Ambassador of global education

By: Alejandro García Suárez – Advisory Office of Communications

From Toronto, Canada, a Colombian is making history in the international education field. Jehison Ernesto Castañeda Ibáñez, a graduate of the Systems and Computer Engineering program at the University of Cundinamarca, Fusagasugá campus (class of 2002), has become a role model for excellence, innovation, and commitment to education.

Castañeda Ibáñez has not only achieved professional success in a global environment, but now leads a pioneering project: the creation of the first educational institution in Canada to offer programs with Spanish translation, an unprecedented initiative approved by the country's Ministry of Universities.

“I emigrated six years ago seeking a different life, doing things right and adapting as best I could,” he says. That process led him not only to obtain Canadian citizenship, but also to identify a fundamental need: the language barrier in accessing quality education for Spanish speakers.

Inspired by his alma mater's Transmodern Digital Educational Model (MEDIT), he understood that continuous learning was the key to advancement. He specialized in Business Intelligence, earned diplomas in data analysis from the Toronto School of Management and ONTEI (Ontario Tech Institute), and is about to complete a master's degree in Digital Transformation.

With experience at companies like MercadoLibre and in the oil sector, she currently works in Data Governance for Scotiabank, one of Canada's largest banks. However, her greatest achievement has been elevating education by creating an accessible, high-quality learning environment for Latinos in North America.

Ontei – Ontario Tech Institute, your institution, in addition to breaking down language barriers, has established agreements to offer scholarships to Colombian and Latin American students, allowing them to access international training in their language and from their culture.

Jehison points out that in Canada he faces competition from highly qualified professionals from around the world, which presents a significant challenge. “The education I received at the University has allowed me to keep pace with these professionals, demonstrating that I have the skills to compete on equal terms,” he states.

Furthermore, he encourages young people at the University of Cundinamarca to pursue their dreams and goals, highlighting the fundamental role of education as a springboard to achieve them.

Jehison Castañeda is not only an ambassador for the University of Cundinamarca in the world; he is a living bridge between cultures, an example of how education, perseverance and pride in one's roots can transform lives and open new frontiers.

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