INSTITUTION TYPES & CREDENTIALS
Types of higher education institutions:
Universidad (University)
Institución Universitaria (University Institution)
Institución Técnica Profesional (Professional Technical Institution)
Institución Tecnológica/Escuela Tecnólogica (Technological Institution/School)
School leaving and higher education credentials:
Bachillerato
Técnico Profesional
Tecnólogo
Ingeniero
Licenciatura
Maestro
Especialización
Maestría
Doctorado
STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION SYSTEM
Pre-higher education:
Duration of compulsory education:
Age of entry: 5
Age of exit: 13
Structure of school system:
Pre-Primary
Type of school providing this education: Educación preescolar
Length of program in years: 1
Age level from: 5 to: 6
Primary
Type of school providing this education: Educación Básica Primaria
Length of program in years: 5
Age level from: 7 to: 11
Lower Secondary
Type of school providing this education: Educación Básica Secundaria
Length of program in years: 4
Age level from: 12 to: 15
Certificate/diploma awarded: Certificado de Estudios de Bachillerato Básico
Technical Secondary
Type of school providing this education: Educación Media Técnica
Length of program in years: 2
Age level from: 16 to: 17
Certificate/diploma awarded: Bachillerato
Upper Secondary
Type of school providing this education: Educación Media
Length of program in years: 2
Age level from: 16 to: 17
Certificate/diploma awarded: Bachillerato
School education:
Compulsory education lasts for nine years. Basic primary education lasts for five years, preceded by one year of pre-school education. The secondary school system covers six years divided into two cycles: the basic cycle (educación básica secundaria) covers four years and the middle secondary cycle (educación media) two years. Successful completion of studies leads to the Bachillerato. Students must pass an entrance examination/test for access to universities.
Higher education:
Higher education is provided by university institutions, institutes of technology and technical professional institutions. These three institution types include both public and private institutions. In university institutions, each faculty is divided into departments. Distance education is provided by universities and regional centres. Higher education comes under the responsibility of the Ministry of National Education. The Instituto Colombiano para el Fomento de la Educación Superior (ICFES) is in charge of the evaluation of the education system. The Consejo Nacional de Educación Superior (CESU) proposes policies for the development of higher education.
Main laws/decrees governing higher education:
Decree: Decree No. 2230 Year: 2003
Concerns: Ministry of National Education
Decree: Decree No. 272 Year: 1998
Concerns: Higher Education Programmes
Decree: Law No. 30 Year: 1992
Concerns: Higher Education
Academic year:
Classes from: Feb to: Dec
Languages of instruction: Spanish
Stages of studies:
Non-university level post-secondary studies (technical/vocational type):
Non-university level:
Technological education is offered in technical and technological institutions. Studies usually last for five to six semesters and lead to the title of Técnico Profesional Intermedio. There are also eight-semester courses leading to the title of Tecnólogo.
University level studies:
University level first stage: Licenciatura:
This stage is characterized by a high level of knowledge and practical experience of the subject and lasts for four or five years. It leads to the Licenciatura or to a professional qualification (Título Profesional). A thesis or monograph and/or preliminary work in the main subjects are sometimes compulsory for the award of the professional qualification. Course work is measured in Unidades de Labor Académica (ULA). A minimum of 3,200 ULAs is required for a Licenciatura.
University level second stage: Especialización, Magister:
The entry requirement for Specialist (Especialista) and Magister programmes is the title of Licenciado and, usually, an entrance examination. A Magister is conferred after two years of study and is usually required for entry to doctoral programmes. Specialist programmes are usually offered in practical or applied disciplines and vary in length from one to four years.
University level third stage: Doctorado:
The Doctorado is awarded after two years' postgraduate specialization study in the same subject as the Magister and the defence of a thesis. It requires a complete mastery of the specialization and an effective contribution to the advancement of knowledge through extensive research.
Teacher education:
Training of secondary school teachers
Secondary school teachers are trained in the faculties of education of institutions of higher education, which also train teachers of physical education and industrial education or in pedagogical universities. They must hold the Licenciatura. There is also an experimental school for rural education which, in two years, trains certain teachers for agricultural schools.
Training of higher education teachers
Higher education teachers are mainly trained in graduate programmes leading to the award of the degrees of Magister or Doctor.
Non-traditional studies:
Distance higher education
Institutes of higher education offer distance education programmes. They are also offered by regional centres (CREADS).
Lifelong higher education
Post-secondary institutions offer specialization and upgrading courses in the framework of lifelong education. Some receive support from firms. Courses take place during and outside working hours.
Other forms of non-formal higher education
Short courses are offered by companies or vocational schools which are generally controlled by local authorities. The duration varies from one institution to another and depends on the particular course. The Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje (SENA) offers special courses for technicians and office staff who are not associated with industry or firms. A Diploma is awarded to students who successfully complete the course.
