Saravena will never be the same again. Starting today, the Industrial University of Santander (UIS) arrives in this town in eastern Colombia—a historic milestone that opens the doors of public higher education to hundreds of young people from Arauca who previously had to migrate to other regions to pursue their dream of becoming professionals.
Minister of Education Daniel Rojas Medellín announced an investment of 25 billion pesos for the construction of modular classrooms set to begin operating in 2026. “This project will allow one thousand students to enter the university within two years, and two thousand young people within four years. In Arauca, where only two hundred out of three thousand high school graduates currently have access to higher education, this represents an exponential leap,” he stated.
For his part, UIS Rector Hernán Porras Díaz stated that the university arrives with a vision of permanence and growth. “UIS comes to Saravena to stay, to walk alongside you, and to contribute to the development of the region. We are starting with three programs: Animal Science, Artificial Intelligence Engineering, and Agroindustrial Management, and soon we will have ten, in addition to graduate programs and virtual modalities,” he said.
For his part, UIS Rector Hernán Porras Díaz stated that the university arrives with a vision of permanence and growth. “UIS comes to Saravena to stay, to walk alongside you, and to contribute to the development of the region. We are starting with three programs: Animal Science, Artificial Intelligence Engineering, and Agroindustrial Management, and soon we will have ten, in addition to graduate programs and virtual modalities,” he said.
The impact is tangible within the community. Luz Estela Mateus, a teacher and mother, expressed with emotion: “Today it is impossible not to have our hearts overflowing with joy. The fact that UIS is in our territory means social transformation and hope for our children.”
For the Mayor of Saravena, Juan Ignacio Cifuentes, this milestone marks a turning point: “The arrival of the university is the best message of peace that could be given to Arauca, because it provides real opportunities for our youth. We are very happy; we know that the greatest message of peace ever sent to this department is the presence of the university in our territory, because it means offering hope and alternatives to our young people. Every year, more than 3,000 students graduate from high school, and now, with this new opportunity, they will truly have the chance to study.”
Meanwhile, the Governor of Arauca, Renson Martínez, stated: “Today begins the resolution of a historic debt—more than 50 years of university absence in our department. We wholeheartedly celebrate this decision, this tremendous support we have received from the Ministry of Education, and the support from the Industrial University of Santander, led by its great rector, Hernán Porras, who has made this dream possible for the people of Arauca.”
Viviana Ríos Correa, a student of Artificial Intelligence Engineering, shared: “It’s so wonderful to study here without having to leave for another place. This is a dream come true for those of us who have always lived in Saravena. It feels amazing to be a university student here for the first time in Saravena. We’ve lived our whole lives here, and now we don’t have to leave to face unnecessary hardships, because here we already have housing, food, and everything we need—it feels really good.”
In total, 90 young people make up the first UIS generation in Arauca, enrolled in Animal Science, Agroindustrial Management, and Artificial Intelligence Engineering. They will be the pioneers of an educational transformation that aims to turn Saravena into a university city and Arauca into a territory of greater opportunities and a brighter future.
