The rector of the Universidad Industrial de Santander (UIS), Hernán Porras Díaz, participated this Tuesday in the forum Where Is Higher Education in Colombia Headed?, organized by the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic. The event brought together representatives of the National Government, university leaders, and experts to analyze and reflect on the present and future of Colombia’s higher education system.
During the forum, Professor Porras Díaz strengthened dialogue with the incoming Vice Minister of Higher Education, Camilo Noguera Pardo, and expanded his engagement with presidents of public and private universities, as well as renowned experts in education policy, including former Minister Alejandro Gaviria and Andrea Escobar, Executive Director of Fundación Empresarios por la Educación.
SUE and ASCUN: Platforms for building consensus
One of the main points of agreement that emerged during the discussions was the recognition of the State University System (SUE) and the Colombian Association of Universities (ASCUN) as strategic platforms for building consensus to expand access, strengthen the quality of education, and ensure sustainable funding for the country’s higher education institutions.
The forum also featured the panel discussion Analysis and Perspectives on the University System, one of the event’s central sessions. Participants included the incoming Vice Minister of Higher Education, Camilo Noguera Pardo; Guillermo Murillo Vargas, rector of Universidad del Valle; former Minister Alejandro Gaviria; and Andrea Escobar, Executive Director of Fundación Empresarios por la Educación. The discussion focused on identifying proposals to strengthen Colombia’s higher education system through a shared vision involving the government, academia, and the productive sector.
Dialogue with the National Government
Following the forum, UIS Rector Hernán Porras Díaz held a meeting with Camilo Noguera Pardo, the incoming Vice Minister of Higher Education appointed by the new National Government.
Both agreed on the importance of continuing to shape higher education policy through consensus, with priority given to comprehensive education, faculty development, and regionalization to ensure that young people in underserved regions of Colombia have access to high-quality university education.
The forum organized by the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic placed key issues for higher education at the center of the national discussion, including expanding access, improving student retention, enhancing graduate quality, and ensuring the financial sustainability of higher education institutions. These challenges are particularly significant as Colombia continues to debate the future of public policy for the sector.
During the event, the Office of the Comptroller General also presented the main findings of its analysis of higher education in Colombia. The report highlighted progress in expanding access to higher education while emphasizing the need to strengthen strategies that provide greater opportunities for young people, improve academic quality, and ensure the financial stability of universities, particularly public institutions.
