The Universidad Industrial de Santander (UIS) is strengthening its international profile through the participation of Professor Liliana del Pilar Castro Molano in the European project COL-DECISIONSEED, an initiative funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ CBHE program, aimed at consolidating a sustainable, inclusive, and intersectoral educational ecosystem in Colombia.
Within the framework of the COL-DECISIONSEED kick-off — Development of a cohesive, intersectoral and inclusive ecosystem for internationalization grounded on sustainable economy and education — the UIS researcher presented the paper “Renewable Energies in Colombia,” highlighting the potential of biogas as a sustainable energy alternative for rural communities and emphasizing its contribution to energy autonomy, local development, and the transition toward cleaner production models.
“Biogas represents a real opportunity to transform rural territories, not only environmentally but also socially and economically. This project allows us to connect research with internationalization processes that have a direct impact on communities,” said Liliana del Pilar Castro Molano, Director of International Relations and UIS researcher.
During three days of academic activities with partners from the Netherlands and Spain, Professor Castro Molano demonstrated how applied research can be integrated with international cooperation, strengthening UIS’s position as a benchmark institution in renewable energies and sustainability.
She also highlighted the strategic scope of this participation: “COL-DECISIONSEED positions UIS as a key player in international knowledge networks. These types of projects not only strengthen our institutional capacities, but also expand opportunities for training, research, and cooperation for the entire university community,” she noted.
The COL-DECISIONSEED project, approved under Erasmus+ Strand 3 and with an investment of nearly one million euros, will run for three years and includes key partners in Colombia such as ASCUN, CCYK, Universidad Católica de Manizales, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, and FODESEP, with additional support from the Ministry of National Education and APC Colombia.
Through this participation, UIS reaffirms its commitment to internationalization, applied research, and the development of sustainable solutions that positively impact territories and higher education in the country.
