University of Cauca

The Universidad del Cauca is a public higher education institution whose head office is in the city of Popayan, capital of Cauca, in Colombia's Southwest. Founded in November 1827, from the beginning had the support of the Liberator Simon Bolivar and Francisco de Paula Santander. Several higher education decrees issued by Simon Bolivar, were made in Popayán, within the University of Cauca.

The university has its roots in the Major Seminary of Popayan, first-rate educational establishment in colonial times had wide impact where the newest ideas of philosophical, political and scientific Illustration in the 18th century on Enlightenment. There, precisely, it formed the generation that would later become the protagonist of the struggles of the Independence of the Spanish Empire with the likes of Francisco Jose de Caldas Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera and Camilo Torres, men of politics, study and state. Thinking of Republican and independent life in Colombia generated a large proportion of the Universidad del Cauca, so that the history of the independence of Colombia and its beginnings as an independent republic joins the university's history.

Like that time, the University of Cauca has remained an institution of knowledge, free forum progress and evaluating the circumstances and choices of social life, defending the democratic discourse Colombia and has incessantly energizing of the free speech and citizen participation. In the last decade has been distinguished by its dynamic research structure and has several research groups recognized by Colciencias.

Along the 20th century, the University of Cauca was founded in permanent pole attracting students from various regions of the country, mainly in southwestern Colombia. He continues as a public university attractive to young people wishing to study and prepare. However, regressive policies in public higher education of recent governments of Colombia has halted its dynamism and its self.

Seventeen graduates of the University of Cauca have held the Colombian head of state.

Its historical archive, located in the historic center of Popayan, has a valuable collection of documents of the colonial and independence aroused the interest of Historians and social scientists. It was established in 1970, based on documents of the Central Archive of Cauca, listed by José María Arboleda Llorente who since 1928 until his death in 1969 he organized and produced detailed indexes of approximately 24,000 documents. This fund is made up of the archives of the Governor of Popayan, of the Sovereign State of Cauca, the Department of Cauca and the Judicial Archives "The Ram".

Research Vicerrectoría

In 1997 the Supreme Council of the Universidad del Cauca official the presence of the Vice-Rector for Research in the organizational structure of the institution in order to consolidate and develop the Research within the university. This provision is contained in article seven of the 031 Agreement, 1997, which amended the General Statutes of the University of Cauca. The Vice-Rector for Research was established as the governing body responsible for designing, promoting and implementing research policies of the institution, with the ultimate goal of generating a positive impact on the region.

Sports and sports facilities

Currently, the University of Cauca has one of the best sports facilities in Popayan, where services are provided free of charge directed at all members of the university community to develop playful activities, recreational and sports.

The University Sports Centre (CDU) is located in the area and has Tulcán soccer field, running track, volleyball, tennis pilifuncionales, skating rink, dojo for martial arts practice, Olympic swimming pools (swimming and diving), chess room, gym and a Coliseum where you can practice different disciplines. Additionally, the University of Cauca offers the possibility that members of the university community to register different kinds of programs and recreational sports.

Both the CDU management as the coordination of programs, plans, projects and actions related to this area are in charge of the Division of Sport and Recreation, an agency attached to the Vice Presidency Cultural and Welfare Unicauca.