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EnClaveBicentenario, the future blooms in the regions! From the territory, the Un...

#EnClaveBicentenario, the future blooms in the regions! From the territory, the University of Cauca opens horizons for new generations of dreamers

8 April, 2026

The alma mater of Cauca, faithful to its mission of transforming lives and making dreams come true, has consolidated a regionalization strategy aimed at ensuring equitable access to higher education in municipalities historically distant from major urban centers. This is a demanding effort, framed within the 2023–2027 Institutional Development Plan, under the third strategic axis “For a university that is supportive and committed to its environment,” which has made it possible to extend the institution’s presence beyond Popayán and Santander de Quilichao. In the following article, we invite you to learn a bit more about the Immediate Transition to Higher Education Program (PTIES).

What if we could forget about distances and barriers? Well, the University of Cauca has woven a network of territorial connection, a giant embrace that reaches the most remote municipalities of our department, those that often feel forgotten and call for better opportunities for their youth. In line with our roadmap titled “For a University of Excellence and Solidarity,” our institution is breaking molds and extending its impact beyond Popayán and Santander de Quilichao. And yes, today we can proudly say that this is a movement that, although challenging, is leaving us with great lessons.

Since its creation in 2013, the Center for Regionalization of the University of Cauca has become the epicenter of this ambitious educational initiative. These have been years of tireless effort bringing programs that ignite minds, building support networks, and opening doors that once seemed closed. Challenges? Many, to be honest! Difficult paths have been traveled; we have faced complex security situations, a lack of local support, since there are no municipal policies for higher education and even cultural resistance. Yet, the University of Cauca, driven by its mission and goals aimed at the Wellness of territories and their inhabitants, has overcome these obstacles. As Álvaro René Restrepo Garcés, Director of the Center for Regionalization, states: “The quality of education received by students from these regions does not match that of urban centers and represents a significant disadvantage compared to those who come from them. Therefore, limiting access to higher education solely to Saber Test results is not fair if we truly want to close gaps.”

And with this vision, there is a truth that resonates strongly: this University, which is the alma mater of Cauca, does not stop! It has brought to life innovative initiatives such as “Teaching without stress and learning with love,” the Pacific Node (in partnership with the Ministry of National Education), and those academic research groups conceived as complementary training spaces that strengthen the skills and competencies of secondary education students through practical, active, and interactive methodologies. But there is one program that is truly changing lives in a profound way: The Immediate Transition to Higher Education Program (PTIES). This program is a direct bridge to the university for 11th-grade students! They strengthen their knowledge, prepare thoroughly, and a dream that once seemed almost impossible becomes a reality, as they gain access to an evaluation that opens the doors to the University; a direct admission through special quotas. It is the University of Cauca telling every young person: “We dream of you becoming part of the University of Cauca community… Your future is here, and we help you build it.” So, how does PTIES work? Through leveling and preparation processes, students can access an evaluation that grants them a qualifying score to enter our University, as mentioned, through special quotas.

Nothing is more rewarding than reaffirming our commitment to opening pathways and expanding opportunities, so that more and more young people in the region choose to transform their future through higher education, because we are convinced that this is the answer. And although the numbers speak for themselves, our enthusiasm says even more!

Between 2023 and 2024, PTIES has benefited 945 students in municipalities such as Guapi, López de Micay, Timbiquí, Santander de Quilichao, Páez, Sucre, Argelia, Piamonte, Rosas, San Sebastián, Inzá, and Guachené. By 2025, its implementation is projected in the Pacific coast of Cauca (Guapi, Timbiquí, and López de Micay), with an estimated coverage of 465 beneficiaries, thus expanding educational opportunities for more dreamers in the region.

But the impact goes far beyond the numbers. For many of these young people, arriving in Popayán or Santander de Quilichao represents their first contact with an urban center, with everything this entails: new forms of mobility, cultural changes, economic challenges, and higher academic demands. Aware of this, the University, with its supportive spirit, has strengthened support programs such as PermaneSer, psychological services, social work, housing, and even dining services, with the aim of ensuring not only access, but also the retention of those who are now planting the seeds that, when they bear fruit, will become the foundation for building a different future for their communities.

“PTIES for me is much more than a program; it is a tool that transforms lives, that inspires us to believe in our dreams, and encourages us to move forward with enthusiasm and gratitude. Today I feel motivated to continue on this path, knowing that it is only just beginning and that every step is an opportunity to grow and leave a mark,” proudly states Karen Liseth Riascos, a fourth-semester Medicine student at the University of Cauca, originally from the municipality of López de Micay, who entered as a beneficiary of this program in the first semester of 2024.

And along the same line, José Ángel Zárate, a student of the Evening Law program, from the municipality of Guapi and also a PTIES beneficiary, states with emotion: “This program has helped me continue dreaming, to keep believing that I can achieve everything in life. Through this experience, I have been able to overcome many fears and learn many things. It is a wonderful program, and I hope that many people from different municipalities can join and fulfill their dreams and expectations with the University of Cauca.”

This is a path that, to be successful, must be traveled with support. Therefore, the Director of the Center for Regionalization, Dr. Restrepo, shares a message full of closeness and hope for the students who are living these experiences: “The first piece of advice is to surround yourself with good people, because as human beings we need the affection, care, and understanding of others. That support, both academic and emotional, is essential. If you do not find it among your friends, look for it at the university. Whether with those close to you or with us as an institution, we will always be here to support you. Here, at the Center for Regionalization, we have seen how students from the first cohort of 2024 continue to visit us, because beyond academics, they feel welcomed, as among friends, and recognize in us a constant source of support.”

Thus, the Alma Mater of Cauca reaffirms that, as an institution of higher education that is #HeritageOf All, it understands that its mission is not only to open the doors to higher education, but also to walk alongside each student as they experience one of the most unforgettable stages of life. Because the University of Cauca is convinced that education is the most powerful tool to transform territories, build peace, and offer alternatives to the negative dynamics that affect youth.

Approaching its bicentennial, the University of Cauca reaffirms its commitment to remain at the heart of Cauca and Colombia, accompanying young people on the path that will lead them to fulfill their dreams, because this is what happens when comprehensive education is lived with passion and commitment. Without a doubt, successful programs such as PTIES become a source of pride and inspiration to continue believing that education is the answer.