Girardot branch: closer to ISO 14001 certification

As a result of the audit conducted from October 26 to 29 by ICONTEC, the Girardot branch was recommended to receive ISO 14001 certification. This means that the institution's Environmental Management System meets international requirements regarding environmental and nature protection.

This recognition was obtained within the framework of the programs of the Institutional Environmental Management Plan – PIGA, especially in aspects such as: solid waste management, efficient use of energy, water, materials, ecosystem services and university environmental projects.

“In the development of the audit, three fronts were evaluated: the documentary component based on the standard, the facilities and the environmental culture of the university community,” mentioned Edith Rosana Serrano, environmental manager of the Girardot Branch.

“Compliance with all operational guidelines and controls was also validated, as well as adherence to current legal and other environmental requirements, and the constant feedback provided to the university community in general to strengthen environmental awareness. It is worth noting that the certification will be valid for three years, with continuous improvement being monitored annually,” Edith added.

As a result of this audit, the same recommendation was also obtained for the Facatativá extension, thanks to the work carried out at the El Vergel Agro-environmental Unit. “We wanted to begin the gradual institutional certification with the campuses that had made the most progress in environmental management. Internal audits will soon be carried out at other branches (Ubaté) and extensions (Chía),” explained engineer Sandra Milena León, Coordinator of the University's Environmental Management System.

Path to certification

To reach the ICONTEC audit, a long and complex process had to be undertaken. “This certification project, which is a goal of the Development Plan, has been underway for several years, beginning with a restructuring of the Environmental Management System in 2019,” explains engineer León.

This transformation has been total. “Different strategies were implemented, such as renewable photovoltaic energy systems represented by 114 solar panels. The tree inventory was increased, which has a positive impact, also contributing to the expansion of the shaded area of the branch, and we were pioneers in composting production, transforming the branch into one of the greenest locations of the Institution,” the engineer pointed out.

Furthermore, according to her, a strategy was developed for the management of different types of waste, which helps the efficient entry of waste into landfills and reduces the carbon footprint and significant negative impacts generated in the development of the University's mission activities.

“In this way, the environmental culture of the university community has been strengthened, with the participation of administrative staff, teachers and students, with a translocal impact, since they experience it even within their homes,” said Sandra.

With this certification to be received from ICONTEC, UCundinamarca ratified its commitment from the nature dimension of the Transmodern Digital Educational Model (MEDIT) to the fulfillment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and to being a leader as a Green University in the public university sector of the country.

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