On the 50th anniversary of the conciliar declaration Gravissimum educationis (1965), the Plenary Assembly of the Congregation for Catholic Education set up the Foundation that takes its name from the document in order to pursue "the scientific and cultural aims of Catholic education in the world." On 28 October 2015 the foundation was established by Pope Francis at the Vatican City as a public canonical juridical person and a civil legal person.
According to its Statute, the foundation must have a Scientific Committee, "consisting of experts from Catholic education or people who have a significant role in Catholic schools or universities."
The task of the Scientific Committee is to propose "the activities necessary to achieve the aims of the Foundation." On 8 November 2016, at the Offices of the Congregation for Catholic Education, the Committee was formed for the first time. It is composed of 14 people from different educational experiences and different regions of the world: the Philippines, Italy, Spain, United States, Canada, Senegal, Argentina and Chile.
Professor Baeza Correa, Rector of the Salesian Catholic University in Chile is a Sociologist, Doctor of Educational Sciences and holds a post-doctorate in Sociology of Youth. He is a member of the Coordinating Team of Salesian Institutions of Higher Education (IUS) in America.
Taking advantage of his stay in Rome for the meeting of the Scientific Committee of the Foundation, Professor Baeza Correa met the new General Coordinator of the IUS, Fr Marcelo Farfán SDB. Fr Farfán has replaced Bro. Mario Olmos, SDB. They met to discuss the theme of the next General Conference of the IUS in America, which will take place in September 2017 at the Salesian Catholic University in Chile.
The appointment of Professor Baeza Correa represents a recognition of the work done by the Salesians in the university world, and is an encouragement to continue the engagement with young people. It should be remembered that at the UCSH, thanks to the support of the Chilean Government, almost 65% of the freshmen of 2016 were able to register free of charge because they come from the country's poorest areas.
