Coordinates: 4.601613°N 74.

065173°W

University of Los Andes (Colombia)

The University of Los Andes (Spanish: Universidad de los
University of Los Andes
Andes), also commonly self-styled as Uniandes,[1] is a private
research university located in the city centre of Bogotá, Universidad de los Andes
Colombia. Founded in 1948 by a group of Colombian
intellectuals led by Mario Laserna Pinzón, it was the first
Colombian university established as nonsectarian (independent
from any political party or religious institution).[2][7] Los Andes
has consistently been regarded as one of the best Colombian
universities—very often ranked as the best—one of the top 10 in
Latin America, and one of the top 300 world universities,
according to both the QS World Top University Ranking and the
Times Higher Education Classification.[8][9]
[1]
The university is academically composed of nine schools, three
Type Private
special academic entities[10]—the Alberto Lleras Camargo
School of Government, the Center for Research and Training in Established November 16,
Education (Spanish: Centro de Investigación y Formación en 1948[2]
Educación, CIFE), and the Interdisciplinary Center for Affiliation Nonsectarian
Development Studies (Spanish: Centro Interdisciplinario de Rector Alejandro Gaviria
Estudios sobre Desarrollo, CIDER)—and a joint academic Uribe [3]
venture with the medical institution Santa Fe de Bogotá
Academic staff 1,457a
Foundation,[11] offering 31 undergraduate, 18 doctoral, and 38
graduate degree-granting programs[4] in areas of human Administrative 1,910[4]
staff
knowledge such as medicine, engineering, science, law and
others.[7][12] Students 24,653b
Undergraduates 12,497[4]
As of 2011, the university had given birth to 128 research groups
Postgraduates 2,515[4]
recognized by Colciencias, most of them in the social sciences,
mathematics, physics and engineering.[4] By 2017, the number of
Doctoral 276[4]
students
groups recognized by Colciencias has increased to 153 research
Other students 1,688
groups. It is one of the few Colombian universities to have
(Specialization)[4]
received high quality institutional accreditation by the Colombian
7,677
Ministry of Education, given in January 2015.[13]
(Continuing
education)[4]
Location Bogotá,
Contents Colombia
History 4.601613°N
Historical context 74.065173°W
Foundation and early years (1949-1955) Campus Urban
Later developments (1955-present) 24 acres
Mission (97,124.6 m2)
[5]
 Staff Colours Black and Yellow
Student population
Academic structure Nickname Uniandes

International students Affiliations Universia,[6]

Asociación
Campus
Colombiana de
University rankings
Universidades
Organization and structure
Mascot Séneca the Goat
Mascot
Website www.uniandes
Notable alumni .edu.co (http://w
See also ww.uniandes.ed
References u.co)

External links a This is a sum of 581 FTE

professors, 105 faculty developing
teachers, and 771 tenured
professors.[4]
History

Historical context
In 1930, the Colombian presidential elections resulted in the appointment of Liberal party candidate
Enrique Olaya Herrera to an office that had been, since 1880, under Conservative control.[14] The latter
years of this Conservative Republic were punctuated by events such as the Banana massacre, which may
have been a contributing factor to the Colombian Conservative Party's loss of the presidency.[15]

During this new period of Liberal government, known as the Liberal

Republic, the administrations of Alfonso López Pumarejo (1934-1938 and
1942-1946) implemented changes intended to modernize the country.
Restructuring of higher education, in particular of the National University of
Colombia in 1935, agrarian reform in 1936, and general promotion of
industrialization resulted in rapid economic changes and growth.[15]
According to some estimates, around 50% of existing Colombian
corporations in 1945 were founded between 1940 and 1945, promoting the
accumulation of wealth and the creation of a new middle class with political
interests and international aspirations.[16]:30

