UNAB Launches the “UNAB International College,” Enabling Dual Degrees in Chile and Abroad

At a ceremony led by UNAB President Julio Castro and Provost Ana María Pavez, UNAB officially launched the “UNAB International College,” an innovative undergraduate model with a global approach that enables students to obtain a dual degree: one granted in Chile by UNAB and another from a partner institution abroad.

Classes will begin in 2026 with two programs: International Business and Computer Science Engineering, both developed in collaboration with Arizona State University (ASU) in the United States.

“I believe this is a tangible, living example of the global education that UNAB offers. It also strengthens one of the 370 international agreements our university has in place,” emphasized Ana María Pavez, UNAB Provost.

“In this initial stage, we have identified a group of five degree programs included in the agreement with Arizona State University. We are also evaluating ways to expand this initiative in the future through new partnerships with other prestigious universities,” she added.

Issa Kort, UNAB Dean of International Affairs, welcomed attendees by outlining the broader vision of the initiative: “We have an ambitious yet realistic goal for every one of our students to have an international experience. This vision reflects our commitment to quality and to the impact we generate within our educational community, shaping future professionals through competencies and employability.”

A Four-Year International Model

Under this model, students will begin their studies with three years of in-person classes at the Casona de Las Condes campus. Those who maintain a cumulative GPA of five or higher and certify English proficiency at the B2 level will be eligible to complete their fourth year at ASU. They may choose between the International Business and Computer Science Engineering programs. This final year may be completed either in person at ASU or online. Students who select the in-person option will also be eligible to apply for a work visa in the United States, valid for one to three years.

“At the end of the four years, students will graduate with three credentials: a Chilean bachelor’s degree, a Chilean professional title awarded by UNAB, and an American bachelor’s degree. This significantly expands their opportunities in the global labor market,” explained Nicolás Bronfman, UNAB Dean of Academic Affairs.

To enter the program, students must take the national university entrance exam (PAES) and demonstrate at least B1-level English proficiency. Those who do not reach the B2 level during their first year will receive institutional support to achieve it within two years, allowing them to complete the fourth year in the United States.

Eligible students applying through direct admission can already begin the enrollment process. One of them is Benjamín Levy, a recent high school graduate who noted, “What interested me most was the opportunity to study three years here and one in the United States. It means I’ll get to experience a different culture abroad.”

Sofía Paredes, a student about to finish high school, also expressed enthusiasm for the program: “Everything is in English, which is key, because if you want to work abroad, that’s always a requirement. And in many programs, that’s not emphasized as much.”

A Strong Partnership and Future-Focused Dialogue

Joining remotely from the United States, Roy Nelson, Senior Associate Dean at ASU’s Thunderbird School of Global Management, also spoke at the launch ceremony. He highlighted the similarities between the two institutions, starting with their size: “ASU is the largest university in the United States, while UNAB is the largest in Chile. It’s a great match to begin with,” he said. He also noted that Thunderbird has led the QS ranking in international business for the past four years, positioning future graduates at a globally competitive level.

Education in the Era of Generative Artificial Intelligence

The launch ceremony concluded with a keynote lecture titled Education in the Era of Generative Artificial Intelligence: Learning from the Past to Design the Future, delivered by Dr. Punya Mishra, Director of Innovative Learning at ASU’s Learning Engineering Institute.

Dr. Mishra discussed large language models, the foundation of artificial intelligence systems like ChatGPT, which detect patterns without truly understanding meaning. He warned that these technologies operate probabilistically, meaning their responses can vary and sometimes include unavoidable errors or “hallucinations.”

He also stressed that such systems cannot distinguish truth from falsehood; they generate language that sounds coherent. Since they are trained on data from across the Internet, including its “dark corners,” it is essential for users to filter and evaluate their responses to avoid harmful content. Despite these limitations, Dr. Mishra acknowledged the surprising potential of these tools, while underscoring the need for discernment. “It is important to reflect on the ethical and moral implications of using this technology, so that it can help us improve the world,” he concluded.