Do you know what Monsignor Isaías Duarte Cancino envisioned? He wanted an accessible higher education for Cali’s youth. That vision became Unicatólica.
Unicatólica, officially known as the Fundación Universitaria Católica Lumen Gentium, opened its doors in 1996. It began with the support of the Archdiocese of Cali. Its goal was to serve those with limited resources. Unicatólica aimed to provide opportunities for the less favored in Cali.
Monsignor Alberto Uribe noticed social issues in Cali in the 1960s. Industrialization brought many immigrants. This led to the unorganized growth of the city and land conflicts. Uribe saw a need for vocational training. He also wanted more parishes in marginalized neighborhoods. He partnered with businesses to create parishes. These parishes focused on social programs and offered cultural centers. The Carvajal Foundation and others joined this effort. They worked with the Archdiocese of Cali to establish training centers in parishes. These centers offered education to underprivileged youth.
In 1994, Monsignor Isaías Duarte Cancino supported creating a main campus. This would serve the students educated in the parishes. On March 19, 1996, the Pance campus opened. Today, it remains Unicatólica’s primary location.
Unicatólica emphasizes values and human dignity. The institution hopes its students will create jobs. It seeks to form well-rounded individuals and skilled professionals.
Unicatólica has several faculties. These include Engineering, Education and Business Sciences. There is also a Faculty of Social and Political Sciences. Lastly, the Faculty of Theology, Philosophy, and Humanities.
Unicatólica’s research group KIMSA explores local history through video games. They developed “Prende Amor X Cali.” This game teaches the history of Cali.
Unicatólica has a partnership with the Universidad Internacional de La Rioja. This allows faculty, staff and alumni to pursue master’s degrees online. These degrees are European and recognized by Colombia’s Ministry of Education. The partnership also supports research and international academic missions.
The Unicatólica flag features a gold cross. The cross represents Christ. Four shining stars symbolize universality. These represent the four cardinal directions and all nations.
The Unicatólica hymn speaks of light, truth, and life. It mentions wisdom, science, and honor. The hymn also references progress and human dignity. It emphasizes work, discipline, constancy, and prayer.
Today, Unicatólica has multiple campuses. The main campus is in Pance. There are also campuses in Meléndez, Alfonso López, and Ciudadela Compartir. Unicatólica also operates centers in Jamundí and Yumbo.
Unicatólica continues to offer quality education at a fair price. It achieves this through support from the Archdiocese of Cali. Subsidies are available for all academic programs. The institution also provides scholarships. These scholarships enable low-income individuals to access higher education. Unicatólica aims to foster social change and progress.