The University of Cauca extends an invitation to its academic community and to all interested citizens to take part in the Public Accountability Hearing for the 2024 term. This space will be led by Rector Deibar René Hurtado Herrera, together with the Senior Management team, who will present the management report from the past year. It is an opportunity to show how, through higher education, dreams are woven, opportunities are built, territories are strengthened, and lives are transformed. The event will take place this Thursday, May 22, 2025, starting at 10:00 a.m., in the Francisco José de Caldas Paraninfo.

This institution, which is #HeritageForEveryone, calls upon its university community and all interested individuals to learn about the achievements reached and the challenges overcome during 2024, through this Public Accountability Hearing. It is a space for transparency and citizen participation, in which the current university leadership will present the progress made in the Institutional Development Plan 2023–2027, entitled “Towards a University of Excellence and Solidarity.” This roadmap is enabling us to continue weaving dreams that transform lives.

In light of this context, Rector Deibar René Hurtado Herrera highlights some of the recent milestones that will be shared this coming Thursday, May 22, in the Paraninfo Francisco José de Caldas:
“Looking back at the work done throughout 2024, I believe the most meaningful accomplishment was the approval of the University Stamp Law and its corresponding Ordinance by the Departmental Assembly, which increased the stamp tax collection for the University of Cauca to 1%. I also want to emphasize the work carried out through the Immediate Transition to Higher Education Program (PTIES), which allowed young people from remote municipalities—often with limited access to higher education—to reach the University of Cauca. Likewise, I highlight the support offered by the Office of Research, which enabled our groups and researchers to participate in the national researcher classification call, whose preliminary results are very positive for the University. Lastly, I must point out the qualified academic program registrations obtained with a view to institutional reaccreditation in 2027, and the ISO 9001 certification granted by ICONTEC, which contributes significantly to the strengthening of our academic and administrative management.”

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In this same spirit, it is important to remember the role played by the Office of Internal Control as an evaluator of administrative processes within the institution. “From the Internal Control approach, and as a third line of defense, we highlight—as good practices in the 2024 Accountability Report—those spaces that promote transparency, participation from the university community, and co-responsibility. Furthermore, we underscore the publication and sharing of reports, progress, and results through the University’s institutional media. This ensures our stakeholders’ right to information and contributes to strengthening those bonds of trust,” stated Lesly Sahur Garzón, Head of the Office of Internal Control at the Alma Mater of Cauca.

For his part, Andrés Felipe Rivera Fierro, Head of the Office of Planning and Institutional Development, reflected on the progress made in implementing the current Institutional Development Plan:
“The progress in terms of physical goals and financial execution has exceeded the expectations initially established in our strategic matrix. In fact, the action plans for the first and second years of the rectoral term have surpassed 100% of the expected goals, achieving a cumulative percentage above 40%—a figure that aligns with the time elapsed in the implementation of the Institutional Development Plan ‘Towards a University of Excellence and Solidarity’. In short, the outcome is outstanding, and it is the result of the ongoing support and close monitoring that we from the Office of Planning provide to all university departments.”

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Thus, this coming Thursday, Unicauca will open the doors of one of its most emblematic venues—the Paraninfo Auditorium—so that students, professors, administrative staff, and everyone who feels this institution as their own can come together once again. Because building a university of excellence and solidarity is a collective commitment, and every member is a key piece. For this reason, our institution hopes you will join, participate, and learn firsthand how public resources are managed, and also the achievements and challenges that we face together. The voice, questions, and presence of the community are essential in continuing to strengthen this dream we call University.

Those who wish to learn more about the 2024 Management Report can do so through the following link. And if you would like to share your thoughts or questions about our work, you can do so using the form available here. Whether during the Public Accountability Hearing or in the days that follow, you will certainly receive a response to your observations, comments, or inquiries. At the University of Cauca, we care deeply about building stronger ties and creating open channels for dialogue.

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Lastly, it is worth noting that the Public Accountability Hearing will be broadcast live via Unicauca’s official Facebook Fan Page, YouTube channel, and through the Unicauca Estéreo radio frequencies: 104.1 FM in Popayán and 93.6 FM in Santander de Quilichao, as well as through the online broadcast. 

We warmly invite you to be part of this exercise in transparency, dialogue, and collective construction—because an informed university is a stronger university, capable of continuing to weave dreams that transform lives. We look forward to seeing you, ready to fulfill this commitment to good governance and ethical responsibility.

 

Written by: Center for Communications Management