The Universidad Industrial de Santander experienced a deeply moving moment during the five graduation ceremonies held on December 17 and 18, in which 1,147 graduates received their undergraduate and graduate degrees, culminating a journey marked by effort, discipline, and a vocation for knowledge.
The academic ceremonies, held at the Luis A. Calvo Auditorium, brought together students, families, faculty, and university leaders in a shared sentiment: pride in being UIS—an identity built on academic excellence, social commitment, and the comprehensive education that defines public higher education.
Graduates from the faculties of Human Sciences, Sciences, Health, Physicomechanical Engineering, Physicochemical Engineering, and IPRED closed a fundamental chapter of their academic lives, ready to take on new professional challenges with the values, rigor, and ethics that distinguish the Universidad Industrial de Santander.
Each ceremony was marked by emotion, applause, and recognition of the families’ support—true protagonists of this collective achievement. Stories of perseverance and dreams fulfilled were reflected in every embrace and every smile.
Anette Otero, a UIS alumna whose professional path reflects the commitment, excellence, and impact of the education received at the Universidad Industrial de Santander, was one of the special guests.
“This is the beginning of a stage in which you are called to build. UIS has been the pillar of who I am today as a leader and professional; being part of this university taught me very valuable lessons, such as questioning and going beyond. I have always made a difference wherever I have gone. We need honest and sensitive leaders,” she said.
Meanwhile, Gustavo Ramírez Caballero, Director of the School of Chemical Engineering, reminded graduates of the pride of being alumni of public higher education. “Public universities are catalysts for well-being. They transform lives, families, and territories. They are among the most powerful instruments a society has to reduce inequalities and build the future. That is why they must be defended.
But defending public universities is not only about speaking well of them. They are defended by respecting them and by actively participating in their academic, cultural, and scientific agendas. They are defended by contributing in whatever way possible: knowledge, time, ideas, work, and commitment. Public universities are defended by keeping them open, alive, and functioning. They are not defended by closing them, vandalizing them, damaging them, or stealing from them,” he stated.
There were also tears that spoke for themselves—tears shed while embracing children, tears of pride and gratitude. Don Hernán Jácome was overjoyed to see his children’s dream come true. Jasbleidys and Danilo are now graduates of the UIS Agroindustrial Administration program. “It’s an emotion, a pride. Now I ask God that they find good jobs,” he said.
Within the framework of these five ceremonies, UIS also paid a respectful tribute by awarding two posthumous degrees to Henry Esneider Páez Delgado, Metallurgical Engineer, and William Yesid Gutiérrez Echeverría, Physicist, reaffirming that memory and legacy are also part of academic excellence.
With the graduation of 1,147 new professionals, the Universidad Industrial de Santander reaffirms its commitment to the country, delivering to society graduates who carry with them not only a degree, but also the pride, responsibility, and seal of quality that come with being UIS.
