The Colombian government has withdrawn state funding from Colfuturo's Crédito Beca program, which supported postgraduate studies abroad for over 20 years, to redirect resources toward a new doctoral scholarship model targeting vulnerable populations. Science Minister Yesenia Olaya defended the move, stating that Colfuturo failed to meet democratization criteria for educational access. The decision has drawn criticism for restricting opportunities amid global technological shifts.
The government under President Gustavo Petro has faced backlash for ending state support to Colfuturo's Crédito Beca program, which for over 20 years funded postgraduate studies abroad for thousands of Colombians. Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Yesenia Olaya defended the decision on December 29, 2025, stating the funds will support a new master's and doctoral program prioritizing low-income students and marginalized regions.
Olaya noted that Colfuturo, a private entity, aided an average of 90 doctoral students annually but required debt, interest, and high-asset co-signers, filtering access by social background. "Over 70% of beneficiaries came from strata four, five, and six, with less than 1% from ethnic groups," the minister said. In contrast, MinCiencias' new model provides debt-free scholarships with full four-year funding and a regional, gender-focused approach, where 96% of recipients are from strata one, two, and three.
The government honored Conpes 3862, investing over $600 billion, including $64 billion this year. Yet, of 941 credits approved for the 2025 cohort, only 195 were finalized by June, leaving unallocated funds. Colfuturo holds about US$18 million in repayments and yields, which the government aims to redirect for public policy.
Critics like analyst Ugo Posada have called the move "dynamiting a bridge" to global opportunities, particularly in an AI-driven era demanding advanced education. Posada emphasized Colfuturo's aid to over 25,000 Colombians over 30 years, urging protection of the program to nurture national talent. Olaya countered: "We are not improvising or destroying high-level training; we are transforming a model for greater social impact."
The new $600 billion investment, via a Conpes in January 2026, aims to democratize education access, though debates continue on balancing inclusion with international excellence.
