With the official announcement by the Minister of Education, Daniel Rojas Medellín, the execution of the Universidad Industrial de Santander Arauca branch in Saravena has begun. The project is fully financed by the National Government with an investment of nearly COP 26 billion and aims to transform access to higher education in the department.
Rojas Medellín emphasized that “this will be the UIS branch in Saravena, Arauca, financed 100% by the government of President Gustavo Petro Urrego.”
He also stated that the project, expected to be delivered within this year, will create 1,900 new seats so young people in Arauca can pursue higher education without leaving their territory.
During the project briefing, the Director of Promotion at the Vice-Ministry of Higher Education, Luis Álvaro Gallardo, presented details of the first construction phase, focused on the essential infrastructure of the university campus.
“The right to education is guaranteed when our young people can study in their own territory,” the official said, noting that the branch is expected to become one of the most important in the country.
A campus to close historic gaps
The project includes a 1.4-hectare campus with 46 academic modules, including classrooms, laboratories, computer rooms, a library, administrative offices, student welfare spaces, and a cafeteria, creating a modern environment for professional training.
The Governor of Arauca, Renson Martínez Prada, presented the project timeline and highlighted that the department’s gross higher-education coverage is only 6.8%, underscoring the urgent need to expand educational opportunities.
Currently, 210 students are already enrolled in higher-education programs in Saravena, the result of coordinated efforts that will help consolidate the campus as an academic and social development hub for the region.
A jointly built project
UIS Rector Hernán Porras Díaz noted that consolidating the Arauca branch represents a firm step toward expanding training opportunities and strengthening regional development.
The initiative is the result of joint work between the Ministry of National Education, the Presidency of the Republic, the Arauca regional government, the Saravena mayor’s office, and UIS, in an effort to reduce gaps and bring public higher education to more territories.
With construction now underway at Parque de la Vida, Saravena is preparing to receive infrastructure that promises to mark a turning point in higher education in the department, reinforcing the commitment to developing local talent and opening new opportunities for the region’s youth.
