In a solemn and emotional ceremony filled with gratitude and strategic vision for the future, Professor Hernán Porras Díaz was officially appointed as Rector of the Universidad Industrial de Santander (UIS) for the 2025–2028 term. The swearing-in took place in the Boardroom of the Governor of Santander’s office, Juvenal Díaz Mateus, in the presence of the UIS Superior Council members.
In his first words as reelected rector, he expressed with deep emotion:
“An immense happiness, a great responsibility. I wholeheartedly thank the university community, the Superior Council, and the Governor for their support. We ask God for His blessing to make this final term a fruitful one for Santander.”
Rector Porras Díaz, who has dedicated more than four decades of his life to UIS, beginning as a professor in 1983, assumes this new chapter with the same energy, passion, and commitment that marked his first term. In an emotional message to the university community, he stated:
“This appointment is not an individual recognition. It is an affirmation of the path we have walked together and an invitation to continue transforming our university with dialogue, responsibility, and shared vision.”
During his address, he also highlighted the pillars that will guide his administration: innovation and knowledge for social and productive transformation a phrase that summarizes his goal to more deeply connect UIS with the development of Santander.
Among the strategic projects he mentioned are:
• The consolidation of regional campuses as modern sites with infrastructure similar to that of the central campus.
• The construction of a new Engineering Faculties building, in partnership with the Departmental Government and the Ministry of Education.
• The development of the UIS San Gil campus at the former Bella Isla Hotel, including the creation of a convention center, with an estimated investment of around 80 billion Colombian pesos.
Additionally, Porras announced the creation of an ambitious UIS 2050 Foresight Plan, which will not only chart the institution’s roadmap but also serve as a strategic tool for the entire department:
“We want this plan to be led by the Governor of Santander, with participation from business sectors, social groups, and citizens, to dream and build together the Santander we deserve.”
For his part, the Governor of Santander, Juvenal Díaz Mateus, praised the rector’s leadership and track record:
“Engineer Hernán Porras has worked very hard for UIS. His reappointment is a recognition of his qualifications and commitment. We face major challenges, such as improving the department’s competitiveness through research and coordination with industry sectors, and UIS will play a key role in that process.”
The swearing-in ceremony, more than a formality, was a collective reaffirmation of trust, a confirmation of Porras Díaz’s transformative leadership, and a starting point for a period of great challenges and opportunities for both the University and Santander.
The rector concluded his speech with a call for unity and shared commitment:
“Let us move forward with hope, joy, and the firm determination to continue making UIS a symbol of progress, innovation, and solidarity—an institution that honors its history and boldly projects itself into the future.”
