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Historic! The University of Cauca makes the leap to its first 100% virtual progra...

Historic! The University of Cauca makes the leap to its first 100% virtual program with the new Engineering in AI and Data Science

23 April, 2026

The new academic program, to be offered starting in the second semester of 2026, aims to expand educational coverage and respond to the demands of the digital world by training professionals capable of transforming their environment. With 200 initial slots, the institution opens the doors to a degree that is no longer of the future but of the present, a flexible, high-quality program that can be completed in four years.

The University of Cauca continues advancing its commitment to educational innovation and the expansion of opportunities, marking an unprecedented milestone in its academic trajectory by officially receiving the qualified registration for the Artificial Intelligence and Data Science Engineering program. This achievement, granted through Resolution 9385 of the Ministry of National Education, not only represents the creation of a cutting-edge academic offering, but also becomes the institution’s first fully virtual undergraduate program. The speed with which this registration was approved demonstrates the technical strength of the project and the ability of the Alma Mater from Cauca to respond swiftly to the demands of a digitalized world that requires professionals capable of leading technological transformation from within their territories.

Regarding the significance of this milestone for higher education in the country, the President of the University of Cauca, Deibar René Hurtado Herrera, expressed with enthusiasm: “We have received with great joy the good news from the Ministry of National Education regarding the Qualified Registration of this new program, which will be affiliated with the Faculty of Electronics and Telecommunications. This is the first fully virtual program that we will offer at the University of Cauca, and it will allow us to have a significant territorial presence, as it has been structured through nodes that will cover the entire Cauca region.”

This program, which will begin its offering in the second semester of 2026, has a structure of 136 academic credits and a duration of four years. This new academic program, framed within the goals set out in the Institutional Development Plan 2022–2027 “Towards a University of Excellence and Solidarity,”” specifically under the axis “Education as a generator of potential and opportunities,” promotes comprehensive training aimed at closing gaps and generating a real impact on society. Conceived as a pilot and strategic initiative, this undergraduate program seeks to strengthen the presence of the University of Cauca in digital environments, eliminating geographical barriers to reach territories and populations that have historically faced difficulties accessing in-person education.

In this regard, the director of the Center for Regionalization, Álvaro René Restrepo, highlighted the social impact of this modality: “This is the first Artificial Intelligence Engineering program offered in a fully virtual format in southwestern Colombia by a public university, and the third in the country. This achievement is especially significant at the regional level, as it allows us to reach remote territories such as Piamonte, western Cauca, and the southern part of the department, where we are beginning to establish a presence through nodes. In this way, we expand coverage and help close historical gaps in access to higher education, offering a high-quality virtual program that responds to the current demands of technology, the economy, and the various processes that require professionals in this field of knowledge.”

Thus, the Artificial Intelligence and Data Science Engineering program is projected as a key initiative for social and economic development, training experts capable of analyzing large volumes of information and generating innovative solutions in critical sectors such as health, agriculture, and industry. To ensure that this transition to virtual education maintains the institution’s prestige, the process has been supported by rigorous standards of excellence. According to Alexander Buendía, director of the Center for Quality Management and Institutional Accreditation, “The fact that this program was approved in a relatively short time responds mainly to two factors. First, the collaborative work between the University and the Ministry of National Education. And second, the strength of our Internal Quality Assurance System, which allows us to meet all the requirements established for obtaining the qualified registration of new programs.”

With the launch of this engineering program, the University of Cauca reduces geographical barriers to give way to a true democratization of cutting-edge knowledge. This news is deeply meaningful, as beyond being an academic program, this fully virtual modality becomes a bridge to equity, allowing young people from the region and across the country to enter the most demanding technological fields without having to leave their homes. It represents the evolution of a nearly bicentennial institution that not only understands the digital era, but also uses it as a powerful tool to transform lives, ensuring that the dreams of thousands of students are no longer limited by their location on the map, but can become a reality.

“We celebrate the granting of the qualified registration for the Artificial Intelligence and Data Science Engineering program. We are convinced that it will have a positive impact on the human and professional development of young people in the region and the country. Our goal is to open admissions for the second period of 2026, so we are working in coordination across the University to make this project a reality, one that will transform opportunities in Cauca and Colombia,” stated Alejandro Toledo Tovar, Dean of the Faculty of Electronic Engineering and Telecommunications, the academic unit that will lead the program.

With an initial cohort of 200 pioneers, the University of Cauca reaffirms its mission as a driver of social change and consolidates itself, now more than ever, as a house that is #HeritageOfAll. By combining exceptional quality with flexibility, the University also positions itself as a key actor in Colombia’s digital future. This historic step reaffirms that, through innovation and inclusion, the institution continues to build a more supportive society, demonstrating that academic excellence is the most valuable resource for closing present gaps and leading future opportunities.