However, in order to continue industrial development, there was an urgent

Liberal president Alfonso
need for skilled labor, reflected in the speech given by the Colombian
López Pumarejo started Minister of Education to the Congress of Colombia in 1946:[17]
the Revolución en
Marcha in 1934. We have a lack of engineers, architects, physicians, dentists,
agronomists, veterinarians, chemists and even lawyers (...) in
sufficient quantities to attend to the country's needs, and the
only solution lies in the enlargement of the universities... in the
creation of a university for the country, that responds to what
the country calls for.
 — Germán Arciniegas, Memoria del señor Ministro de
Educación Nacional, Germán Arciniegas, al Congreso de
1946, Bogotá, 1946

These words echo the suggestions made around 35 years earlier by liberal leader Rafael Uribe Uribe
regarding the need for the modernization of the educational system.[16]:35 These intellectual currents
were coherent with previous educational developments such as the foundation of the Gimnasio Moderno
in 1914.[16]:37:43–50 Amid the political tension and violence caused by the loss of liberal power in the
1946 elections, social unrest, and industrial growth, leftist liberal presidential candidate Jorge Eliécer
Gaitán was assassinated on April 9, 1948, in an event that shook the country and was taken by the
founders as "the best argument for the foundation of the university".[16]:54

Foundation and early years (1949-1955)

In November 1948, around a year after arriving back in Colombia from Columbia University,
accompanied by intellectuals from the elites of both traditional parties, Mario Laserna Pinzón founded
the Universidad de los Andes as the first nonsectarian and non-politically affiliated university in
Colombia. The main goals with the establishment of the University were to provide Colombia with
professionals whose technical knowledge benefited the development of the country, which made it
necessary for them to study abroad and bring this knowledge back;[16]:77 and who would become leaders
of their nation in the post-war world, facilitated by founders, faculty, and staff occupying important posts
in government and institutions.[16]:58 In practice, Uniandes would be modeled after the American
university,[16]:110 and its students would receive not only technical but also liberal education, in
accordance to the need for the development of the human intellect for a practical, altruistic purpose, as
per the Declaration of the Principles of the Founders.[7]

Classes started the 29th of March, 1949, with only 80 students taking courses from a small set of
faculties and schools. Of note was the Colegio de Estudios Superiores, or college, which was modeled on
the American university college and had the responsibilities of offering classes on Humanities, Spanish,
English, Contemporary Civilization, and Colombian Geography & History. Classes belonging to distinct
curricula, but not specific to each, such as mathematics for Engineering and Architecture students, were
also the responsibility of the college.[16]:67 By the second academic year, in 1950, there were around 400
applications for 110 places of study in Uniandes.[16]:110

Increasing political violence in Colombia during the 1950s did not change the University's stance
towards political neutrality, and the inclusion of government representatives in the Board, as well as
rectors and administrative staff belonging to both Conservative and Liberal parties, ensured good
relations with conservative, military, and liberal Colombian administrations.[16]:83–84

Starting in 1950, the three/two program was established at first with the University of Illinois at Urbana–
Champaign.[16]:102 Through it, Uniandes students were able to course 5 semesters, or three years, at
home, and then transfer to an American university to complete their undergraduate program.
Participating universities included Pittsburgh, MIT, Vanderbilt, and Texas, among others.[16]:103 The
funds for tuition expenses in the United States were initially provided by Colombian industries such as
Avianca and Paz del Río Steelworks; American philanthropic institutions (the Rockefeller Foundation);
and Colombian, Canadian, and American private individuals. To manage these assets, the University
hired ICETEX, a government agency established by University founder and then-Minister of Education
Gabriel Betancourt, whose objective was to promote Colombian students abroad through grants and
scholarships.[16]:104

