Returning to their alma mater and walking once again through the spaces that shaped their university years became an emotional and memorable experience for a group of alumni from the Industrial University of Santander (UIS). The visit was organized by the University’s Alumni Program and offered graduates the opportunity to discover the institution’s most significant transformations in recent years.
The tour was led by Mario Andrés Betancurt, alumni representative on the University’s Superior Council, and Fabio Andrés Salah García, president of ASEDUIS. Throughout the visit, they highlighted the importance of maintaining strong ties between the University and its alumni community while showcasing the continuous growth of the institution.
Participants visited some of the University’s most iconic locations, including the Language Institute, the Central Library, the Physical-Mechanical Engineering buildings, the Camilo Torres Building, Humanities II, the Rector’s Office, Student Welfare facilities, and the historic La Perla House. The event concluded at La Perla with refreshments, a commemorative institutional gift, and an opportunity for alumni to reconnect and share experiences.
Reconnecting with the Past While Embracing the Future
Beyond exploring the renovated facilities, the event allowed alumni to compare the campus they once knew with today’s UIS a university transformed through major investments in infrastructure, student well-being, and modern learning environments.
“I was pleasantly surprised. You think that if students don’t study with all these incredible facilities available today, they never will,” said Gloria Esperanza González Duarte, a Social Work graduate from the Class of 1990. “I’ve been sending photos to classmates who couldn’t attend, and we all agreed that we really had to work hard with the limited resources we had. These facilities are beautiful and modern. Honestly, this feels like a top-tier public university.”
Iván Reina Cortés, who graduated in Industrial Engineering in 1978, also emphasized the remarkable evolution of the campus over the decades.
“I’ve seen about a 60 percent change compared to the university I attended. There are many new buildings, others have been renovated, and the academic faculties have continued to evolve. It’s a wonderful transformation for today’s students, who will benefit from this infrastructure made possible by the University’s sustained commitment and leadership,” he said.
Through initiatives like this, the UIS Alumni Program continues to strengthen relationships with its graduates by creating opportunities to reconnect, celebrate their legacy, exchange experiences, and preserve a lifelong bond with the institution that played a significant role in their personal and professional development.
