UIS continues reaching more regions with quality educational opportunities — now also for the youngest learners.
The Universidad Industrial de Santander (UIS) reaffirms its commitment to providing quality education across the country. This time, 17 children from Arauca, Guainía, Guaviare, and Vichada qualified for the final round of the UIS Mathematics Olympiad – Primary Level, a competition designed to discover and strengthen mathematical talent from an early age.
“The UIS in the Territories initiative has been crucial in bridging the gaps in access to university-led competitions for children and adolescents from various departments and municipalities who traditionally did not participate. The mere act of taking part in the competition is already a significant achievement—for the students and for the university—which promotes this project to identify mathematical talent in Colombia and help strengthen math education in primary and secondary schools,” said Jorge E. Gómez Ríos, coordinator of the UIS Mathematics Olympiad.
The achievement of these young students is particularly remarkable, as the qualifying test was the same for all participants across the country, further highlighting the merit and effort of those coming from remote regions who now proudly represent their communities.
From municipalities such as Arauquita, Arauca, Tame, Saravena, Inírida, Mitú, Puerto Carreño, and Cumaribo, these children have shown that talent knows no borders or geographical limits.
Gómez Ríos emphasized that one of the main goals of the UIS Mathematics Olympiad is “to strengthen math education in Colombia. Initially, we focused on the UIS’s natural area of influence—Santander, Norte de Santander, Cesar, and Boyacá. Now that the university has expanded into other departments, it’s only natural for the project to follow that path, providing learning tools and incentives to foster enjoyment of mathematics in Arauca, Guaviare, Guainía, Vichada, and Vaupés. This project is not only aimed at students—it also motivates teachers and gives parents reasons to support their children’s talents.”
Through this initiative, UIS reaffirms its mission to bring quality education to every corner of the country. Through its “UIS in the Territories” strategy, the university has not only strengthened the link between secondary and higher education in these regions but is now also positively impacting the education of primary school children—planting early seeds of knowledge, curiosity, and academic excellence.
This achievement reflects UIS’s commitment to equity and educational inclusion, paving the way for more children and young people to see education as a true opportunity for transformation and a brighter future.
