The Sergio Arboleda University carries the name of a distinguished figure of Colombia’s literary history, considered a brilliant mind within circles of literature, and social and political sciences. While working as a journalist, Sergio Arboleda strongly defended the causes of order and justice, which are the pillars of the institute today. “Our university has been successful due to the academic program offered, which has the added value of teaching students not only the technicalities of the subjects but also about cultures around the globe,” says Dr. Rodrigo Noguera Calderón, Rector of the University.
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The U.S. system has been a pioneer and we are committed to bringing that type of education to our country.
Dr. Rodrigo Noguera Calderón,
Rector of the Sergio
Arboleda University
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An academy apart
In 1984 the renowned Colombian journalist Rodrigo Noguera Laborde embarked on a journey to fulfill his greatest ambition: to create an academy unlike any other in Colombia, a humanist school of thought and culture whose verve would reach beyond established principles and conventions. His objective was to address questions of existence and make this knowledge available to those interested and their environments.
In partnership with Álvaro Gómez Hurtado, a celebrated politician and journalist, the two men designed a new concept of teaching. They founded the academy that years later would become the internationally respected Sergio Arboleda University in a house in Bogotá’s Calle 74, with six teachers and 36 students who shared the vision that comprehensive education required the language of ancient cultures, as well as astronomy and theology. The Faculty of Law was the first constituted. Today, its Bogotá premises have grown substantially, extending to Santa Marta. An additional campus has opened in Barranquilla. Thousands of students now participate in the university’s undergraduate and postgraduate programs, which cover administrative and economic sciences, engineering, and social and political sciences.
Global reach
The university considers foreign exposure a vital part of its academic program, much a response to the challenges poised by the increasingly competitive demands of a globalized world.
Students are given the opportunity to participate in internationalization programs in institutions abroad, such as the Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and Florida International University (FIU). “We have to be constantly following the global trends of higher education,” says Dr. Noguera. “So double degrees that are offered all over the world are now also being offered in Colombia.”
Ongoing research and innovation have attributed the university with a competitive edge in the preparation of its alumni, making it one of Bogotá’s most renowned institutes, with scholarships available throughout the academic year. “Internationalization is in our essence. As we continue to consolidate our programs, we will expand our international reach in the U.S.,” adds Dr. Noguera.