Throughout the early 1950s, diverse experiments were carried out by the University as per its aspirations
to fulfill the needs of its country and become an internationally recognized institution. Some of them
failed, such as the Faculty of Aeronautic Sciences, due to low student interest; the Institute for
Conservation of Natural Resources, which granted non-professional degrees on its subject matter; and the
Preparatory Lyceum of Pereira, intended to equip high school students of this city with the necessary
tools to thrive in Uniandes.[16]:112 Important successes were attained by the Cultural Extension Section:
the organization of academic conferences whose speakers included the likes of John von Neumann,
Arnold J. Toynbee, Hideki Yukawa, Thornton Wilder, and others.[16]:114 The subjects and structure of
these conferences would give way to the establishment of the Female Section of the University in 1953,
though its programs of study did not confer professional degrees.[16]:115 Active recruitment of foreign
professors from abroad and from other Colombian educational institutions, such as the National
University, the Normal Superior School, and the Gimnasio Moderno, was also an important strategy for
the administrative staff in the initial years of Uniandes.[16]:116

Later developments (1955-present)

Mission
The University of Los Andes states that it is “an autonomous, independent, and innovative institution that
fosters pluralism, tolerance, and respect for ideas; it seeks academic excellence and imparts to its students
a critical and ethical training to strengthen their awareness of their social and civic responsibilities, as
well as their commitment to the environment.”

Staff
As of 2014 Los Andes' faculty members were mainly full-time academics, of whom 70% had a PhD from
a top university in the world. Los Andes has traditionally supported instructors in undertaking their
master's and PhD studies in different subject areas in renowned foreign universities.

Student population
55% male, 45% female
30% come from outside Bogotá
95% of the undergraduate students come from the top 1% of the high school students in the
country

Academic structure
Students can register in classes from all academic programs offered at Los Andes; this interdisciplinary
approach allows students to design their own curricular program, with the assistance of academic
advisors. The following scheme shows the academic structure at Uniandes, which includes four cycles: a
Basic Professional Cycle (CBP, in Spanish), which refers to the basic subjects belonging to each
program; a Cycle of Elective Courses in Socio-humanistic issues (CSH, in Spanish), common to all
programs and that offers about 180 courses; a Professional Cycle
(CP, in Spanish), which includes the main professional subject for
each program; and a Professional Complementary Cycle (CPC),
which includes subjects from the specific program and subjects
from other programs.

International students
International students can attend the university as visiting
Mario Laserna building of University
students, who must be enrolled in at least three courses per
of los Andes
semester, or exchange students, who can take between two and
six courses per semester. Los Andes has academic exchange
programs with more than 119 universities in 34 countries worldwide.

Campus
Uniandes started academic activities
in terrains rented from the
Community of the Good Shepherd, a
religious institution, and would
continue to do so for around five
years before buying the first plots of
land, with a size of approximately
0.025 square kilometers. Included in
the purchase were several buildings
that were used by the religious
community, such as a convent and a
prison for women. Due to the low
university population, the existing
buildings were mostly restored and
conditioned to provide adequate
facilities for academic activities. Campus of University of Los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia, taken from
neighboring buildings of CityU, in January, 2017.
The campus is largely made up of a
mixture of renovated industrial and
religious buildings and newly constructed facilities. The infrastructure covers 180,551 sq mt and includes
approximately 116 classrooms, 219 laboratories, a central library, and five satellite libraries (specialized
by areas), were more than 445,000 books are available for students. It also has 26 computer rooms and
six service units that hire out laptops, offering nearly 2,000 computers for student use (16.5 computers
for each 100 students). As of 2017, there are 3,019 computers available for student use in the computer
rooms.

In 1956 a metallic cylindrical structure now known as La Caneca (the Trash Bin) was installed on
campus. La Caneca is the sports center of the university and it is composed of a gym, a pool, and various
courts for sports like tennis, squash, and football.
The university's campus is in Bogota's historical center, an area that houses most of the city’s buildings of
cultural interest, universities, banks, and large Colombian companies; the main offices of the national and
local government; and a variety of cultural meeting places, such as libraries, museums, theatres, scientific
and literary centers, and art galleries.

