On Tuesday, August 15th, in the Council Hall of the University of Cauca, with great excitement and through a solemn ceremony, we welcomed the four new full-time professors who won the call made in the first academic semester of this year.

Being part of one of the best public universities in Colombia with high-quality accreditation is not only a reason for great joy but also a source of deep pride. And the joy is even greater when there's the opportunity to be a part of the faculty body of the Alma Mater Caucana because this achievement is undoubtedly the result of a path full of effort, discipline, commitment, and passion for education and the training of future generations. Therefore, on August 15, 2023, at the facilities of the University of Cauca, the inauguration ceremony for the four new teachers of our University took place—a very exciting moment. As Rector Deibar René Hurtado Herrera expressed to the new professors, "Today you begin to be part of the most valuable heritage that the University has, which is its people. We, like you, were also occasional professors, and after treading our own path, we became full-time professors, and now we have had the possibility of being university executives, but we always recognize ourselves as teachers."

Thus, in the aforementioned event presided over by the university's rector, the Academic Vice-Rector, and the Vice-Rectors of Culture and Welfare and Research, Richard Fernando Dvries Arturo (Chemistry), Jesica Wendy Beltrán Chasqui (Geography), Fernando Andrés Muñoz Gómez (Biology), and Henry Laniado Rodas (Mathematics) took office as members of the teaching staff, a commitment supported by Rectoral Resolution 0791 of August 9, 2023.

As the University of Cauca, we are moved to be part of the life project of thousands of people who see education as an opportunity to transform their lives. We continue our mission to motivate each of the students, teachers, and administrative staff so that they continue their academic training and dare to dream big, striving every day to see all the dreams they hold in their hearts materialized. Yesica Wendy Beltrán, the new full-time teacher of the Geography program, expressed her joy in starting this important stage for her professional development. "Being part of this Alma Mater fills me with great pride, mainly because I am a graduate from here and I am full of goals in the academic field. I am enthusiastic to begin this new challenge, happy to return to my home."

It is impossible, then, not to thank the new teachers for taking on this enormous and strategic commitment to train the future professionals of the country in the fields of Geography, Mathematics, Biology, and Chemistry, becoming the best allies to support those knowledge generation processes that are essential to build a better, fairer, and more equitable future. To contribute and accompany the new generations on their university journey from this regional thinking institution that plays such an important role by being located in a territory as diverse and challenging as Cauca is a very special task.

It's worth noting that the hiring of the new professors and the upcoming calls planned for the following years are part of the Improvement Plan for Institutional Reaccreditation and compliance with Agreement 85 of 2021, which establishes that merit-based competitions should be carried out semi-annually to guarantee the stability of the teaching staff at our Alma Mater. Thus, we would like to inform you that for the second Academic Period of 2023, the second teaching call will be held, aiming to fill 27 vacant positions in various departments of our Alma Mater. Therefore, we invite all applicants to stay tuned to our website and social networks, through which all the necessary information for the application process and corresponding details will be published.

We say goodbye by reaffirming to the prospective applicants of the next merit-based call that this process is based on the commitment to provide high-quality education, framed in the principle of strengthening a Bicentennial, Excellent, and Solidary University.