The new free policy ‘University in your Territory’ will directly transfer resources to public higher education institutions to cover the net enrollment of beneficiary students and makes the requirements for entering the higher education system more flexible, prioritizing vulnerable populations.
The policy will be financed with resources of $2.8 trillion from the General Budget of the Nation and will begin to be implemented in the first half of 2024..
Bogotá DC, December 30, 2023
The President of the Republic, Gustavo Petro Urrego, signed the regulatory decree 2271 of 2023which makes one of the government’s promises a reality: the expansion of free higher education in Colombia, through the ‘University in your Territory’ policy.
“I have signed the decree of free higher public education in Colombia. It was a campaign promise and today it is a reality. I will seek to make higher education a right for every person who lives in Colombia,” the president wrote in your social network account.
For this goal “I will allocate, for next year, 2.8 billion from the national budget, and 1.5 billion will be allocated to increase university infrastructure.”
According to the decree, the benefit granted within the framework of the ‘University in your Territory’ free policy “consists of the payment by the National Government of the value of the ordinary net tuition of students in programs at the professional, technological and technical level. university professional of public higher education institutions”.
The financing comes from the General Budget of the Nation. The Ministry of Education will directly transfer the necessary resources to public higher education institutions to cover the ordinary enrollment of the beneficiaries.
Establishes the flexibility of entry requirements to the higher education system, such as socioeconomic stratum, age, nationality, and the prioritization of indigenous populations, Rrom, black, Afro-Colombian, Raizal and Palenquera communities, victims of the conflict, people with disabilities, peasant communities and people deprived of liberty.
“We are taking a significant step towards the consolidation of education as a fundamental right, so that each and every Colombian has the opportunity to access quality education that allows them to live with dignity, in conditions of equity,” said the minister. of Education, Aurora Vergara Figueroa.
To access the benefits of the ‘University in your Territory’ program, students must meet the following requirements:
1. Register in the National Higher Education Information System (SNOW) as enrolled in an undergraduate academic program (vocational, technological or university technical), in any of the public higher education institutions.
2. Not having a degree from a university professional program.
Students enrolled in more than one undergraduate program simultaneously will receive the benefit of the ‘University in your Territory’ policy for enrollment in a single program, the decree states.
The free policy also establishes an Administrative Board appointed by the Ministry of Education, made up of representatives of the portfolio, public higher education institutions and beneficiary students.
This joint body will decide on the approval of the policy’s operating regulations, resource projections, special requests, efficient management of resources and actions for financial sustainability.
The creation of a Support Committee is also contemplated that will define the guidelines for the financial support of the most vulnerable students and will decide on special requests.
The free ‘University in your Territory’ policy will begin to be implemented in the first half of 2024.
Student leaders and managers of higher education institutions participated in its creation, through six regional meetings held in the main cities of the country during October 2023.
This citizen participation was complemented through the SUCOP online platform.
See Regulatory Decree 2271 of 2023
(With information from the Ministry of Education)
(Fin/nth/for)
2023-12-30 20:32:54
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