The Alma Mater Caucana, as a member of the Governance and Peace Table of the State University System (SUE), was designated to be part of the National Participation Committee, created within the framework of the Peace Process between the Colombian Government and the National Liberation Army (ELN). The installation of the National Participation Committee took place on August 3rd of this year in the city of Bogotá, and was attended by the 80 committee members, as well as delegates from the Government, the ELN, and Civil Society.

Diana Granados, the coordinator of the Peace Commission of the University of Cauca, and Hugo Alberto Buitrago Montoya, the director of the Special Peace Unit of the University of Antioquia, who are part of the Governance and Peace Table of the State University System (SUE), were delegated to integrate the National Participation Committee within the Peace Process between the Colombian government and the National Liberation Army (ELN). It is noteworthy that the Governance and Peace Table of the State University System (SUE) is a space for dialogue and coordination involving delegates from the rectors of public universities in Colombia, aiming to promote peace education and advance various actions related to governance and the construction of a fairer and more equitable society.

Thus, alongside a group totaling 80 members, professors Buitrago and Granados were selected as a duo, with Professor Hugo being the primary participant and Professor Diana assuming the role of substitute. All those involved in this committee will be responsible for designing the mechanism through which the participation of civil society within the Peace Process is ensured.

As the University of Cauca, we take pride in being an active part of the National Participation Committee, and from the ethical commitment we have being located in one of the regions most affected by war, we take on with great responsibility the task of continuing to contribute from our work and knowledge to the consolidation of Territorial Peace. Likewise, we celebrate the expressed interest in including society as a whole in order to seek a resolution to the armed, social, and political conflict that the country has experienced for decades.

In this regard, Diana Granados, as the Coordinator of the Peace Commission of our Alma Mater, expressed that "As a university community, our participation is essential, contributing through our analysis and proposals on key issues that will be part of the necessary agreements to build peace and were mentioned in this committee installation space," adding further that "as the University of Cauca, we have significant experience and an important commitment to participation in this new opportunity for peace."

During this session on Thursday, August 3rd, held at Corferias facilities in the Colombian capital, not only was the National Participation Committee installed in the presence of the President of the Republic, Dr. Gustavo Petro, the Government Negotiating Commission led by Otty Patiño, and the ELN Negotiating Commission represented by Commander Pablo Beltrán, but also the bilateral, national, and temporary ceasefire began on August 3rd and will last for 180 days, which is also positive news.

To understand the importance of the role assumed, it is pertinent to mention that the National Participation Committee is a special and transitory body that seeks to design a mechanism to guarantee society's participation in the Peace Process. This committee will unfold in 4 phases extended until 2025, and will have 15 national and 9 regional meetings, through which workshops and various specialized activities will be promoted to collect proposals and recommendations aimed at constructing the National Participation Plan for the Peace Process.

Finally, from the University of Cauca, we reaffirm our commitment and profound interest in supporting and seeking tools and mechanisms for the construction of lasting peace. We offer our role as educators and shapers of dreamers distanced from conflict because 'a university student is one less youth for war.'

For the university leadership, it is fundamental to have the possibility to contribute, in some way, to the achievement of this aspiration that we have as Colombians. From this Administration of Excellence and Solidarity, we will continue to assume as an unpostponable mission the internal and external work that allows us to strengthen spaces that are, in turn, an advancement in the path towards Total Peace.