From the classroom to reality

UCundinamarca's responsibility for the education of each student extends beyond academics. This is because the Transmodern Digital Educational Model – MEDIT – focuses on holistic development, positioning students as active participants in the society in which they live.

“Students, professors, and administrative staff are called to unite actively around the fundamental task of the university, study: understood as a process of joint construction of knowledge, which, being oriented towards seeking the truth in each of the sciences and disciplines, allows the appropriation of the departmental and national reality —challenging and problematic—, and to consciously undertake the exploration of paths of transformation,” explained Professor David Soler Lemus.

The reality under which any type of approach must be made is that of young people, with the human and social sensitivity that motivates their discontent, aspirations and actions, as explained by the teacher Soler, "to become familiar with the diverse and multiple content of the concerns, worries and interests of young people, and the critical questions that they raise.".

For his part, Professor Jorge Rico, director of CITGO, explains that it is important for teachers to seek to show the reality that is lived through activities such as those carried out by UCundinamarca, through forums with graduates, where students listen to the experiences and challenges they will face upon leaving their training.

“CITGO entrepreneurs have two ways of staying connected to reality as seen from the perspective of entrepreneurship and the national and local context. Within conferences, talks, and training sessions, there are always spaces to discuss the dynamics and changes taking place at the University and within the educational model, how it is progressing, and the technological elements that university entrepreneurs need to be projected at the departmental level. This is done through associations, events organized by the Governor's office and municipalities, fairs, participation, and everything related to regional integration, always connected with the economic development secretariats,“ Rico explained.

Dr. Juan Carlos Méndez, administrative director of the Girardot branch, promotes gatherings of entrepreneurial graduates as a way to motivate young people to face current realities in a different way. Likewise, from a social perspective, and by promoting care for others, the branch's social work has become a tool for connecting with reality.

The teachers agree that it is important to create ample space and time to cultivate and optimize sensitivity, for dialogue that mutually enriches all participants: students, professors, and administrative staff. “Uniting everyone’s life and work with the intention of patiently crafting a societal vision, in accordance with the commitment that the UCundinamarca educational community has to the region and the country in the struggle, in the work of realizing this vision, presents enemies, fears, and threats, both external and internal; however, the essential thing is to persevere vehemently in the pursuit of what we want to achieve,” stated David Soler.

Yulieth Ximena Rincón Manrique, a student of the Bachelor's Degree in Basic Education with an emphasis in languages: Spanish and English at the Faculty of Education of the University of Cundinamarca, who belongs to the Mugali Ñi Malokze group, explained that it is necessary as professionals to approach and know the realities of the communities in order to work closely with them and meet their needs.

“From the research group we have developed work with children from Girardot, who have different types of intelligence, and it is by living this reality that we as teachers in training can determine what our educational strategy is,” said Yulieth Ximena, who developed research on bio-intelligent tools as a pedagogical strategy.

More news from the Girardot branch at the News Agency