Educational progress and strategic alliances in Facatativá

By: Alejandro García Suárez – Advisory Office of Communications

In an interview with the UCundinamarca News Agency, William Andrés Castañeda Celeita, administrative director of the Facatativá extension campus, highlighted the significant achievements and administrative management during 2024. Castañeda emphasized the improvements in educational infrastructure and the creation of collaborative spaces, fundamental elements for facilitating learning and knowledge management. With a focus on educational investment and the renewal of academic records, the extension campus has consolidated its position in the region, establishing strategic alliances that respond to the needs of the community.

The administrative management has been equally remarkable, with advancements such as the acquisition of a mobile psychology unit, which will allow for addressing clinical problems in different municipalities of Cundinamarca. Furthermore, 92 students have received financial awards for their academic excellence, ensuring their continued enrollment at the university.

Castañeda Celeita also mentioned the investment in the maintenance of sports facilities and the construction of specialized laboratories, reaffirming the commitment of the Facatativá extension to educational quality and the integral development of its students.

UCundinamarca News Agency (ANUC): What is the overall assessment of the management during the 2024 period?

William Andrés Castañeda Celeita (WACC): The overall assessment is positive, although there is always room for improvement. We recognize that we are in a constant process of renewal and improvement of our processes, identifying areas where we can move towards continuous improvement. Among the highlights is the administrative management related to investment in educational processes, such as the excellence bonus.

We have also made progress in budget execution, linking infrastructure projects and renewing academic registrations, as well as granting registrations for Master's programs in the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences. Furthermore, we have established strategic alliances with public and private entities that have strengthened our presence in the region, addressing the needs of the community. In addition, it is important to mention the participation of the Facatativá extension in programs offered at the national and international levels.

ANUC: From an administrative perspective, what outstanding advances or achievements were made during the year 2024?

WACC: In the administrative sphere, I want to highlight some important achievements we have accomplished with the unwavering support of the Rector, the entire leadership of the institution, and the team at the Facatativá Extension. One of the most significant projects is the acquisition of a mobile psychology unit, a laboratory representing an investment of approximately 1.3 billion pesos. This will be the first and only one of its kind, allowing us to address clinical problems in various municipalities of Cundinamarca. Dr. Rafael Cortes Lugo, coordinator of the psychology program, will lead this initiative, contributing to improved public health in the region.

Furthermore, I want to highlight the collaboration with the Mayor's Office of Facatativá. Mayor Luis Carlos Casas has been instrumental in awarding financial recognition to 92 students for their academic excellence, a total of 120 million pesos that ensures their continued enrollment at the university and supports their efforts to maintain high academic averages.

Regarding infrastructure, we have addressed the maintenance needs of our sports facilities, a project involving an investment of approximately 145 million pesos, ensuring that our spaces are suitable for sports activities. We have also made progress on the construction of the Agro-environmental Unit, with a planned investment of between 34 and 36 billion pesos, and we have already obtained the building permit.

We have allocated 8 billion pesos for 2025 and are currently seeking additional funding from the Ministry of Education to carry out this project, which will expand university coverage and diversify the academic offerings at the Facatativá campus. Furthermore, since 2019, we have been working on the construction of a fluid mechanics and hydraulics laboratory, with an allocated budget of 1 billion pesos for 2025, which will allow us to offer more comprehensive training to our students.

ANUC: What do you consider to be the main academic achievements obtained in 2024?

WACC: In the academic sphere, I want to highlight the participation of the work teams, program coordinators, Knowledge and Learning Managers, and the students, who have led their participation in various academic and scientific events. One example of this is the Psychology Congress, where the participation of national and international experts was noteworthy. I also want to mention the partnership with the Facatativá Hospital, which has facilitated the integration of advanced training and clinical placements.

Furthermore, the Environmental Engineering program had a notable presence at COP16, where our students and Knowledge Managers presented papers on climate change. Meanwhile, the Agronomic Engineering program participated in a congress in Popayán, addressing topics such as ancestral knowledge, food security, and the Sustainable Development Goals. I would also like to mention the strategic alliance with the DIAN (National Tax and Customs Directorate), which enabled 92 students from the Public Accounting program to become certified as accounting advisors, a benefit that will extend to both students and businesses in the department.

ANUC: In addition to what has been mentioned, what other relevant aspects marked this period?

WACC: A key challenge for 2025 is the camp we held this year at the El Vergel Agro-environmental Unit. Students and Knowledge Managers from countries such as Bolivia, Mexico, and Brazil participated. Our goal is to improve the participation of our students and faculty in these types of events. To achieve this, we aim to increase budget execution and secure significant infrastructure resources to meet the needs of our students.

Likewise, we hope that the acquisition of the Mobile Unit will contribute to improving the quality of life of people in our community, and that our students will receive training that is closer to local realities, thus honoring our legacy of educating for life, which is the essence of the Facatativá extension and the University of Cundinamarca.

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