On Tuesday, June 4, at the facilities of the House of Democracy, the Universidad del Cauca formally began a full agenda of actions and activities associated with its bicentennial celebrations, a process that will culminate in 2027. The event, which was attended by various personalities, including congresspeople, university officials, and alumni, will continue until June 14 of the current year.

Celebrating 200 years of academic and institutional life is no small achievement, which is why the Universidad del Cauca has already begun the commemorative events for this grand celebration. And what better setting than the capital city, specifically at the Congress of the Republic, to showcase the legacy and history that this institution has developed since 1827, the year it was founded in the department of Cauca. The university has been a clear example of how, even from the periphery, a nation is built through an exhibition about the Alma Mater of Cauca, as well as a literary space and a cultural showcase.

The event was attended by the leadership of the Universidad del Cauca, faculty and administrative staff, alumni, and Caucan congresspeople, who, in addition to proudly celebrating the significance of this institution and its contribution to Colombia, were also participants in the recognition awarded in Unicauca's name to Dr. Gregorio Eljach Pacheco, an illustrious alumnus who has long upheld the institution's name and played a key role in realizing the dreams woven from higher education.

Thus, in his opening remarks, Rector Deibar René Hurtado Herrera, while acknowledging the current context faced by the department of Cauca, expressed with emotion that 'We are a university sensitive to the realities and needs of our local, regional, and national environment; we are a proactive university full of people, social organizations, networks of knowledge, research groups, practitioners, and individuals who strive to transform their realities and seek the possibility of co-creating alternative solutions to their needs and requirements,' referring to the richness of this institution that, from southwestern Colombia, works to lay the foundations for a fairer and more equitable society

For his part, Dr. Gregorio Eljach, in his role as host, expressed: 'Today is a very special day for us in the Congress of the Republic; a Congress that has been enriched on many occasions, and is today also enriched by graduates of that illustrious center of higher education, a venue for legislation and political debate, which has had and hosted great representatives of progressive thought, cutting-edge thought, and all the political and ideological thoughts that were shaped at the Universidad del Cauca and have come here to give their best so that Colombia is what it is today and to lay the foundations for it to become even better.' Undoubtedly, his words reflected how pleased Dr. Eljach was to see the representation of his Alma Mater in such a historic place as the Congress of the Republic.

After the inauguration of the exhibition 'Universidad del Cauca: Path to the Bicentennial,' two discussion panels were held. The first, titled 'La vorágine: Southern Edition,' featured Senator Carlos Alberto Benavides, Professor Felipe Restrepo, and Dr. Juan Carlos Pino, General Director of Publications at the Editorial Seal of the Universidad del Cauca. This was followed by the panel 'Letters from Bolívar to Mosquera,' a meeting between Dr. Gregorio Eljach and writer Víctor Paz. To conclude the day, a cultural showcase was held, allowing everyone present to enjoy the talent from the Universidad del Cauca and the Cauca region in the capital city.

Finally, it is important to highlight that a permanent display of the Universidad del Cauca's editorial production was also set up, offering a unique opportunity to appreciate the richness and diversity of the university’s academic and literary work, materialized in books. Notably, the significant work being done with the Posteris Lumen collection was emphasized—a groundbreaking project that, by 2027, will have published 100 books.

From the Alma Mater of the people of Cauca, we are very honored to bring a showcase of the Universidad del Cauca to such an emblematic place. We are pleased that, from the centrality of the country, they can broaden their perspective and recognize how historically, important processes have been developed from the periphery that have contributed to what we are as a nation. From this university, where we transform lives and make dreams come true, we reiterate our gratitude to everyone who made this space possible and conclude with an important announcement: the exhibition will be open for visits until next Friday, June 14, 2024, as it is our interest that more people can come and connect with this great timeline.