13/07/2018
This was the opening ceremony of the Universidad de los Andes’ Caribbean Campus
The arrival of Universidad de los Andes to the Caribbean region is one more milestone in its seventy-year history 
In May 2018, the Universidad de los Andes opened its doors to its Caribbean campus, and, for the first time since it was founded seventy years ago, it expanded from its main campus in Bogotá to another city – the exclusive Serena del Mar urban complex in Cartagena de Indias.
The building was designed by the renowned architect Brandon Haw and is located 12km from the city center. It has classrooms, offices, recreation areas, co-working spaces, all of international quality, and also provides spaces for the development of academic programs as well as initiatives that contribute to the progress of the city and region.
To begin with, the university will offer further education programs and, at a later date, post-graduate diplomas and Master’s degrees.
May 10 – The opening ceremony
Before the opening ceremony, the Dirección de Posicionamiento at the university organized a press conference with the university’s vice-chancellor, Pablo Navas, and the president of Serena del Mar, Daniel Haime, who explained the advantages that opening this new educational center will bring to the national and local press: “this is an open door for the academic community; not only for Colombian universities. We are working together to make alliances with other universities internationally to create academic programs that will be taught in this campus”, highlighted the vice-chancellor who invited journalists to join him for a walk around the campus.
An hour later at five in the afternoon, close to three hundred assistants opened the official ceremony (see the inaugural address video), which was attended by the members of the University´s Superior Council, managers, and teachers as well as rectors from other universities from the region, authorities and important national, regional, and local executives. Vice-chancellor Navas emphasized that collaborative academic work is of vital importance to have a positive impact on the communities and he also stressed that, additionally, “today, Los Andes´ commitment to making a contribution and reaching out to the country is more explicit than ever, and this ceremony clearly illustrates this.”
The main table was comprised by Eduardo Pacheco Cortés – the president of the University´s Superior Council, Daniel Haime – the president of Serena del Mar, and Brandon Haw – the building´s architect and designer who gave a warm welcome to the prestigious institution.
When night fell, guests celebrated and toasted with a glass of wine while a firework display illuminated Cartagena´s skyline.
The building was designed by the renowned architect Brandon Haw and is located 12km from the city center. It has classrooms, offices, recreation areas, co-working spaces, all of international quality, and also provides spaces for the development of academic programs as well as initiatives that contribute to the progress of the city and region.
To begin with, the university will offer further education programs and, at a later date, post-graduate diplomas and Master’s degrees.
May 10 – The opening ceremony
Before the opening ceremony, the Dirección de Posicionamiento at the university organized a press conference with the university’s vice-chancellor, Pablo Navas, and the president of Serena del Mar, Daniel Haime, who explained the advantages that opening this new educational center will bring to the national and local press: “this is an open door for the academic community; not only for Colombian universities. We are working together to make alliances with other universities internationally to create academic programs that will be taught in this campus”, highlighted the vice-chancellor who invited journalists to join him for a walk around the campus.
An hour later at five in the afternoon, close to three hundred assistants opened the official ceremony (see the inaugural address video), which was attended by the members of the University´s Superior Council, managers, and teachers as well as rectors from other universities from the region, authorities and important national, regional, and local executives. Vice-chancellor Navas emphasized that collaborative academic work is of vital importance to have a positive impact on the communities and he also stressed that, additionally, “today, Los Andes´ commitment to making a contribution and reaching out to the country is more explicit than ever, and this ceremony clearly illustrates this.”
The main table was comprised by Eduardo Pacheco Cortés – the president of the University´s Superior Council, Daniel Haime – the president of Serena del Mar, and Brandon Haw – the building´s architect and designer who gave a warm welcome to the prestigious institution.
When night fell, guests celebrated and toasted with a glass of wine while a firework display illuminated Cartagena´s skyline.
Relive the complete inaugural address here
May 11 – The agreement
The buildings in the new campus were opened at nine in the morning by representatives of the main universities in the region who participated in an academic panel (click here to see complete panel). It was moderated by Carl Langebaek, the vice-rector for academic affairs, and its purpose was to articulate efforts and design strategies that would benefit the communities in the north of the country. Alberto Roa, vice-rector for academic affairs at the Universidad del Norte, stated that, “the most positive action we can take is to ally ourselves with transparency and good governance.”
The event ended with a Cooperation Arrangement agreement signed between the Universidad de los Andes, the Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano, the Universidad del Norte, and the Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar. An alliance was consolidated between private and public higher education institutions from the Caribbean to promote inter-university and inter-institutional activities that addressed the region´s future challenges.
As midnight arrived, the historian José Vicente Mogollón gave a conference on the history of the north of Cartagena about its paths, towns, and beaches. This was followed by a lecture by professors from Los Andes and from the Caribbean who talked about topics such as health, biodiversity, peace, art, and culture in the Caribbean.
For all the lectures given during the opening ceremony at the Caribbean campus, click here.
May 12 – The reunion
On Saturday, after a busy opening day, the campus was the setting where the Uniandino spirit was fueled.
Around one-hundred alumni from different faculties reunited to interact and exchange ideas and knowledge as part of a networking initiative that was led by Eduardo Behrentz – the Vice-Rector for University Development and Alumni Relations.
Over these three days, the Universidad de los Andes one again reaffirmed its commitment to quality education in Colombia, as well as its hedging its bet on regionalization, and, through this, its contribution to the country’s development and progress.
Also see:
- The best photos of the buildings at the Universidad de los Andes’ Caribbean campus
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