The Universidad Industrial de Santander (UIS) has taken a significant step towards modernizing its educational infrastructure. On September 20, the Superior Council approved, through Agreement 047, the project for the construction of a new building for the Language Institute on the main campus. This development will involve the demolition of the current building, which was constructed in the 1960s, followed by the construction of a renovated space covering 7,000 m², increasing the capacity of its facilities by 30%.
This modern building will feature a basement and three levels, with 40 classrooms distributed across 34 regular classrooms and 6 special-purpose rooms. According to Iván Rojas, head of UIS’s Physical Plant, “it is necessary to update it to meet seismic safety standards and maintain quality standards for our students and the community.”
In addition to the new classrooms, the building will house the administrative area of the Institute and other spaces dedicated to language learning, reinforcing UIS’s commitment to becoming a regional leader in language education.
To ensure the continuity of academic activities, the Language Institute has implemented a contingency plan, including the adaptation of temporary spaces within the campus during construction. Laura Dueñas Angulo, Director of the Language Institute, stated that “extension courses for young people and children will continue in the current building until November 16, and parents will be notified of classroom changes starting November 23.”
In addition, classes for the curricular programs will conclude the semester in remote mode, with the expectation of resuming in-person activities for the first semester of 2025. This transition is made possible through the support of various university faculties, which have provided some of their facilities to continue the teaching process until the new building is completed, which is expected to be in May 2025.
This ambitious project represents a significant effort by UIS to offer infrastructure that meets the current academic needs, benefiting the entire educational community.
