During these nearly eight decades, the University has consolidated a track record marked by the training of professionals of integrity, the promotion of research, and constant contributions to the social, scientific, and cultural development of the region and the country. This anniversary becomes a space for remembrance, gratitude, and looking toward the future.
The commemorative day began with the traditional flag-raising ceremony on the central campus, a symbolic act that marked the official opening of the special program prepared to honor the journey traveled and the shared history.
We beat to the rhythm of 78 years
On the main campus, students, administrators, faculty, alumni, administrative staff, and the community at large gathered to kick off the celebration. During the ceremony, Vice President for Academic Affairs Olga Mercedes Álvarez Ojeda highlighted the institution’s national impact.
“This is a message of love for our entire country, with the certainty that during these 78 years, the Industrial University of Santander has marked the development not only of Santander and the northeast, but also of all of Colombia. We welcome students from all over the country, from the most central areas to the most peripheral areas. Everyone is welcome, and we are working for all of them,” she said.
The sense of belonging was also evident among the students. Anderson Rincón Mantilla said that this commemoration “makes us feel very proud and happy to be part of this community of students who bring the Universidad Industrial de Santander to life. It feels incredible that it has been 78 years since the university began offering us the opportunity to receive a professional education.”
From the security team, Leonardo Cadavid highlighted the human and social value of the institution. “I am proud to belong to one of the best universities in Latin America. For me, the UIS is like a second home, because we spend most of our time here. I am proud to know that many people we see in the news today have come from here, with patents abroad and great achievements. I am definitely proud to belong to this university,” he said.
For her part, Mayra Alejandra Machuca Pérez, director of the School of Microbiology and representative of the school directors to the Academic Council, said that “in these 78 years, we are very happy to be able to share with the entire UIS community and the community of Santander the different experiences that we have been able to offer our region from the university.”
One UIS, one region celebrating
The commemoration is also being held simultaneously at the regional campuses in Malaga, Barbosa, El Socorro, and Barrancabermeja, where administrators, professors, students, alumni, and the community at large are joining in this institutional celebration.
At the Malaga campus, coordinator Sandra Milena Diaz highlighted the transformative role of the University in the region. “The UIS has democratized higher education, providing opportunities to those who did not have access to it or saw it as unattainable. Today is a day to feel part of a process that has been going on for 78 years and counting, which, despite the difficulties, persists and does not give up. Long live the UIS, its open doors, and the people who build it every day,” she said.
From Barbosa, Yerson Fernando Peña, student representative to the Campus Council, highlighted the regional impact of the university’s presence. “We celebrate 78 years of history, excellence, and commitment to Santander. The university’s presence in Barbosa means development for the region, open doors for our young people, and hope for many families. For those of us who come from municipalities such as Puente Nacional, the UIS allowed us to begin our professional careers close to home, without giving up our roots. That changes destinies,” he said.
In El Socorro, Miguel González, a systems engineering student, said that the commemoration “fills me with deep joy and pride to recognize that our alma mater is approaching eight decades of service to the country, training professionals with quality and social commitment. The UIS is a symbol that represents the spirit of Santander: the drive, perseverance, and community strength that inspire new generations.”
In Barrancabermeja, representatives from Ecopetrol, RCN Radio, the Ministry of Education, the Santander branch of the Colombian Red Cross, and the Barrancabermeja Book Fair Corporation participated in the event. During the ceremony, the flags were raised and awards were presented to students with the highest academic averages, administrative staff for their career achievements, and teachers with the best evaluations.
One of them was Professor William Carrillo, who said: “Receiving this recognition for teacher evaluation is an honor that deeply motivates me. For me, teaching is a daily commitment to the comprehensive education of students and their personal and professional growth. This recognition is an incentive to continue contributing, with dedication and responsibility, to the education of future engineers at the UIS.”
Thus, from Bucaramanga and each of its regional campuses, the Industrial University of Santander celebrates 78 years reaffirming its mission to transform lives through public education, demonstrating that, beyond geography, there is only one UIS united by its history, its present, and its future.
