The Industrial University of Santander (UIS) hosted a new meeting of the Technical Committee on Higher Education in Santander, a forum led by the Ministry of National Education (MEN) that brought together representatives from the Higher Institute of Rural Education (ISER), the Technological Units of Santander (UTS), and the Departmental Secretariat of Education.
Joint to strengthen
During the day, the institutions worked together to review strategies to strengthen academic offerings, expand coverage in the territory, and plan new training opportunities for the people of Santander. The main purpose of this inter-institutional exercise was to coordinate capacities, share progress, and consolidate collaborative work that responds to the current and future needs of the department.
Jhon Emerson Espitia Suárez, advisor to the MEN’s Vice Ministry of Higher Education, highlighted the key role of the UIS in these processes: “The UIS, like many higher education institutions, is a fundamental ally in fulfilling the National Government’s commitments to reach all territories of the country and expand coverage, especially in municipalities and regions where higher education has never been present.”
The UIS, a strategic ally
For her part, Leilyn Jazmín Gómez Ordóñez, strategic director of the Departmental Education Secretariat, highlighted the transformative impact of the UIS’s presence in rural areas: “The Industrial University of Santander is an example to follow for its educational quality; if it reaches these remote regions, it is bringing university quality, and that generates transformation and change.”
The technical dialogue made it possible to identify priority actions to improve access to higher education programs, strengthen quality processes, promote academic relevance, and facilitate the arrival of training opportunities to historically underserved communities. The institutions reiterated their commitment to initiatives that promote regional development through flexible modalities and technical, technological, and professional programs in line with the productive and social dynamics of Santander.
Acciones conjuntas
In this regard, Jorge Villamizar Morales, UIS manager in Territories, emphasized the importance of coordinated work: “This meeting is important because it is about agreeing not to do the same exercises in the same place, but rather to coordinate between institutions for the benefit of students in the region.”
As the host institution, the UIS reaffirmed its leadership and willingness to continue supporting spaces for reflection, planning, and coordination that strengthen the department’s educational ecosystem. The participants agreed on the importance of maintaining this joint path to advance toward a more inclusive and diverse higher education system with real opportunities for thousands of young people in Santander.
With this Technical Roundtable, Santander consolidates an integrated vision of its educational future, based on institutional cooperation, the expansion of educational alternatives, and a firm commitment to the development of the territory.
