Generales

By UNAL News Agency 

A key takeaway from the meeting of rectors from Colombia’s four huge public universities—the National University of Colombia (UNAL), the Universidad de Antioquia, the Industrial University of Santander, and the University of Valle—was the need to enhance collaboration and dialogue. The discussion focused on establishing committees and forums to improve the quality, accessibility, infrastructure, and funding of higher education institutions (HEIs) while strengthening efforts to support local communities and Colombia’s most underserved regions. 

The rectors of four public universities convened in Bogotá, D.C., on February 13, 2025. Photo UNAL News Agency 

UNAL Rector Leopoldo Múnera Ruiz emphasized that they are reviewing the Comprehensive Coverage Plan (PIC) to assess its impact and identify any necessary adjustments. With budgetary concerns in mind, the push to secure 1% of the gross domestic product (GDP) for funding public higher education has gained even greater significance. 

“We have agreed to defend the progressive increase in funding, a goal that all four universities here will support. We have also reflected on the transition and integration between public higher education and secondary education, as well as the need for improved management of welfare resources and greater cooperation between universities, particularly considering our collaboration with the State University System,” said Professor Múnera. 

Guillermo Murillo Vargas, rector of the University of Valle, stated that the meeting is essential for addressing the complex challenges faced by the institutions. He emphasized their long history, substantial scientific contributions, prestigious academic programs, and among the largest student populations in the country. 

“When analyzing higher education issues, we must take a comprehensive approach. Coverage is important, but it’s not enough if dropout rates keep rising or we don’t address infrastructure and costs. We are coordinating the creation of study commissions to tackle these issues, allowing us to sit down with the Ministries of Education and Finance and reach a consensus on how to advance these initiatives for higher education,” said the rector of the University of Valle. 

Similarly, John Jairo Arboleda Céspedes, the rector at the Universidad de Antioquia, highlighted that HEIs have a significant responsibility in public higher education. He also pointed out shared concerns among the institutions. These concerns align with proposals to the national government and society aimed at reaching the territories, especially the regions outside the department capitals. 

“The budget issue is currently under discussion, along with the reform of Articles 86 and 87 of Law 30 of 1992, and the pressing need to adjust the funds the Government allocates to public universities to match their actual expenses. Higher education is costly, particularly high-quality education, which is why it is crucial to strengthen research, outreach, and educational collaboration,” said Rector Arboleda. 

In this regard, Hernán Porras Díaz, rector of the Industrial University of Santander, stressed the need for universities to speak objectively. He explained that they have created commissions to oversee the development of quantitative and qualitative studies. These studies will facilitate reflections and enable comparisons with the views of the Ministries and society, providing an accurate diagnosis of the current situation. 

“If we can secure 1% of GDP for public universities, it would bring us all peace of mind. We wouldn’t need to argue over these issues anymore; instead, we could come together to focus on developing and building the country,” says Professor Porras.

“The university established under Law 30 is vastly different from the one we have now,” said the rector of UdeA, referring to the year the law was enacted. The significant growth HEIs have undergone in the past 20 years. Photo: UNAL News Agency 

Rector Múnera explained that the country’s contribution to universities is only 0.45% of GDP, one of the lowest in Latin America. It has led institutions to face a challenging period, highlighting the need for increased funding to meet educational demands. Therefore, this issue is a concern for both the future of higher education and the country’s scientific research, as well as the budget allocated to it. 

“Since 1992, universities have expanded, exceeding the resources and costs growth has brought, while the funding formula has remained the same. In practical terms, we receive the same funding as we did back then. The university established under Law 30 is vastly different from the one we have now,” said the rector of the Universidad de Antioquia. 

Addressing the challenges in this discussion, the rector of Universidad del Valle highlighted that, of the 80 years his institution will celebrate in 2025, they have focused the past 40 on working extensively in the territories. This effort brings its challenges, as it involves providing quality higher education to regions with limited infrastructure, and health and medicine programs often face difficulties due to the lack of authorized hospitals for agreements. 

Finally, the rectors of the four universities, with the UIS rector as their spokesperson, delivered a message of confidence to the university communities of the institutions and society as a whole. They reaffirmed their commitment to offering the best possible quality and addressing these challenges, always emphasizing that universities are territories of peace to reach every corner of the country.