What for years seemed impossible for many young people in Guaviare is now beginning to become a reality. The arrival of the Universidad Industrial de Santander (UIS), in partnership with the Ministry of National Education, to the municipality of Calamar marks a historic milestone for the region and opens new opportunities for students who dreamed of accessing higher education without leaving their territory.
During an agenda held at Carlos Mauro Hoyos Educational Institution, the official implementation of academic programs with regional relevance was announced, including the Professional Technical Program in Agricultural Production, an initiative that will allow 10th- and 11th-grade students to begin their university education while still in high school.
The initiative, promoted together with the Ministry of National Education, will operate through coordination with secondary education, enabling students to earn dual qualifications: their high school diploma and a professional technical degree accredited by UIS. In addition, those who wish to continue their academic journey will be able to pursue technological and professional studies with the university.
The visit was led by Jorge Villamizar, coordinator of UIS in Territories, who traveled to the department of Guaviare to present the educational project aimed at strengthening access to higher education in remote areas of the country. Representatives from the Ministry of Education, school administrators, and leaders from the productive sector also participated in the meeting.
The impact of the announcement is already being felt in the community. Jorge Enrique Martínez Avendaño, representative of the productive sectors, stated that the arrival of UIS has generated excitement throughout the municipality.
“Today you can become university students, young people. It is municipal news that UIS has arrived in the municipality of Calamar,” he said during the meeting.
He also highlighted that this model is already advancing in San José del Guaviare, where a current cohort is in its second semester, consolidating the expansion of higher education in the department.
The strategy seeks not only to expand university coverage, but also to respond to the productive needs of the territory through programs focused on the agricultural sector, one of the economic pillars of Guaviare.
With this alliance between the Universidad Industrial de Santander and the Ministry of National Education, Calamar is beginning to write a new chapter in education. For many young people, this announcement represents much more than the arrival of an academic program: it means the real possibility of building a professional future without having to leave their homeland.
