In recognition of her distinguished academic career and global impact, Dr. Mónica Ahumada—professor in the Department of Linguistics and Literature at USACH's Faculty of Humanities—was honored in China for advancing Sinology and Chinese studies and for strengthening China-Latin America cooperation networks.
The accolade came during an October 2025 academic tour, featuring her key role in two elite events: the World Congress of Sinologists, hosted by the World Sinology Center and Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU), and the 23rd World Meeting of Professionals in Shanghai, uniting over 1,500 academics, researchers, university leaders, and global figures.
“The invitation stemmed from my decades of work on China, civilizations' dialogue, Sinology, intercultural relations, and China-Latin America ties at the World Sinology Center,” explained the USACH Sinology expert.
The World Sinology and Chinese Studies Discipline Construction Achievement Award was recently granted to Dr. Mónica Ahumada, affirming her career-long dedication to the field. This distinction recognizes her international contributions to the development and innovation of Chinese studies. The official certification, dated October 2025, specifically commends her work in building vital cross-continental academic bridges between China and Latin America.
The official awards ceremony was held in Qingdao, where former Chilean Ambassador Fernando Reyes Mata was also honored for his distinguished diplomatic career in the Asia-Pacific region. Reflecting on the distinction, Dr. Mónica Ahumada noted that the award is the culmination of years of rigorous research, scholarly publications, and sustained efforts in international academic cooperation, marking a significant milestone in her professional trajectory.
“This recognition stems from my personal journey with China, the texts and articles I’ve written over the past decade, and my sustained international academic cooperation,” said Dr. Mónica Ahumada, USACH Sinology expert.
At the international forums, she presented as a researcher, delivering a paper on Chinese migration in Chile from a historical lens—outlining four key periods, from 19th-century saltpeter industry workers to impacts of the 2005 China-Chile Free Trade Agreement.
The tour also featured visits to Qingdao technology hubs and energy centers in one of China's first special economic zones (post-1978 reforms), offering insights into clean energy, electromobility, and urban planning advancements.
“Seeing clean energy and electric public transportation firsthand shows that Chile’s pilot projects in China are the outcome of long-term structural policy,” noted Dr. Mónica Ahumada.
In Asia, she joined the 14th China-Latin America High-Level Forum at Sun Yat-sen University, partnering with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). There, she spotlighted USACH's pioneering China-Latin America Forum—hosted amid the 2020 pandemic—a milestone still prized by Chinese partners.
Upon her return, the scholar emphasized USACH’s role in strategic dialogues and the urgency of linking research, civil society, and public policy in China-Chile relations.
“Academic output is often confined to the university setting, to how many articles were published or in which journals they are indexed, but it doesn’t necessarily address the issues currently under public debate,” she noted.
Along those lines, she argued that the impact of academic work should not be measured solely by indicators of scientific productivity.
“If I judge a professional by how many articles they’ve published, that person is probably not the one who’s had the greatest impact at the national level. Leaders aren’t measured by how many papers they have; leaders are measured by the impact they have on civil society and how they address everyday problems,” she reflected.
Finalmente, la Dra. Ahumada subrayó la importancia de que Chile consolide una política de Estado de largo plazo en su relación con Asia, particularmente con China, más allá de los ciclos electorales.
“What we lack is a common ground that unites us. We cannot continue with four-year government policies; we need a national policy for Chile that transcends the current administration,” she stated.
With this international recognition and an active academic agenda in Asia, the scholar reaffirms the Usach School of Humanities at Universidad de Santiago de Chile (Usach) as a key player in the discourse on Chile’s integration into the Asia-Pacific region and bridging academic output with the country’s strategic priorities.