Abstract

HERNANDEZ LOSADA, Diego Fernando. 150 years constructing the nation through native ingenuity. Ing. Investig. [online]. 2011, vol.31, suppl.1, pp.51-55. ISSN 0120-5609.

This paper outlines the benefit of public institutions and the results of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia's School of Engineering's commitment in contrasting the nation, following 150 years of academic life. This school emerged from the former Polytechnic created on August 24^th, 1861,forming part of the Military College, when it received the goahead for guiding and organizing engineering studies in Colombia. This institution's 150 year history shows that academic excellence has been honored at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia's School of Engineering through innovating and creating knowledge in the fields of education, research and services, with the distinguished purpose of improving conditions for and the quality of life of Colombian society. It has encouraged the disadvantaged population by trying to ensure that it can obtain the best options for progress and social mobility at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, this only being possible through effort, dedication and the knowledge gained in classrooms and laboratories of institutions such as the School of Engineering, transferred to them by teachers having the appropriate technical and human qualities. Engineering in this century faces the challenge of achieving sustainable economic development, so the challenges and opportunities that the School of Engineering will have to face in contributing towards achieving such challenge are also presented in this paper. The School of Engineering must perpetuate its insistence on the principles of academic excellence that have distinguished it during the first 150 years of existence if it is to continue its academic and social leadership, due to government support and the very high human and academic qualities of both its students and professors.

Keywords : Faculty of Engineering; history; challenge; academic excellence.

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