Professors from UCundinamarca and the Faculty of Economic Sciences UNAL exchange research experiences

Source: Center for Development Research – National University of Colombia

Thanks to a sponsorship agreement between the National University of Colombia and the University of Cundinamarca, the Interdisciplinary Studies Group on Management and Accounting (INTERGES) of the Faculty of Economic Sciences held a meeting with professors from the departmental university to explore opportunities for joint research. One of the main takeaways from the meeting was the importance of actively involving young people in extracurricular academic and research activities.

Bogotá DC, June 17, 2016 (FCE – CID Communications). The best examples the National University of Colombia can offer of its outstanding research level are its students. Young people like Julián Sandoval, Jonatan Neiva, Natalia Rodríguez, and Esteban Walteros, from the Public Accounting and Business Administration programs in the Faculty of Economic Sciences, are the driving force behind the institution's academic groups. In addition to being involved with the Interdisciplinary Studies Group on Management and Accounting (INTERGES), they are part of the International Financial Reporting Standards Study Committee (CENIIF), which was established through the initiative of the Public Accounting students themselves.

The above is perhaps one of the aspects that most impressed the professors from the University of Cundinamarca (UDEC) who visited the Faculty of Economic Sciences at the National University of Colombia (UN) last Tuesday, June 14, as part of a sponsorship agreement between the two public higher education institutions. Based on the testimonies of these outstanding students and Professors Zuray Melgarejo and Mary Vera-Colina, co-directors of INTERGES, the visitors appreciated how the UN's Faculty of Economic Sciences has managed to consolidate several research groups with high recognition not only from Colciencias (the Colombian agency for science and technology) but also within the national academic community.

“This meeting with the National University of Colombia (UN) is an important step for the University of Cundinamarca, a young, regional institution that has made great strides in research. However, we want to learn how the leading research institution in the country, which is yours, operates. For us, it is essential to unite top-tier research groups like INTERGES with our own, which are also recognized. We are confident that in future events we will be able to create an environment conducive to collaborative research,” stated Manuel Ricardo González Moreno, leader of the PROCEM research group at the University of Cundinamarca.

For Olga Liliana Gutiérrez Castaño, leader of the TEMCON group in the Public Accounting program at UDEC, the collaboration with the FCE UN fosters crucial feedback loops that will strengthen the university's research. "We want to reinforce our outreach efforts as a strategy to help us gain recognition.".

Meanwhile, Fernanda Gálvez, also from TEMCON and leader of one of the research groups at UDEC's Fusagasugá campus, stated: “It is vital to share these spaces with the INTERGES group, as it allows us to gather their positive experiences and channel them to guarantee growth and collaborative support.” Armando Piraquive Cortés, leader of the GREICO group in Public Accounting at the Facatativá campus, shared a similar opinion: “It is a great opportunity to learn about the methods and processes used by the National University of Colombia, which we need to understand to strengthen our research culture, our outputs, and ultimately, to seek the publication of our results.”.

For his part, Luis Alfredo Vargas, a professor at the Ubaté campus, where he leads the ADCODER group and its three research incubators, highlighted the high level of research at the National University of Colombia (UN) and the opportunity to have its support in replicating interesting aspects such as the institution's national and international reach. Another guest was Ricardo Rodríguez, a professor in the Public Accounting program and leader of the SEMICON research incubator, who said: “We are currently developing a research project on public financial information. Specifically, we seek to capitalize on the UN's experience, given that we are both public institutions. The goal is to establish joint projects that will positively impact information management in the Colombian public sector.”.

According to Professor Mary Vera-Colina, the INTERGES group of the Faculty of Economic Sciences at the UN is pleased to receive the visit of the professors and researchers from the University of Cundinamarca because it is a first approach that provides feedback on the experiences of both institutions, especially in common interests such as business management and accounting in its different branches.

“They shared their concerns with us, as they are extremely interested in developing their research policies and becoming closer to the National University of Colombia (UN) because of our track record, especially in the field of economics. During the meeting, we were able to highlight the role our students play as future researchers in Colombian academia; in this regard, the UN places great emphasis on training future researchers.”.

”Likewise, we observed a great deal of overlap with some topics that will surely lead to joint projects in areas such as curriculum development, accounting education, the study of SMEs in the agricultural sector, the impact of regulatory changes in accounting on different Colombian organizations, and, in the case of the UDEC researchers, their strong interest in applying this type of regulation to the spectrum of agricultural activity,” explained Professor Vera-Colina.

For now, the researchers from INTERGES and the University of Cundinamarca plan to continue holding meetings to reach possible academic alliances, in which the participation of students will be fundamental.

More news about the UCundinamarca – UNAL Agreement at the News Agency