'The University of the East is a reality underway,' said the mayor of Cali, Alejandro Eder: there are already academic programs; where are they offered?

The Mayor's Office of Cali will make available the lot where the University of the East will be built, a project that will transform access to higher education for thousands of young people from this large sector of the district, thanks to an alliance with the National Government.

The news was confirmed by the mayor of Cali, Alejandro Eder, who stated: “Today we reaffirm our commitment to the dreams and future of the young people of eastern Cali. The University of the East is not a promise, it is a reality that has already begun.”

Meanwhile, the district's Secretary of Education, Sara Rodas, confirmed the president's announcement during the 'Council to the Territories' event.

“With this initiative, the District Administration consolidates its commitment to education as an engine of social transformation, innovation and development for the city,” Rodas pointed out.

While the infrastructure works of the new University of the East are being developed, the district of Cali, through its Education Secretariat, will start with an immediate offer of higher education in the so-called Multicampus Nuevo Latir, with 14 academic programs available, thanks to the alliance with the National School of Sport, the Antonio José Camacho University Institution (Uniajc), the University of Valle, the Technical Institute of Labor Education (Intenalco) and the university institution Intep.

The training areas include business management, sports, accounting, systems, industrial electronics, graphic expression and environmental promotion.

"This announcement marks a decisive step towards educational equity, providing real opportunities for professional training without young people from the east having to move to other areas of the city, because this is how Cali recovers, with real opportunities for access to higher education," the Mayor's office noted.

The lot for the University of the East is located next to the second-level public hospital Isaías Duarte Cancino, in the district of Aguablanca.

While construction is underway, young people can attend classes in these 14 initial programs at Nuevo Latir, conceived as an educational complex in 2011 and now operating as a multi-campus university. The Mayor's announcement indicates that these programs are already available at Nuevo Latir.

In July of this year, the National Government had indicated, through a statement, the benefits for young people from the Aguablanca district with neighborhoods such as Marroquín, Mojica, Potrero Grande and Llano Verde.

"This multi-campus will be a real bridge between school and university, allowing hundreds of young people to begin their professional training without leaving their neighborhood," the letter said.

According to government information, the Nuevo Latir multi-campus "is a pioneering model in the country that links secondary and higher education, bringing technical, technological, and professional programs directly to the school facilities. This means that students can begin their professional training from the classroom, with the support of public institutions such as the National Sports School, the Antonio José Camacho University, and the INTEP (National Institute of Technical and Professional Education)."

In its first phase, according to government information, the program expects to enroll more than 400 students, with a projected enrollment of up to 2,600. The goal is for mass enrollment, exceeding 2,000 students, to become a reality by 2028.

Recently, the Cali City Council called on the district administration to address the challenges in education, highlighting the importance of the land for the University of the East. They stated that the issue must be a priority.

City Council President Edison Lucumí said that while some progress has been made in education, challenges remain. He mentioned the high dropout rate, which puts children at risk of falling prey to the criminal gangs operating in the city.

Regarding the 'My Cali Scholarship' program, Lucumí asked for clarification on the selection process and how the slots are assigned, while also inquiring about the School Feeding Program (PAE) and the school transportation service with its oversight.

Another issue, Lucumí said, is the reduction in allocated spaces for coverage, which is a recurring problem, as well as the state of bilingualism. "We don't know how this impacts students in public schools," the councilman stated.

EL TIEMPO Correspondent