, and have facilitated technological transfers, as well as staff training and mobilization.

Polanco recalled that the university's research output was deemed practically poor in 2015. “The truth is that we were ranked around 9,000 in the world university rankings,” he explained.

Then, starting in 2016, this university in Arequipa began investing a significant amount of grant funds in research, managing to involve professors, students, and the university community. 

Higher Position in the World Ranking

“So, over the past seven years, Universidad Nacional San Agustin, ranked around 9,000 in the world rankings, has been able to climb up to the position 3,800, becoming one of the top ten universities in the country,” he underscored.

He emphasized that, thanks to the investment in research made with resources coming from mining, UNSA was granted a ten-year certification by the National Superintendence of University Education (SUNEDU), primarily based on this university’s contribution to research.

Likewise, this investment in research has also enabled the university to increase its number of professors registered at Renacyl (Registry of Researchers) from 45 to 200, and to have over 2,000 articles published in indexed journals. Finally, in these past seven years, UNSA has conducted 1,730 research projects.

Polanco explained that, with contributions from the mining sector, UNSA has established strategic alliances with leading international universities, such as the Colorado School of Mines. These collaborations have resulted in joint technology transfer research engaging 180 professors in different areas. In addition, strategic alliances were formed with Purdue University and the University of Oklahoma.

He highlighted that mining contributions in the form of fiscal redistribution, additional fiscal redistribution (sobrecanon), and mining royalties have also enabled them to invest in improving educational infrastructure and services.

New Agreements

The vice-rector of research of the UNSA said that the university had signed an agreement with Southern Peru Copper Corporation to build an Applied Research Center and Specialized Laboratories (CIALE) through the Works for Taxes mechanism, with an investment of around 64 million soles. 

Finally, he announced that three weeks ago they had signed another agreement with Southern Peru to build a second CIALE in the Biomedicine department, with an investment of approximately 45 million soles.