Also on campus are:

Central cafeteria and many other food stations inside and outside the campus
Gym and sports facilities
Health services
Rest and study areas
In addition to the main campus, the university also has an Internships Center for the Medicine Faculty,
located at the Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, in the northern part of the city. Uniandes and Fundación
Santa Fe—one of the most renowned medical institutions in the country—engage in a joint academic
venture.

University rankings
Universidad de los Andes has been consistently ranked as one of the best universities in Colombia, along
with Universidad Nacional de Colombia, and Pontifical Xavierian University, and has been considered
one of the top 10 Latin American universities and one of the top 300 in the world.

Organization and structure University rankings

Global
The university has a Board of Directors, an Executive committee,
[19]
a Rector, and three Vice Rectors, for academic and administrative THE World 261
management. It also has a General Secretary, an Academic QS World[18] 234
Council, department deans and coordinators, Faculty Councils,
academic and administrative staff and departments for the smooth operation of the institution.

Mascot
The mascot of Uniandes is a goat called Seneca, after the Roman
Stoic philosopher. Its story dates back to the late 1940s when a
goat roamed the campus freely. Students adopted it, and it soon
became a symbol of the university. The goat died in 1966 when it
fell off a cliff. Today it is not possible to keep a goat on campus,
but Seneca is fondly remembered. The wireless spots are named
after the goat, and every year a goat is brought to the university to
celebrate "Students' Day."
Seneca the goat. Designed by
Jonathan Estrada. The official
mascot of University of the Andes

Notable alumni
César Gaviria – President of Colombia from 1990 to 1994 and Secretary General of the
Organization of American States (1994-2004)
Alejandro Gaviria Uribe – Former 3rd Minister of Health and Social Protection of Colombia
 Andrea Echeverri - Musician, lead singer of alternative rock band Aterciopelados
Juan Carlos Echeverry (politician) – Current CEO of Ecopetrol and was the 68th Minister of
Finance and Public Credit of Colombia
María Ángela Holguín – Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, formerly the 25th Colombian
Ambassador to the UN and Ambassador to Venezuela
Rafael Pardo Rueda – Former 1st Minister of Labour of Colombia and formerly member of
the Colombian Senate
Carlos Rodado Noriega – Current Colombia Ambassador to Argentina, formerly 28th and
9th Minister of Mines and Energy of Colombia, Ambassador to Spain and member of the
Chamber of Representatives of Colombia
Sergio Fajardo – Former Governor of Antioquia (2012-2016) and mayor of Medellin (2004-
2007)
Simón Vélez – Prize-winning architect known for his innovative use of bamboo as an
essential building component
Luis Caballero (painter) – Famous Colombian painter
Paola Turbay – Colombian-American actress and former Miss Colombia (1992)
Gabriela Tafur –Miss Colombia (2018)
Ana Maria Rey – Colombian theoretical physicist awarded the Genius Grant by the
MacArthur Foundation for her research on ultra-cold atoms (1999)

See also
List of Muisca research institutes
Excellence research centers in Colombia

