Semester after semester, we dream of more young people from the department, the region, and the country becoming Unicaucans. So, seeing this dream come true, it's impossible not to go all out and give them a welcome to remember. For that reason, from January 27 to 31, 2024, we welcomed 1,750 new students with ‘FestiU: Getting to Know Your Home,’ a whole week full of exciting activities designed to make the beginning of this important stage in life unforgettable and filled with pure excitement! Discover how we experienced the induction of first-semester students from the 2025-1 generation in the city of Popayán and in Santander de Quilichao…

After realizing you were accepted into the University of Cauca, millions of thoughts probably crossed your mind… “What will my faculty be like? What will my professors be like? Who will my classmates be?” And if, on top of that, you don’t live in Popayán, you surely wondered, “Where will I live? What is the city like? Will my parents miss me on the farm?” These are completely natural thoughts. But, little by little, everything started to settle until the big day arrived. That day, you woke up early, arrived on time, and began to observe the line of young people gathering to enter the famous CDU of Tulcán.

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After the initial registration, you entered the coliseum, nervously looked for your faculty, and sat down next to your new classmates. While your nerves persisted, you attentively listened to two people speaking into microphones, enthusiastically welcoming you. They presented some videos that excited you, and the anthem of your new home was played. At that moment, you felt a little more at ease, a feeling that grew as you listened to the words of Rector Deibar René Hurtado Herrera, who encouraged you to “…take advantage of this opportunity. Sometimes, when we think about history, we feel distant from it. But I invite you to write history with us, to make these five years a time for learning in your chosen careers, but also a time to experience this institution politically, culturally, in research, in sports, and in all the other opportunities the university offers.” With these words, the nervousness faded, making way for excitement about the many possibilities ahead, and you started to enjoy every moment.

Next, you met the vice-rectors, the deans, and the two students with the highest entrance scores, who received recognition for this important achievement. Then, the student representatives for the university’s various councils introduced themselves, and you got to know the different student groups within Unicauca. Additionally, the university’s cheerleading team put on an incredible performance, showcasing their talent and connection with the audience, reflecting that here, anything is possible. At that moment, you understood the richness of the institution you were joining, the diversity of experiences you could discover, and the universe of opportunities that this place—where lives are transformed, and dreams come true—has in store for you.

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“The freshman welcome event was super cool, very complete, and different. It was something out of the ordinary, and I really enjoyed it. I got to meet so many people. What impressed me the most was the performance by the group doing stunts. I’m super happy, a little nervous, but I feel like I’m going to enjoy this stage a lot,” said Juan Sebastián Daza Ortiz, smiling from ear to ear. He comes from the municipality of Timbío to study Environmental Engineering and chose the University of Cauca for its reputation and outstanding performance in various fields of knowledge. He also considers the curriculum of his chosen program to be very comprehensive.

On the other hand, Nicol Valeria Cuaran Anacona, from the municipality of Valencia (Cauca), who enrolled in the Business Administration program because she loves numbers and is skilled in this area, shared that she feels a bit scared about moving to a new city and being away from her family. “That’s the hardest part about coming to university because you leave your family behind, your entire past life, to start anew in a different city. But it’s something I have to do. Still, I’m very happy. What struck me the most about the welcome event was how each representative spoke, especially when they said that if you receive a public education, you should give back to the public,” Nicol concluded, amidst a rollercoaster of emotions.

At this house of knowledge, we understand what the beginning of this new stage means because many of us who are now part of this institution also arrived at CDU-Tulcán on a Monday, full of dreams. That’s why, through the Vice-Rectorate for Culture and Well-Being, we prepared an entire week to support you in this transition, together and in the best possible way. On Monday afternoon, we toured various university spaces, and in the evening, we launched the Parent School in our iconic Paraninfo Francisco José de Caldas—the same place where, in a few years, we will return your children to you, now as professionals.

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Since we had an intense few days, here’s a quick recap of what we experienced: On Tuesday, we awarded prizes to those who completed the tour (and, by the way, rewarded the sharpest ones), introduced academic mobility and financing opportunities, and enjoyed creative workshops, labs, heritage spaces, and discussions. Wednesday was all about recreation and sports, and the PermaneSer Program offered a training workshop. On Thursday, the Division of Comprehensive Health Management and Human Development organized various activities because your well-being at the university is our priority. To end the day, we had a movie night with snacks and artistic performances—an unforgettable experience!

While students in the Popayán campus were participating in their activities, on Thursday, we kicked off the welcome event at our North Campus in the municipality of Santander de Quilichao. The first part took place at La Casona, where, just like at CDU-Tulcán, the opening words were delivered by Rector Deibar René Hurtado Herrera, this time through an engaging video. Then, Academic Vice-Rector Aída Patricia González Nieva, Vice-Rector for Culture and Well-Being Pedro Aníbal Yanza Mera, and the deans delivered heartfelt messages that filled the new Unicaucans with enthusiasm. The event also recognized the two students with the highest entrance scores, and student representatives took the opportunity to introduce themselves to this new generation. The day concluded with an exciting gymkhana on the University Campus, where, amidst laughter, jumps, and joyful moments, the new students broke the ice and started to feel at home. On Friday, the welcome continued with games and workshops organized by the Vice-Rectorate for Culture and Well-Being, allowing students to learn about all the services available for their well-being. The #FestiU ended successfully with the Parent School, leaving a lasting impression on everyone who attended.

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“I joined the University of Cauca, in the Agroindustrial Engineering program, because I want to support my community. I want to show that agriculture has great value—not as we’ve always seen it, relying on intermediaries to sell our products, but by strengthening ourselves through training and education so that we can innovate and improve the quality of life for our farmers and Indigenous people,” expressed Franky Yesid Troches Tutinás, a young social leader from Nueva Colombia, Santander de Quilichao (Cauca), in the district of Mondomo, whom we are honored to have in our classrooms today.

Meanwhile, Dazuley Lucumí Ortiz, from the municipality of Suárez (Cauca), who joined the Modern Languages Program, shared, “This welcome event is great because, as we are just starting, we get to learn new things. My message to others is to follow your dreams and never give up. It is possible to get into university if you have enough dedication.”

Thus, this institution, which beats for blue and red, which is #HeritageForAll, and which is preparing for its bicentennial, dreams every semester of more young people becoming Unicaucans. Seeing this dream materialize every academic period fills our hearts with joy and motivates us to keep working tirelessly to facilitate access to higher education for every aspiring young dreamer in the department of Cauca and our region.

Finally, we extend our warmest welcome to this new generation, wishing you the best time of your lives, where you will transform and make your dreams come true. You are now officially #ProudlyUnicaucans!

Written by: Communication Management Center