Renewing a partnership that invests in Chile’s future public leaders
Developing Chile's public leaders through the Luksic Scholarship
The Luksic Foundation has renewed its scholarship programme with LSE’s School of Public Policy for a further three years, extending a partnership that has supported 38 Chilean students since 2020. The programme funds master’s study on the Master in Public Policy (MPP) and Master in Public Administration (MPA), opening doors for talented early and midcareer professionals who want to strengthen their ability to design and deliver effective public policy.
The renewal was marked by a visit to LSE from Isabella Luksic, Vice President of the Luksic Foundation, who joined Professor Andrés Velasco and our six current scholars for a dynamic engaging discussion about their work, their aspirations and the transformative impact study at LSE is having on their lives and careers. For the Foundation, these opportunities to bring the scholars and Foundation together are a core feature of the programme.
The collaboration between LSE and the Luksic Foundation is one that speaks to the School’s mission and Andrés said how delighted he is to continue our partnership with the Luksic Foundation.
Now in its sixth year, the Luksic Scholarship programme will continue to provide opportunities for future public policy leaders to develop the knowledge and skills to drive development in Chile. We look forward to deepening our collaboration with the Foundation and to welcoming more scholars to the LSE School of Public Policy in the years ahead.
Connecting Chile with the world and the world with Chile
The Luksic Foundation’s commitment is driven by a long-term vision – widen access to world class education to all Chileans, including first generation university graduates, and strengthen Chile’s public institutions by investing in people who will go on to serve the country in different ways.
Through these scholarships, we aim to support young leaders who can bring a global perspective to Chile's Civil Service. Exposure to international experiences, diverse classrooms, and different institutional models allows them to better understand how systems work around the world. In turn, when they return to Chile, they are better equipped to contribute meaningfully and help strengthen the country's institutions.
A turning point in the careers of the Luksic scholars
For Luksic scholars, the scholarship is a turning point, with their studies at LSE providing them access to a truly global outlook which is exposing them to new perspectives and transforming their approaches to public policy challenges.
Alonso Quezada (MPA 2027) works in public affairs with a focus on data analytics and chose LSE for the MPA’s focus on quantitative methods. “The Luksic Scholarship was a pivotal turning point in my career. It changed my perspective of my future and opened new opportunities for me to live in London and study at LSE.”
He has two key takeaways so far from his time at LSE - the diversity of student body and the breadth of knowledge available to the students. LSE “opens the door for you” provided you are ready to make the most of it and his advice to prospective applicants in Chile is simple. “Trust in the process because it will pay off.”
Jessica Paulina Casanova Arias (MPP 2026) grew up in Patagonia and brings seven years of experience from Chile’s Ministry of Environment designing and implementing environmental policy. The diversity of the classroom has shaped her learning. She described discussing carbon pricing with classmates from Ivory Coast, India and the United States as an example of how comparative perspectives sharpen understanding of why policies succeed or struggle in different contexts and how they can be improved.
Jessica plans to return to Chile after graduating to continue working on environmental policy. “In Chile we have very good environmental policy on paper, but we have a real gap in the implementation process. I want to work so that all Chileans can see the real impact of good public policy, not only read about it in a government report.”
The lasting impact of giving on students and communities
Welcoming talented students, regardless of background, is central to LSE’s mission. Rising demand for scholarships, economic uncertainty, and global instability are putting access to an LSE education for many at risk – at a moment when diverse perspectives are most needed. Our partnership with the Luksic Foundation reflects our shared goals. Scholarships like these are fuelling the change we need – they are not just changing a student’s life – they are shaping the future of their families, their communities and the world.
The six current Luksic Scholars at LSE are:
- Joaquin Antonio Vergara Sommerhoff (MPA 2026)
- Laura González Ugalde (MPA 2026)
- Alonso Quezada (MPA 2027)
- Maldonado Mandujano (MPA 2027)
- Camila Fernanda Cofre Castillo (MPP 2026)
- Jessica Paulina Casanova Arias (MPP 2026)
Celebrating the Luksic Scholarship Programme
