Jonathan Adrián Muñoz Luna, a Unicauca-trained physiotherapist and current professor at Universidad Mariana in Pasto, returned to his alma mater for an academic residency aimed at strengthening teaching, research, and inter-institutional collaboration between the two higher education institutions.

From May 5 to 9, 2025, the Physiotherapy Program at the University of Cauca welcomed Professor and alumnus Jonathan Adrián Muñoz Luna as part of an incoming academic mobility initiative from Universidad Mariana in Pasto. This initiative strengthens educational, research, and inter-institutional articulation efforts within the Physical Activity and Sports Axis.

“In the field of sports, these mobility experiences are key because they allow us to share and update evidence-based strategies for athlete evaluation and care. Sports physiotherapy must keep pace with technological and scientific advancements, and these spaces enable us to engage with different perspectives, enhance prevention processes, and explore innovative tools such as mobile applications or heart rate variability analysis,” explained Professor Jonathan Adrián Muñoz Luna. He also emphasized that being close to practice environments, talking with students and colleagues, and seeing how educational processes are developed in the field of sports physiotherapy enrich both his teaching and professional practice. “Sport needs physiotherapists who understand the complexity of performance, risk, and recovery, and these experiences help shape precisely that professional profile,” he added.

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During his stay, this Unicauca alumnus led a session for students of the Sports Elective titled “Mobile Applications for Athlete Evaluation,” where he introduced cutting-edge digital tools applied to the clinical-sports context. In addition, he worked with seventh-semester students in the Physical Activity and Sports practicum to conduct a session on “Heart Rate Variability as a Marker of Cardiovascular Risk and Sudden Death in Athletes,” promoting critical and applied analysis of these indicators in sports physiotherapy.

Throughout his visit, he toured various practicum sites within the axis, acknowledged the work being done by faculty and students, and participated in structuring collaborative research processes between the Physiotherapy Programs at Universidad del Cauca and Universidad Mariana, with the clear goal of launching joint academic and scientific initiatives.

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For our institution, it is clear that these mobility experiences strengthen the bond between our alumni and their alma mater, while also contributing to the development of meaningful learning experiences for students in training. By creating spaces for connection and dialogue between those who have already walked the university halls and those who are currently in the process, we foster an exchange of knowledge, perspectives, and experiences that deeply enrich academic life. Moreover, such interactions help highlight inspiring professional trajectories, expand career horizons, and promote a strong sense of belonging to the university community — encouraging an active network of collaboration and mutual support. We are proud to share experiences like this one, which once again affirms that Unicauca will always be your home.

 

Written by: Center for Communication Management