Both the Northern Campus, located in the municipality of Santander de Quilichao, and the main campus of the University in Popayán, will be in celebration during the next few days. Through a varied program featuring events ranging from discussions, presentations, talks about successful experiences, to training sessions, panels, among other activities specially prepared for the occasion, from September 18th to 22nd, the Alma Mater commemorates the 25 years of the heart where all knowledge generation is conceived.

It is not surprising that within an institution of higher education that is approaching its 196th year of existence, a significant volume of knowledge with a great impact on the region has been generated throughout its actions. However, although this house of studies is backed by its historical value, only in the year 1986, as a University, a route was established through which to structure the processes of knowledge generation by creating the Research and Services Center 'CIS', a space that paved the way for the inclusion of the Vice Presidency of Research within the Alma Mater's organic structure in 1997; a Vice Presidency that began its work alongside the Research System in 1998.

Thus, as a result of the formalization of the Vice Presidency of Research - VRI, knowledge production received a strong boost and maturation, promoting the creation of new research doctorates and master's degrees, which undoubtedly positively impacted the process of strengthening the University of Cauca as a high-quality institution with a doctoral focus.

Additionally, it is important to highlight that in 2012, the Science, Technology, and Innovation Fund - FCTeI of the General System of Royalties (SGR) was created, and in 2013, the University of Cauca presented its first project to the SGR, subsequently developing 30 projects, 17 of which are currently in progress.

In this way, the path taken by the Vice Presidency of Research has made great strides, such as Agreement 015, which lays the foundations for the comprehensive development of new knowledge creation by articulating the VRI with the environment, considering all forms of research across different fields of knowledge and the scenarios for its creation and transfer. This is reflected in highly relevant initiatives such as the 'Cauca Lecture: land of knowledge and practices' and the 'Strengthening of municipal libraries in the department,' among others that have allowed integration with different communities in Cauca.

Hence, the current Vice Rector of Research, Dr. Francisco Pino, refers to how "Research projects allow us to reach communities in a different way, to make a university differently. It allows us to approach in a manner that we couldn't achieve with academic programs in places that need the university to address certain needs. Additionally, research allows us to approach the community in a more direct and different way than with academic programs. For this reason, it is very important to highlight the research efforts of the University of Cauca because our research system is increasingly mature, and that maturity allows us to continue to have national and international recognition in each investigation we carry out, achieving a great impact."

So, as 25 years are not reached every day, within the framework of celebrating this special moment for the Vice Presidency of Research, we express our immense gratitude to each and every one of the people who have been part of this team and the dynamics that arise there because it is thanks to those passionate about knowledge production that throughout this entire week, we can joyfully and loudly highlight the importance of what we have achieved over time. Thanks to the professors who have taken the initiative to form research groups, to the students who with dedication and commitment have dared to dream of new ways to view the world, to the staff for advancing the necessary actions to materialize each challenging project, and in general, to all the people from different areas who support this important mission, the driving force that also propels us to seek mechanisms for a better future.

We have many reasons to celebrate these 25 years of achievements; 25 years of challenges and conquests; 25 years of learning and constant evolution. For this and much more, we invite you to explore the agenda we have prepared for you in the following PDF. Finally, we commit ourselves to continue strengthening our processes to continue generating high-value academic knowledge in pursuit of the Excellent and Solidary University that we all dream of.