Universidad Diego Portales

Universidad Diego Portales (UDP) is a comprehensive and pluralistic institution founded in 1982, nationally recognised and accredited as a research university of excellence. Known for its academic quality, social commitment, and independent thinking, UDP is one of Chile’s leading private universities, combining a strong sense of public purpose with an enduring focus on inclusion, innovation, and impact. Its Strategic Plan emphasises curricular transformation, postgraduate development, research excellence, and internationalisation—pillars that guide the evolution of all academic units.

Within this institutional framework, the Faculty of Business and Economics (FAE) plays a central role in advancing UDP’s mission. Established in 1983, FAE contributes to Chile’s economic and social development by training professionals and leaders who combine analytical rigour, ethical judgment, and a deep understanding of organisational and societal dynamics. The Faculty’s educational approach integrates solid theoretical foundations with applied learning and close engagement with industry, government, and civil society.

FAE’s academic portfolio encompasses five undergraduate degrees and fifteen master’s programmes, together with a PhD in Management Science, which offers two lines of specialisation: People and Organisations and Finance. This structure provides a continuous learning pathway that supports professional formation and academic advancement, fostering data-driven decision-making, sustainability awareness, and leadership skills suited to complex and changing environments.

The Faculty’s academic body consists primarily of professors holding PhDs from world-class universities in the United States, Europe, and Chile. Their expertise spans management, economics, finance, marketing, taxation, digital transformation, and public policy. FAE combines academics active in Web of Science–indexed research with practitioners who bring extensive executive and consulting experience, ensuring both intellectual depth and practical relevance across programmes.

Strategically, the Faculty aligns its priorities with UDP’s institutional goals, promoting continuous improvement, assurance of learning, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Teaching is characterised by experiential methodologies, case studies, and consulting projects that immerse students in real organisational challenges. In postgraduate education, applied research and capstone projects strengthen the bridge between theory and practice, often developed in collaboration with companies through UDP Corp, the university’s business interface that promotes applied projects, executive education, and in-company training initiatives.

FAE’s research activity has expanded consistently, focusing on fields such as productivity and efficiency analysis, financial markets, public policy evaluation, and organisational behaviour. Through its centres and observatories—most notably the OCEC, FAE’s think tank in economics and public policy, and PLEIN, focused on productivity, labour, and innovation—the Faculty fosters collaboration, dissemination, and public impact. These initiatives contribute to evidence-based policymaking and support the design of innovative management solutions.

Finally, FAE cultivates globally oriented learning experiences that prepare students to navigate international markets and multicultural contexts, reinforcing their ability to lead responsibly in an interconnected world.

In summary, the Faculty of Business and Economics at Universidad Diego Portales embodies the institution’s commitment to pluralism, quality, and public contribution. By integrating academic excellence, innovation, and social relevance, FAE prepares professionals and researchers capable of transforming organisations and contributing meaningfully to Chile and the wider region.