In a context where Colombia and the world continue to face the lasting effects of the pandemic and its impact on the population’s mental health, the Industrial University of Santander (UIS) takes a decisive step toward offering real and sustainable solutions to this challenge. Through Resolution 022684 issued on November 25, 2025, the Ministry of National Education granted official accreditation for the Psychiatry Specialization, authorizing its operation for seven years.
The pandemic revealed the urgent need for more trained professionals capable of addressing the rise in emotional disorders, anxiety, depression, and other psychosocial challenges that emerged during that period. Aware of this reality and of the social responsibility that characterizes the institution, UIS developed a robust academic program designed to strengthen human talent in mental health and contribute to comprehensive community care.
The new Specialization, created through Academic Council Agreement No. 314 of September 19, 2023, will be offered in person in Bucaramanga. It will include 167 academic credits, annual admission, an estimated duration of three years, and an initial cohort of eight students. Its implementation represents a strategic academic response to the contemporary challenges left by the pandemic and a commitment to strengthening the country’s health system.
The Office of the President highlighted the coordinated work of the Department of Mental Health, the School of Medicine, and the Faculty of Health—units responsible for consolidating this project, which now becomes the tenth Medical-Surgical Specialization at UIS. Their combined contributions, integrating teaching experience and social relevance, allow the institution to respond to an urgent need in the region and in Colombia.
With this approval, UIS reaffirms its commitment to training specialists who understand the current complexities of mental health and provide solutions to improve the quality of life of communities. The institution thus continues its academic growth, consolidating high-impact programs aimed at regional and national development.
“Together, we make it possible!” expressed President Hernán Porras Díaz as he celebrated this achievement, which marks a new chapter in the institutional mission to build well-being and progress for the country.
