In a day that marks a before and after for access to higher education in remote regions of Colombia, the Universidad Industrial de Santander (UIS) welcomed the governor of Vichada, Fulberto Guevara, in a strategic meeting that consolidates one of the country’s most ambitious territorial transformation initiatives.
This alliance, promoted by Rector Hernán Porras Díaz and the Ministry of National Education, is part of an initiative aimed at bringing high-quality higher education to the most remote territories of the country, closing long-standing gaps in access and opportunity.
Starting at 8:00 a.m., a high-level agenda took place on the UIS main campus in Bucaramanga, bringing together academic leaders and researchers with a clear goal: to deliver quality education, science, and innovation to Vichada.
The visit was not merely ceremonial. It was an immersion into the academic, scientific, and human model of UIS. The governor toured emblematic spaces such as the Central Library, the Camilo Torres Complex, the Mechanical Engineering facilities, and the Guatiguará Technological Park, witnessing firsthand the capabilities that will soon be replicated in his region.
“We are very grateful to UIS for these partnerships that will bring development and transformation to the department and improve the quality of life of our people,” said Fulberto Guevara, highlighting the social impact of this collaboration.
Education reaching where it has never reached before
One of the most significant announcements is the launch of academic programs in Vichada. These include a Professional Technical Program in Agricultural Production, already underway through secondary education articulation, and upcoming programs such as a Professional Technical Program in Installation and Maintenance of Photovoltaic Systems and a degree in Agricultural Engineering—initiatives aligned with the region’s productive needs.
UIS Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, Olga Mercedes Álvarez, described this process as an “institutional milestone,” emphasizing that the university is expanding its presence into the country’s most remote regions as part of its social responsibility.
“UIS not only educates professionals; it transforms families, communities, and territories. Bringing high-quality education to regions like Vichada means opening real opportunities for the future,” she stated.
CINER: the engine of transformation
At the heart of this alliance is the Center for Renewable Energy Research (CINER), a key infrastructure that will be reactivated and strengthened with UIS’s academic support. This space will not only serve as a hub for scientific research but also as a training campus for young people in the department.
Currently, around 70 students are already engaged in educational articulation processes, and classes are expected to begin in 2026 at the CINER facilities, which are currently being upgraded.
“This is a national project. We will conduct cutting-edge research in renewable energy while also training human talent to drive local development,” explained Jorge Villamizar, UIS advisor for regional initiatives.
Science, innovation, and the future from Guatiguará
The agenda continued at the Guatiguará Technological Park, where the Vichada delegation explored high-level laboratories such as Microscopy, X-ray, and Surface Science labs, as well as pilot plants like the chocolate production facility.
These spaces demonstrate the potential for technological transfer that could be adapted to Vichada’s context, particularly in areas such as food security, alternative energy, and productive development.
An alliance redefining the educational map
For Óscar Iván Pérez, advisor to the National Federation of Departments, this partnership represents “the best strategic alliance” to guarantee educational opportunities in Vichada, with UIS at its core.
Beyond agreements, what is being built is a new geography of knowledge in Colombia—one where quality education ceases to be an urban privilege and becomes a real tool for equity.
The visit concluded with concrete commitments and a roadmap to strengthen this alliance, which promises to change the destiny of thousands of young people.
Today, UIS is not only opening its doors—it is opening pathways. And in Vichada, those pathways are beginning to transform realities.
