At the Talent, Education, and Productivity Forum, Colombian experts discussed aligning higher education with labor market demands through dual models. Higher Education Vice Minister Ricardo Moreno stressed free access as a right in vulnerable areas, while Ascun and Sena leaders highlighted skills gaps in technical fields and technology's role.
The Talent, Education, and Productivity Forum, held at Casa LR, brought together Ricardo Moreno, Higher Education Vice Minister; Oscar Domínguez González, executive director of the Colombian Association of Universities (Ascun); and Jorge Eduardo Londoño Ulloa, general director of Sena. The event focused on educational models aligned with sectoral needs.
Moreno opened by highlighting the government's commitment to higher education as a right, implementing free access in conflict-affected areas to steer youth away from violence. He stressed the need for a coherent national vision integrating academia, state, and territories on topics like food, energy, technologies, and health.
The discussion addressed the gap between available human capital and business demands. Colombia faces youth unemployment rates higher than the national average, with companies struggling to fill vacancies with specific skills. Over 90% of firms are micro, small, and medium-sized, facing shortages in targeted trades and, particularly, IT workers amid the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Domínguez González noted that Higher Education Institutions (IES) are adapting with technical training and certifications, offering options like 'university in your school.' He suggested identifying professional profiles for the next five to ten years to guide youth. He added that IES are incorporating technology into curricula but are still transitioning to its application in agroecology and microenterprises.
Londoño Ulloa emphasized ongoing dialogue with businesses through sectoral tables to ensure educational relevance. He highlighted dual education, combining study and work, and youth preference for quick training in a 'liquid world.' Sena's TIC training is longstanding, and under this government, they regained technological governance, developing in-house software and digital factories, reclaiming 23% of the budget previously outsourced.
Moreno concluded that technological progress must be paired with humanities to train humanists. He urged businesses and productive sectors to explore opportunities in talent-rich territories, fostering inclusive prosperity without privileges.
