On Tuesday, June 4th, at the heart of democracy, the Universidad del Cauca officially commenced a full agenda of actions and activities associated with its bicentennial celebrations, a process that will culminate in 2027. The event, which saw the participation of various personalities, including congress members, Unicauca leaders, and alumni, will continue until June 14th of this year.

Celebrating 200 years of academic and institutional life is no small feat, which is why the Universidad del Cauca has already begun the commemorative acts of this grand celebration. And what better venue than the nation’s capital, specifically the Congress of the Republic, to showcase the legacy and history that this house of knowledge has fostered since 1827, the founding year in the department of Cauca. The University has been a clear example of how, from the periphery, the nation is also built, as evidenced by an exhibition on Unicauca’s legacy, along with a literary space and a cultural display.

The event featured the participation of the Universidad del Cauca’s leadership, members of the faculty and administrative staff, alumni, as well as Cauca’s congress members. They proudly celebrated the significance of this institution and its contribution to Colombia. Additionally, they took part in the recognition awarded on behalf of Unicauca to Dr. Gregorio Eljach Pacheco, a distinguished alumnus who, over many years, has upheld the name of the institution where he completed his undergraduate studies. He has also been a key figure in realizing the dreams that have been nurtured through higher education.

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In his opening remarks, Rector Deibar René Hurtado Herrera, while acknowledging the current context of the department of Cauca, emotionally expressed, “We are a university sensitive to the realities and needs of our local, regional, and national environment. We are a university full of people, social organizations, knowledge networks, research groups, and individuals who strive to transform their realities and seek the possibility of co-creating solutions to their needs and requirements.” He highlighted the richness of this institution, which, from southwestern Colombia, works to lay the foundations for a more just and equitable society.

Dr. Gregorio Eljach, as the host, stated, “Today is a very special day for us in the Congress of the Republic, a Congress that has been enriched on many occasions, including today, by graduates of that illustrious center of higher education. This legislative and political debate space has hosted great representatives of advanced thinking, vanguard thinking, and all political and ideological thought that has been cultivated at the Universidad del Cauca. Here, they have come to give their best so that Colombia can be what it is today and to lay the foundations for it to be even better.” Undoubtedly, Dr. Eljach’s words conveyed his great satisfaction at seeing the representation of his Alma Mater in such a historically significant place as the Congress of the Republic.

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Following the inauguration of the exhibition "Universidad del Cauca: Path to the Bicentennial," two panel discussions were held. The first, titled “La Vorágine: Southern Edition,” featured Senator Carlos Alberto Benavides, Professor Felipe Restrepo, and Dr. Juan Carlos Pino, General Director of Publications at Unicauca’s Editorial Seal. This was followed by “Bolívar’s Letters to Mosquera,” a conversation between Dr. Gregorio Eljach and writer Víctor Paz. The day concluded with a cultural showcase, allowing everyone present to enjoy the talent of a part of the Universidad del Cauca and the Cauca region in the nation’s capital.

Finally, it is important to highlight the installation of a permanent exhibition of Unicauca’s editorial production. This display provided a unique opportunity to appreciate the richness and diversity of the University’s academic and literary work, materialized in books, particularly highlighting the significant work being done with the Posteris Lmen collection, an unprecedented project that will see 100 books published by 2027.

We at the Alma Mater of Cauca are deeply honored to bring a representation of the Universidad del Cauca to such an emblematic place. We are delighted that from the country’s center, perspectives can be broadened, and recognition can be given to the historically important processes that have emerged from the periphery, contributing to what we are as a nation. From this university, where we transform lives and make dreams come true, we express our gratitude to all those who made this event possible. We conclude with an important announcement: the exhibition will be open until Friday, June 14th, 2024, as we are keen to ensure that more people can visit and connect with this significant timeline.

Written by:

Communications Management Center