Axiological training of university students in Chile: responsible citizens committed to the common good

Values establish a transversal axis between education, society, and the cultural context in which individuals interact. They are conceived as principles by which actions are considered desired or not, and they serve the person in their behavioral and affective aspects, resulting in guidelines for valuing themselves, others, and nature. The current study examined the value preferences of trainee teachers at four universities in south-central Chile. A sample of 437 students was investigated across Math, Spanish, Elementary, and English (Foreign Language). The study's methodology is quantitative. The data collection instrument consists of a questionnaire, an adapted values test, and an inferential statistical analysis. A Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric inferential statistical analysis was performed on independent data. The R project with the library “Rcmdr” was used to obtain results. It was found that the career program in English Teaching has the lowest scores in intellectual, moral, political, and religious values compared with the other areas of study. Regarding the comparison across universities, there was insufficient statistical evidence to identify a significant difference. Axiology is fundamental to the development of a quality educational process. Education and values are inseparable; therefore, incorporating this topic into the curriculum ensures comprehensive development for future educators.