Abstract

GIRALDO OSPINA, Tania  and  VASQUEZ VARELA, Luis Ricardo. Demographic characterization and analysis of the provenance of students admitted to the Architecture program in the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Manizales Campus (2010-2016). Rev. colomb. soc. [online]. 2019, vol.42, n.1, pp.229-249. ISSN 0120-159X.  https://doi.org/10.15446/rcs.v42n1.67967.

The Universidad Nacional de Colombia modified its admissions process between 2013 and 2014, a fact that affected the origin of students in the Architecture program of the Manizales campus. The article provides a demographic characterization of students admitted between the first semester of 2010 and the second semester of 2016, that is, fourteen academic periods, including the type of admissions program and the geographic location of their municipality of origin, identified through a geographic information system. The objective is to determine the national representativeness of the program and propose alternatives that combine equal access to higher education and participation in the national project, as fundamental elements of the mission of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia.

Although the Architecture program keeps a record of admitted students, demographic characterizations and origin of students are rarely taken into account in decision making and improving institutional management processes. Therefore, having this information is useful to promote the identification and solution of the architectural and urban problems found in the municipalities that are farthest from Manizales, and thus contribute to the preparation of students who are aware of the reality of their home municipalities. The analyses carried out show that the impact of the Architecture program of the Manizales campus is mainly local and that students admitted through special programs represent a minority of the student population. Consequently, it is possible that the objective of generating positive impact in the most distant regions of the country through committed, highly-skilled individuals might not be achieved, given both the low number of graduates and their tendency to settle in the country's biggest cities. This situation is particularly relevant for Colombia's ongoing post-conflict period and the reintegration of demobilized combatants into civilian life.

Keywords : admissions programs; demography; geographic; higher education; information systems; regions; territory.

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