ID: 1813
Presenting Author: Kay Bergamini
Session: 648 - Breaking the Academic Silence in LATAM : Communicating Environmental Assessment
Status: pending
Mapping and survey on how EIA is taught in Chile reveals a lack of communication training and practice-oriented skills, offering input to strengthen academic programs and their alignment.
EIA is a key instrument in environmental governance worldwide. However, recent literature suggests that there are significant gaps between academic training in EIA and the practical competencies needed in real-world contexts, especially those related to strategic communication, social participation, and decision-making.
This study explores how EIA is taught in Chilean higher education, focusing on both curriculum content and the ability to communicate assessments. The research follows a two-pronged approach: (1) a national survey of undergraduate and graduate programs across universities and technical institutes, aimed at mapping EIA-related courses, content depth, pedagogical methods, and links to professional practice; and (2) a questionnaire administered to both educators and professionals trained in EIA, which captures their perspectives on what was or is being taught, how it is taught, and whether that training prepared them to engage with the communicative and strategic demands of EIA practice.
Preliminary findings reveal a wide heterogeneity in content and teaching methods, a limited focus on communication as a core skill, and perceived gaps between what is taught and what is needed to operate in participatory, multidisciplinary, and politically sensitive environments. In contrast to other countries that are gradually integrating communication competencies into EIA education, Chile still lacks a systematic approach.
This paper proposes guidelines to enhance EIA training in Chile by aligning academic programs with emerging global standards.
Associate Professor at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Researcher on environmental compliance, impact assessment and territorial planning, with a focus on professional training.
Coauthor 1: Cristian Pérez
Coauthor 2: Gino Araya
Coauthor 3: Fernando Narvaez