The Universidad Industrial de Santander, through the Office of the Academic Vice Presidency and its Academic Excellence and Student Well-Being teams, participated actively in the First National Meeting of University Presidents and Administrators for Inclusive Higher Education, convened by ASCUN and held at Universidad de La Salle on November 12.
The event brought together university presidents, vice presidents, academic administrators, national government representatives, and strategic sector partners with the purpose of strengthening institutional leadership in building educational environments that are more equitable, accessible, and empathetic toward populations in vulnerable conditions.
Among the participants representing the UIS were Claudia Milena Ortiz Gómez, coordinator of the Academic Excellence Program; María Paula Hernández Rueda, coordinator of Health Services of Student Well-Being; and Olga Mercedes Álvarez Ojeda, Academic Vice President of the UIS.
During the event, universities from across the country shared experiences and best practices on topics such as Universal Design for Learning (UDL), reasonable accommodations, physical and digital accessibility, and comprehensive support strategies aimed at responding to student diversity. The institutions agreed on the need to move forward in a coordinated manner toward a national roadmap that consolidates criteria and sustained actions in favor of inclusion in higher education.
One of the most significant moments was the presentation of the National Declaration of Commitment to Inclusive Higher Education, a document that expresses the collective will to eliminate barriers and strengthen equity across all university areas. On behalf of the UIS, the Academic Vice President, Professor Olga Mercedes Álvarez Ojeda, signed the Declaration, reaffirming the institution’s commitment to an education that recognizes, respects, and embraces diversity.
As a result of the meeting, the institutions agreed to move forward in consolidating a roadmap to guide internal processes, promote collaboration networks, and ensure follow-up on the actions undertaken. ASCUN, for its part, reaffirmed that inclusion will remain a strategic priority, promoting spaces for dialogue, cooperation, and interinstitutional support.
The meeting’s central message highlighted the importance of embracing inclusion as a cross-cutting axis of higher education, understanding that this commitment not only expands opportunities but also transforms lives and strengthens the social impact of universities in the country.
