History

1968: The Civil Engineering Major at the University of Quindío is created by a transfer contract concluded by the University of Cauca on July 30th, which was approved by the Comité Administrativo del Fondo Universitario Nacional (National University Fund Administrative Committee), as per Agreement 83 from 1968. 

1969: The University's first students begin their first academic term. Initially, students at the University of Quindío could only take up the major until 4th semester, having to complete it at the University of Cauca. Shortly afterwards, the time students have to spend at the University of Quindío rises up to 5 semesters.

1976: Through Agreement No. 174, October 8, 1976, the Civil Engineering Major is granted operation license by the board of directors of the Colombian Higher Education Promotion Institute (ICFES). Agreement No. 14, December 3, 1976, issued by the Higher Council of the University of Quindío, sets the studies plan for the Civil Engineering Major.

1980: The National Ministry of Education approves the major for one year and authorizes the University of Quindío to grant the Civil Engineer title, through Resolution 00494, January 22nd.

1988-1991: The Colombian Higher Education Promotion Institute (ICFES) renews the approval of the major until December 31st, 1988, and then until December 1991 through Agreement 2443. With Agreement No. 133, July 8th, 1991, ICFES ruled that all approvals with a set end date could be automatically renewed, provided that faults or errors were not detected in the major during the time period of the last approval. This agreement also grants higher education institutions the power to make changes in their curricula. Curricular changes are therefore implemented, the new curriculum beginning to take effect as of the second semester of 1995.

1999: The earthquake was met by a major that was academically and scientifically well pepared, which allowed it to rise up to oncoming challenges in the studies, evaluation, consultancy and auditing areas, among many others. It also allowed the Quindío Seismological Observatory to come into being, which was the first ever observatory inside a university. The Implementation of projects about the historical seismicity of the Quindío region and its active geological fault lines was a key ingredient to the consolidation of this extension during the early 2000's.

2004: The Academic Council grants permission for the Civil Engineering Major to redesign its curriculum, which became effective as of the first semester of 2005.

2007: The major is granted an official recognition by the National Ministry of Education of Colombia for its high academic quality, as per Resolution No. 545, February 9th, 2007.

2011: As per Resolution 11238, December, the proposal for the renewal of the official qualification for the Civil Engineering Major at the University of Quindío was granted by the National Ministry of Education for a period of 7 years, so that the major could continue its on-site modality under the high quality precepts that characterize it. It is worth noting that the major's high quality certificate was also renewed on December 21st on the same year, for a time period of 4 years.  

Mission

The Civil Engineering Major takes it upon itself to train people on scientific and engineering knowledge within an enviroment recognized by its high academic quality, who are competent to practice their profession nationally and internationally, able to conduct research, to educate themselves and to rethink their own knowledge and principles, while upkeeping progress and the improvement of the life quality of their communities as goals.  

Vision

In the year 2015, the Civil Engineering Major will consolidate its nation-wide recognition as a high quality academic and scientific community, and will also foster internationalization through strengthening its professorate, research and extension departments.