In a step considered historic for education in the Colombian Amazon, the Ministry of National Education, the Industrial University of Santander, and the Government of Vaupés held a virtual meeting to advance the infrastructure project that will enable the construction of a Higher Education Center in Mitú, the capital of the department.
The meeting included the in-person participation of key actors in the process, among them Jorge Villamizar, coordinator of the UIS in Territories program, who highlighted the importance of bringing the academic presence of a high-level public university to regions of the country that have historically been isolated.
The virtual meeting was also attended by the rector of the Industrial University of Santander, Hernán Porras Díaz, who supports the institution’s technical assistance in the development of the project.
The governor of the department, Luis Alfredo Gutiérrez, also played a prominent role, leading the regional effort to consolidate this initiative aimed at transforming access to higher education in one of the regions facing the greatest challenges in connectivity and educational coverage.
The initiative is part of the National Government’s strategy to expand access to higher education in the most remote territories. The project will receive technical support from the Industrial University of Santander, considered one of the most prestigious public institutions in the country, which will guarantee high standards in the design and execution of the project.
The departmental administration already has a two-hectare plot of land designated for the construction of the education center. It will serve as a space where different universities that currently offer academic programs in the department can carry out their activities under better conditions.
A historical debt to the youth of Vaupés
For local authorities, the project represents an opportunity to begin addressing a long-standing debt to the department’s population. Around 400 students graduate from the eleventh grade each year in Mitú.
Vaupés Secretary of Education Plinio Restrepo described the outcome of the meeting as very positive and said the project opens new prospects for the territory.
“It allows us to envision hope regarding the strengthening of higher education in the department to serve a population that has historically been neglected. Thinking about an infrastructure project that provides real possibilities for higher education in the territory with a recognized public university is a very positive result for us,” he said.
The initiative is part of the education policy of the government of President Gustavo Petro, whose goal is to have this project firmly established before the end of his administration, consolidating new opportunities for professional training for the youth of Vaupés.
If completed, the center will strengthen the presence of higher education in the Colombian Amazon, improve study conditions, and expand opportunities for hundreds of students who currently must leave the department to access professional education.
The project is shaping up to be one of the most significant advances for education in the southeastern region of the country, with the goal of guaranteeing relevant, high-quality education for all.
