Social media has transformed the way we communicate, learn, and share information. Today, influencers have considerable reach and the ability to mobilize communities, shape trends, and even promote businesses.
However, an important question deserves deeper consideration: Does having thousands of followers automatically make someone a qualified reference in a university setting?
The issue is not whether influencers should be invited to higher education institutions. Content creators can certainly offer valuable insights into digital communication, marketing, entrepreneurship, and audience development.
The real discussion is about selection criteria. Universities have a responsibility that goes far beyond filling auditoriums, generating institutional photographs, or gaining visibility on social media. Their primary mission is to educate professionals with critical thinking skills, technical knowledge, ethics, and the ability to solve real-world problems.
We must not confuse popularity with professional experience, visibility with knowledge, or followers with expertise.
University presentations should have a clear educational purpose. Students need to learn from real-life experiences, but they should also have opportunities to hear from researchers, scientists, technicians, developers, entrepreneurs, and professionals who have spent years building knowledge in their respective fields.
What Kind of Professionals Are We Educating?
We are educating generations that will face an increasingly technological, competitive, and demanding world. Learning how to build an online presence, gain followers, or master the latest trends is not enough.
We need professionals capable of researching, questioning, creating, programming, innovating, developing technology, and understanding the challenges facing their communities.
Higher education should not simply chase every trend. It should teach students to understand, analyze, and, when appropriate, transform those trends into opportunities for development.
Ñuble Has Talent, Experience, and Knowledge That Deserve a Place in University Classrooms
Ñuble is home to technicians, scientists, workers, entrepreneurs, researchers, and professionals whose experiences deserve to be shared in university classrooms. Many build solutions far from the cameras and without large digital audiences, yet their contributions have a tangible impact.
They are people developing technology, conducting research, building businesses, creating jobs, solving problems in their communities, and contributing to the growth of our region.
How many valuable experiences from Ñuble remain outside university auditoriums? How many professionals could share their knowledge with students who are just beginning their careers?
Not every role model has thousands of followers. Some have years of hard work, concrete projects, specialized knowledge, and achievements that can teach far more than a passing trend.
Universities in Ñuble also have an opportunity to recognize local talent and open their doors to the knowledge and experience of their own communities.
A Necessary Reflection
Inviting an influencer is not the problem. The real challenge is maintaining a balance between communication, experience, and knowledge.
Universities should be places where ideas are questioned, experiences are shared, and knowledge is developed responsibly.
Ultimately, the question is not how many followers the person standing on stage has, but what students learn when the presentation is over.
Higher education should prepare professionals capable of transforming society, not merely individuals capable of performing in front of a camera.
Noticias21 | N21
Ñuble, its people and their stories.
