Barrancabermeja was the epicenter of a national meeting to discuss the future of education
- CNC
- 9 hours ago
- 3 min read
The Ministry of National Education brought together representatives from universities in different regions of the country in Barrancabermeja to discuss the challenges of post-secondary education, the strengthening of public education and the expansion of coverage in the territories.
Barrancabermeja hosted a national meeting convened by the Ministry of National Education, in conjunction with the Centro Nacional de Consultoría, which brought together representatives from higher education institutions across the country to reflect on the challenges of post-secondary education, the strengthening of public education, and dialogue as a tool for peacebuilding in the territories.
The event, held at the University Institute for Peace (UNIPAZ), was part of the National Meeting “The Ritual of Conversing and Thinking Together: A New Era of Post-Secondary Education,” with which the Ministry of Education concluded a series of discussions held in different regions of the country to promote spaces for reflection between academia and communities.
The Vice Minister of Higher Education, Ricardo Moreno Patiño, explained that these meetings have facilitated dialogue among institutions and generated reflection on the role of higher education in regional development.
“In recent years, together with the Centro Nacional de Consultoría and UNIPAZ, we have been holding these types of meetings that allow us to reflect on the importance of talking, of solving our problems through dialogue, and of building stronger communities that contribute to the territories,” the official stated.
Moreno Patiño emphasized that holding the meeting in Barrancabermeja marked the culmination of a phase of the Ministry's work focused on expanding access to higher education and consolidating it as a right for communities.
"We at the Ministry of National Education are very pleased to conclude this cycle here, in the region, at a public higher education institution that has been fundamental in achieving the goal of making higher education a right for many regions, and particularly for the department of Santander," he stated.
During the event, representatives from various institutions shared their experiences regarding the role of universities in processes of social transformation. One of these was the University of Cauca, which presented its academic work on peacebuilding and the preservation of cultural heritage.
“We placed all our hope in the Peace Agreement, and in that spirit, we created a doctoral program in peace studies within the academic community. This initiative has resulted in ten consecutive cohorts, and today we have numerous graduates. The most valuable aspect is that it all stems from a commitment to the land, to rescuing ancestral sounds, essences, and cultures, which is where our greatest value lies,” stated a professor from the University of Cauca.
During the event, delegates from public and private universities across the country participated, attending both in person and remotely, to share experiences related to access to higher education, peacebuilding, and strengthening academic processes in their communities.
Greater Educational Coverage for the Regions
In addition to discussions on the future of higher education, the meeting provided an opportunity to assess the progress made in expanding educational coverage, especially in PDET municipalities, ZOMAC zones, and rural areas, where the presence of public higher education institutions has been strengthened in recent years.
Regarding this process, Óscar Rolando Porras Atencia, rector of UNIPAZ and president of the Network of Professional Technical and Technological Institutions, Universities, and Technological Schools (REDTTU), comprised of 33 institutions nationwide, highlighted the Ministry of Education's support in expanding higher education coverage in the country.
“We went from having 130,000 students to 220,000 students nationwide, expanding higher education in places where it had never been available before, in PDET municipalities, ZOMAC zones, and rural areas. I believe it has been a great undertaking,” the rector stated.
The rector added that this growth has been accompanied by investments made by the Ministry of Education, aimed at strengthening university welfare programs and the institutional presence in different regions of the country.
“With the allocation of resources, we have implemented comprehensive plans for conventional and territorial coverage, which are part of the UNIPAZ in Your Territory strategy. These plans promote well-being and have allowed us to strengthen other well-being programs. We also benefited from CONPES funding, which further strengthens a well-being program, not only in Barrancabermeja, but also in the 16 municipalities where we operate,” said the rector.
The meeting concluded by emphasizing the need to continue strengthening collaborative work between the national government, higher education institutions, and regional governments, with the aim of expanding access to education and addressing social challenges from within academia.
Article taken from www.vanguardia.com
By Lesly Adriana Cifuentes https://www.vanguardia.com/santander/barrancabermeja/2026/08/05/barrancabermeja-fue-epicentro-de-encuentro-nacional-para-discutir-el-futuro-de-la-educacion/
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