The School of Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science at the Industrial University of Santander (UIS) held its Second Open House Day to commemorate the 71st anniversary of the Metallurgical Engineering program, the 50th anniversary of the Álvaro Quiroga Correa Steel Plant, and the Jorge Bautista Vesga Building, landmarks of the institution’s infrastructure and architectural heritage.
The event was aimed at the general public and included the participation of students from the INEM Custodio García Rovira school. Attendees enjoyed guided tours of laboratories, interactive activities, games, and recreational activities, with the aim of stimulating interest in Metallurgical Engineering and raising awareness about caring for the planet, while also getting a first-hand look at the UIS facilities.
“This activity seeks to bring the community, especially the young people of our region, closer to our academic program. We prepare experiences and experiments that allow them to understand aspects related to materials, particularly metals,” explained Mauricio Rincón, director of the School of Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science.
Students in their final semesters of the program participated in the information stands, highlighting the importance of these types of spaces in preparing for their professional future.
“These activities help us to perform better in front of young audiences, review what we have learned, and gain confidence in our abilities. It is an experience that also trains us as future teachers,” said Michael Rodríguez, a metallurgical engineering student.
The secondary school teachers who accompanied the visit highlighted the educational value of the experience, as it reinforces concepts learned in the classroom, broadens horizons, and motivates students to pursue higher education.
“It’s a great strategy. The students apply what they have learned in class, receive first-hand information in a fun way, and also learn about the academic offerings at UIS to begin defining their life plans,” said José Tarazona, a teacher at INEM Custodio García Rovira School.
Finally, the visiting students highlighted how enriching the day was and how it motivated them to study science and engineering.
“It was a very entertaining experience because we delved into some topics and learned about others that we hadn’t seen at school. I was very interested in metallurgical engineering; I think it’s an interesting and different program,” said Juan Zambrano, a student at INEM school.
