Tuned to risk management and life protection

By: Alejandro García Suárez – Advisory Office for Communications.

Students from the ninth semester of the Environmental Engineering program, specializing in Disaster Risk Management at the Girardot branch, made their mark by participating for the first time in the 14th Annual Conference of the International Society for Integrated Disaster Risk Management.

This important event, entitled “Disaster Resilient Communities for Life”, took place from August 28 to 30, 2024 at the Cartagena Convention Center, marking a historic precedent as it was the first time this meeting was held in Latin America.

María Paula Gómez Leal, Knowledge and Learning Manager for the Environmental Engineering program, expressed her enthusiasm, highlighting that this experience has been one of the most enriching in the university's history. The delegation from Girardot had the privilege of speaking directly with the director of the UNGRD (National Unit for Disaster Risk Management), Carlos Carrillo Arenas, and with prominent representatives of the National Disaster Risk Management System, providing them with valuable perspectives on risk management in the country.

Gómez Leal also highlighted one of the most significant outcomes of the experience: the establishment of an agreement between the University of Cundinamarca and the UNGRD (National Unit for Disaster Risk Management), which will guarantee Environmental Engineering students access to academic internships focused on risk management. “This is a major step forward; it will allow students to access paid internships and will strengthen the university's capacity to contribute with courses that benefit risk management coordinators throughout the country,” he added.

“We highlight the participation of 31 departmental coordinators from disaster risk management units in Colombia. We had the opportunity to connect with the Risk Management Units of Cundinamarca and Tolima, which was crucial for coordinating and generating a significant exchange of knowledge,” Gómez Leal noted.

The event brought together 86 youth delegates from different regions of Colombia and 69 international representatives, creating an environment conducive to the presentation of innovative research and the exchange of valuable experiences.

The central theme of the competition, “Disaster Resilient Communities”, sought to establish the necessary foundations to position Colombia as a global leader in the protection of life and the natural environment.

The participation of these students not only represents a significant milestone for the University of Cundinamarca, but also exemplifies its commitment to comprehensive education and its willingness to address the challenges inherent in disaster risk management. These initiatives strengthen the academic and professional vision of future environmental engineers, empowering them to become true agents of change in their communities and at the national and international levels.

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