NATIONAL BODIES
Administration & co-ordination:
Responsible authorities:
Ministerio de Educación Nacional (Ministry of National Education)
Head: Cecilia María Vélez White, Minister
Administrative officer: Javier Botero Alvarez, Vice-Minister, Higher Education
Diagonal
38 bis No 39-14
Centro Administrativo Nacional (CAN)
Bogotá D.C.
Colombia
Tel: +57(1) 2222800/ 3157777
Fax: +57(1) 2224578
EMail: ipacheco@mineducacion.gov.co
WWW: http://www.mineducacion.gov.co
Instituto Colombiano para el Fomento de la Educación Superior - ICFES (Colombian Institute for the Development of Higher Education)
Head: José Daniel Bogoya Maldonado, Director General
Administrative officer: Genisberto Bernardo López Conde, Secretary General
Calle 17
No. 3-40
Apartado Aéreo 6319
Bogotá
Colombia
Tel: +57(1) 2840511/ 3387360
Fax: +57(1) 2836778
EMail: director@icfes.gov.co
WWW: http://www.icfes.gov.co
Consejo Nacional de Acreditación - CNA (National Accreditation Council)
Head: Dario Abad Arango, Coordinator
Administrative officer: Genoveva Iriarte E., Executive Secretary
Calle 19
No 6-68 Piso 17
Bogotá
Colombia
Tel: +57(1) 3411050/ 3411052
Fax: +57(1) 2863416
EMail: cna@cna.gov.co
WWW: http://www.cna.gov.co
Asociación Colombiana de Universidades - ASCUN (Association of Colombian Universities)
Head: Jesús Ramón Rivera, President
Administrative officer: Galo Burbano Lopez, Executive Director
Calle 93
No 16 - 43
Bogota
Colombia
Tel: +57(1) 6231580/ 6231582
Fax: +57(1) 2185059/ 2185098
EMail: informa@ascun.org.co
WWW: http://www.ascun.org.co
ADMISSIONS TO HIGHER EDUCATION
Admission to non university higher education studies
Name of secondary school credential required: Bachillerato
Minimum score/requirement: 50
Entrance exams required:
Students must sit for an entrance examination.
Admission to university-level studies
Name of secondary school credential required: Bachillerato
Minimum score/requirement: 50
Entrance exams required: Students must sit for an entrance examination.
Other admission requirements: Some universities set their own compulsory examinations.
Foreign students admission
Admission requirements: Students must hold a secondary school leaving certificate equivalent to the Diploma de Bachiller and must sit for a state examination.
Entry regulations: Foreign students must hold a visa, a health certificate and warrant financial guarantees.
Language requirements: Students must have a good knowledge of Spanish.
Recognition of studies & qualifications:
Studies pursued in home country (System of recognition/accreditation): Academic programmes are evaluated by the Consejo nacional de Acreditación (http://www.cna.gov.co)
Studies pursued in foreign countries (bodies dealing with recognition of foreign credentials):
Dirección de Calidad, Ministerio de Educación Nacional
Deals with credential recognition for entry to: University and Profession
Multilateral agreements concerning recognition of foreign studies
Name of agreement: Convenio Andres Bello
Year of signature: 1970
Name of agreement: Convenio Regional de Convalidación de Estudios, Títulos y Diplomas de Educación Superior en America Latina y El Caribe
Year of signature: 1974
References to further information on foreign student admissions and recognition of studies
Title: Directorio de Estudios Superiores en Colombia
Publisher: ICFES
Title: Manueles académicos sobre cursos y programas de postgrado en Colombia
Publisher: ICETEX
STUDENT LIFE
Student expenses and financial aid
Bodies providing information on student financial aid:
Instituto Colombiano de Crédito Educativo y Estudios Técnicos en el Exterior (ICETEX)
Carrera 3A No. 18-24
Apartado Aéreo 5735
Bogotá
Colombia
Tel: +57(1) 3428387
Fax: +57(1) 2838094
WWW: http://www.icetex.gov.co
Deals with: Grants and Loans
Publications on student services and financial aid:
Title: Study Abroad 2006-2007
Author: UNESCO
Publisher: UNESCO Publishing
Year of publication: 2005
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION & EXCHANGES
Principal national bodies responsible for dealing with international cooperation and exchanges in higher education:
Oficina de Cooperación Internacional - OCI, Ministerio de Educación Nacional
WWW: http://www.mineducacion.gov.co/cooperacion/oci.asp?s=8&v=0
GRADING SYSTEM
Usual grading system in secondary school
Full Description: 0-100 ; 1-10
Highest on scale: 100 ; 10
Pass/fail level: 50 ; 6
Lowest on scale: 0 ; 0
Main grading system used by higher education institutions
Full Description: 0 to 5; 4.60-5.00 extremely high, 4.00-4.59 excellent, 3.50-3.99 good, 3.00-3.49 sufficient, 0.00-2.99 failure
Highest on scale: 5.00
Pass/fail level: 3.00
Lowest on scale: 0.00
NOTES ON HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM
Data for academic year: 2005-2006
Source: IAU from Ministry of National Education, Colombia, 2006