The progress of Law 30 Reform, the current state of graduate representation in universities, and the creation of the National Network of Graduate Representatives to University Governing Councils were some of the main topics discussed during the National Meeting of Graduate Representatives to University Governing Councils, held at the Industrial University of Santander.
“The outcome is very positive because we created the Network of Alumni Representatives to the Higher Councils of Universities in the country, which will serve the graduates of Colombia’s universities. It is very gratifying to welcome people, show them the UIS, what we have and what we do here,” said Mario Betancurt Pinzón, representative of the Alumni to the UIS Higher Council and leader of this meeting.
On the final day, a discussion entitled “The future is financed by the community” was held, led by Raíssa João, co-CEO of Vaki, with the participation of Luis Orlando Aguirre in the panel “The CESU and the importance of graduate participation.”
“We would like to thank the UIS for providing us with this space. It is our desire to organize, build, and support policies that strengthen the representation of graduates on higher councils and, in our role, we can strengthen, support, and help universities to continue over time,” said Oscar Giraldo Santos, representative of the Graduates on the Higher Council of the Francisco José de Caldas District University.
In parallel with the academic spaces, tours were conducted of the central campus and the Scientific Complex for Health and Life Sciences Research.
“I feel that the UIS has made progress. I first encountered it many years ago, and it was already a national benchmark. Today, I return with satisfaction and joy because I see the physical infrastructure that accompanies the social aspect, understanding the different components of the human being to accompany education, rest, nutrition, and well-being. I would like to share with my university the Listening Center that you have here at the UIS,” said Laura Andrea Bello Torres, representative of the Graduates before the Higher Council of the Pedagogical and Technological University of Colombia (UPTC).
The National Meeting of Graduate Representatives to the University Higher Councils was attended by nearly 20 participants from different regions of Colombia, and it is hoped that this space will be consolidated in the near future to further strengthen the role of graduates in promoting higher education in the country.