References
1. "Manual de Identidad Visual" (https://web.archive.org/web/20121024145714/http://uniande
s.edu.co/images/stories/Descargables/manual_id_baja_julio2009.pdf) [Visual Identity
Manual] (PDF) (in Spanish). Communications Office of Los Andes University. Archived from
the original (http://www.uniandes.edu.co/images/stories/Descargables/manual_id_baja_julio
2009.pdf) (PDF) on 2012-10-24. Retrieved December 11, 2012. "El símbolo de la
Universidad de los Andes es el escudo. (The symbol of Los Andes University is the
Shield)."
2. "Historia - Información General" (http://www.uniandes.edu.co/historia) [History - General
Information] (in Spanish). Los Andes University. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
3. "El Rector" (http://secretariageneral.uniandes.edu.co/index.php/es/organos-de-gobierno/rec
tor) [The Rector] (in Spanish). General Secretariat of Los Andes University. Retrieved
December 11, 2012.
4. "Boletín Estadístico 2011 Universidad de los Andes" (http://planeacion.uniandes.edu.co/De
scargar-documento/32-Boletin-estadistico-2011) [2011 Statistical Bulletin, Los Andes
University] (PDF) (in Spanish). Office of Planning and Evaluation of Los Andes University.
Retrieved December 11, 2012.
5. "Areas" (http://campusinfo.uniandes.edu.co/en/factsandfigures/5). Los Andes University.
Retrieved December 11, 2012.
6. "Universidades" (https://web.archive.org/web/20130513113030/http://universidades.universi
a.net.co/universidades-de-pais/universidades-socias/) [Universities] (in Spanish). Universia.
Archived from the original (http://universidades.universia.net.co/universidades-de-pais/unive
rsidades-socias/) on 2013-05-13. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
 7. "Estatutos Vigentes 2011" (http://secretariageneral.uniandes.edu.co/images/documents/Est
atutos_Vigentes_2011.pdf) [Current Statutes 2011] (PDF) (in Spanish). General Secretariat
of Los Andes University. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
8. "Universidad de Los Andes - Topuniversities" (https://web.archive.org/web/2012122708572
2/http://www.topuniversities.com/institution/universidad-de-los-andes). QS University
Rankings. Archived from the original (http://www.topuniversities.com/institution/universidad-
de-los-andes) on 2012-12-27. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
9. "University of the Andes" (http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/
2012-13/world-ranking/institution/university-of-the-andes). Times Higher Education.
Retrieved December 13, 2012.
10. "Organigrama" (http://www3.uniandes.edu.co/images/stories/Descargables/organigrama.pd
f) [Organizational Structure] (PDF) (in Spanish). Los Andes University. Retrieved
December 12, 2012.
11. "Pregrado - Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá" (https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220006/
http://www.fsfb.org.co/node/241) [Undergraduate Program - Santa Fe de Bogotá
Foundation] (in Spanish). Los Andes University. Archived from the original (http://www.fsfb.o
rg.co/node/241) on 2016-03-03. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
12. "Programas" (http://www.uniandes.edu.co/programas) [Programs] (in Spanish). Los Andes
University. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
13. "Instituciones de Educación Superior Acreditadas - Consejo Nacional de Acreditación" (http
s://web.archive.org/web/20040909080848/http://www.cna.gov.co/cont/acr_alt_cal/acr_ins/ac
r_ins_alt_cal.htm) (in Spanish). Archived from the original (http://www.cna.gov.co/cont/acr_a
lt_cal/acr_ins/acr_ins_alt_cal.htm) on September 9, 2004. Retrieved 2009-02-26.
14. Orlando, Melo González, Jorge. "La República conservadora. (La situación colombiana
hacia 1880, La guerra, la paz y las constituciones, La expansión de la económica cafetera,
La danza de los millones y el fin del régimen conservador, lecturas adicionales) |
banrepcultural.org" (http://www.banrepcultural.org/blaavirtual/historia/colhoy/colo5.htm).
www.banrepcultural.org (in Spanish). Retrieved 2017-09-14.
15. Bushnell, David (2007). Colombia, una nación a pesar de sí misma (in Spanish). Bogotá:
Planeta. pp. 216–315.
16. Bell Lemus, Gustavo (2008). Historia de la Universidad de los Andes, v. 1. Inicios 1948-
1977 (in Spanish). Bogotá: Ediciones Uniandes.
17. Memoria del señor Ministro de Educación Nacional, Germán Arciniegas, al Congreso de
1946 (in Spanish). Bogotá. 1946.
18. QS World University Rankings 2020 (https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/wo
rld-university-rankings/2020)
19. World University Rankings 2018 (https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-ra
nkings/2018/world-ranking)

External links
(in Spanish) Universidad de los Andes website (http://www.uniandes.edu.co/)

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