In a move that reaffirms its commitment to public higher education in the country, the Industrial University of Santander (UIS) has established itself as a key partner for the Ministry of National Education (MEN). The Santander-based institution, renowned for its academic excellence, has been chosen to lead strategic projects in regions historically affected by conflict, such as the Catatumbo region in Norte de Santander and the municipality of Saravena in Arauca.
At a recent working meeting held in Bucaramanga, Rector Hernán Porras Díaz, together with Ministry officials, defined a roadmap to strengthen academic offerings and educational infrastructure in vulnerable areas. This meeting highlights the MEN’s confidence in the UIS, an institution that has demonstrated its ability to manage public resources with agility and rigor.
The General Secretariat and the Directorate for the Promotion of Higher Education of the MEN requested the UIS’s expertise to promote the nascent National University of Catatumbo. Rector Porras Díaz highlighted the university’s role in creating academic programs relevant to the region, a process similar to that underway in Saravena, where the UIS will launch a new academic offering in the second semester of 2025.
“The development achieved by the university in recent years, the efficiency, speed, effectiveness, quality, and aesthetics of our spaces have led to an increase in our level of prestige,” said Rector Porras Díaz. “Today, we are one of the leading universities in the robust management of public resources, and the Ministry of Education knows that we are direct allies.”
Management and supervision for the construction of a new country
The collaboration between the UIS and the Ministry of Education is not limited to academic offerings. The university will also take on the management, supervision, and auditing of infrastructure projects and the provision of furniture for schools in Catatumbo. The rector defined this work as “building the country.”
“A child and a young person in the classroom is one less child and one less young person for war,” emphasized the secretary general of the MEN, Mariza Molina Acosta, summarizing the vision shared by both entities. For his part, Luis Álvaro Gallardo Eraso, director of Development, praised the seriousness and prestige of the UIS, assuring that progress “is swift and rapid.” He also highlighted the advice that the university will provide for the supervision of infrastructure in schools in Catatumbo and the significant progress made in Saravena, where the UIS has strengthened its ties with the community and local governments.
Following the productive working meeting, officials from the Ministry of Education, accompanied by Rector Porras and the Director of Physical Facilities, took a tour of the UIS campus. During the visit, they expressed their admiration for the university’s infrastructure and management model. They were particularly impressed with the progress of the Language Institute, recognizing the institution’s commitment to academic excellence and investment in cutting-edge facilities.
This commitment by the UIS to the Ministry of Education demonstrates that education is the most powerful tool for building peace and development in the most remote regions of Colombia. The university, with its experience and prestige, positions itself as a beacon of hope and transformation, reaffirming that every step toward expanding educational coverage is a firm step toward a more just and equitable future.
