National University of Quilmes (UNQ). Public university of Argentina with headquarters in the town of Bernal, in the Buenos Aires district of Quilmes. Its mission is the production, teaching and dissemination of knowledge at the highest level in a climate of equality and plurality.

History

The UNQ was created on October 23, 1989 by Law No. 23,749 of the National Congress and was normalized on December 12, 1992. The University building was built on land donated by the textile company Fabril Financiera and opened its doors with only 10 classrooms for its first thousand students. Since then, building growth has been accelerated.

In 1999 it inaugurated its first virtual classroom, with which the UNQ originated the incursion of the public University on the Internet. Through the Quilmes Virtual University Program, UNQ became a pioneering University in non-face-to-face education in Latin America. Since then, students from all over the world can access training on their own time, without the need to coincide synchronously with teachers, or travel to attend classes, but simply by accessing the Web.

Institution data

Located in the southern zone of Greater Buenos Aires, its area of ​​influence extends to the neighboring districts of Berazategui, Florencio Varela, Avellaneda and Almirante Brown.

Mission

The National University of Quilmes has as its mission the production, teaching and dissemination of knowledge of the highest level in a climate of equality and plurality.

Functions

The basic functions of the University are teaching, research, extension, training of human resources, technological development, productive innovation and the promotion of culture.

Organization

The National University of Quilmes is organized on the basis of the departmental structure. The Department of Social Sciences, the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Economics and Administration nurture teachers and researchers for the different Diplomas and Careers that are taught at this University.

Applied research

• Numerical simulation applied to satellites

A UNQ project investigates by numerical simulation the way to improve the performance of solar cells that feed electronic equipment of satellites. Using specially designed simulation codes, researchers can pre-assess the effects of radiation on the operation of these devices, predict their lifetime, and improve the design to make them more resistant to damage.

• Carrier Molecules for Autism

In the Biomembranes laboratory, UNQ specialists develop strategies to increase the delivery of drugs to the brain, through nanotechnology, applied to generalized developmental disorders. In vivo studies with mice showed that animals given complexes, instead of the commercial drug used to treat autism, show less anxiety, have fewer territorial fights and less dominant behaviors.

• Module that replaces the activity of the liver

Based on the application of bioprocesses, UNQ researchers are working on the design of a mini-reactor that would help the liver in transplant cases and would serve as an extracorporeal artificial organ. The module allows blood to enter and leave, and enables the entry and exit of air through certain fibers through two independent circuits, designed to prevent cell death due to lack of oxygen. The cartridge does not replace the organ, but would do the work of the liver in patients waiting for a transplant.