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Our Higher Purpose

Transforming society through education

Private non-profit higher education institution, leader in teacher training and bilingualism since 2004.

What makes us unique?

UNICA is the Colombian American University Institution — a private, non-profit higher education institution specializing in teacher training and Spanish–English bilingualism, founded in 2004 as a social responsibility initiative of Grupo Bolívar in partnership with the Centro Colombo Americano.

Our Strength
Pioneers in bilingual Spanish–English higher education in Colombia since 2004. Teacher training with international standards.
Our Differentiator
Bilingualism as a cross-cutting axis across all programs.
Our Unique Offering
Colombia's First Bilingual University Institution. 3rd place in English proficiency in the Saber Pro national exams.
Saber Pro Recognition
3rd place nationally in English in the Saber Pro exams among universities in the country.
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Mission

To contribute to the qualitative improvement of education in Colombia and to the promotion of Spanish–English bilingualism, through the training of teachers whose pedagogical and research practice contributes to strengthening the educational system and to the generation of relevant knowledge, social equity, competitiveness, and economic development.

Vision · We aspire to be
1 A national benchmark in high-quality teacher training.
2 Leaders in bilingualism and intercultural education.
3 A community that learns, researches, and innovates with social impact.

Our principles

Critical Thinking

Training grounded in reality with an inquisitive, critical, interdisciplinary, analytical vision. Development of skills: argumentation, problem-solving, metacognition.

Context and System

The university engages with the context that nourishes and transforms it. Disciplinary knowledge, pedagogy, research, and practice take on an inquisitive, multidisciplinary, flexible, and socially responsible character.

Construction of Reality

Reality is constructed by creating and finding meaning through the interpretation of ancestral traditions, cultural expressions, and ways of thinking.

Epistemological Curiosity

Fostering a love of knowledge through inquiry, critical examination of traditions, argumentation, and dialogue.

Interdisciplinarity

An approach for building specific knowledge from diverse perspectives. An integrating synergy that contributes beyond the sum of individual disciplines.

Management

A creative domain oriented toward organizing actions to achieve purpose. Includes participation, equity, sustainability, flexibility, adaptability, and resilience.

Our values

Integrity
Respect
Active Empathy
Participation
Intellectual Rigor
Service
Sustainability
Transcendence
We cultivate 9 positive emotions
Joy Love Gratitude Serenity Interest Hope Pride Fun Inspiration

SEL Model

Socio-Emotional Learning: socio-emotional learning is the cross-cutting axis of all education at UNICA.

UNICA Skilled
Socio-emotional skills for life and the classroom.
UNICA Empathetic
Human relationships built on active empathy.
UNICA Resilient
The capacity to adapt and grow in the face of challenges.
Cross-cutting axis: socio-emotional well-being throughout the curriculum

Milestones in our history

1994 – 2025 · Three decades building the country's education.

2001
Legal charter — Resolution 849 MEN
2004
UNICA begins academic activities
2017
High-quality accreditation
2019
UPB-UNICA School
2022
Accreditation renewed for 6 years
2023
Master's in Education registration
2024
20th anniversary celebration

IEP — Institutional Educational Project

Our IEP articulates our institutional identity around three pillars that guide academic work.

Download IEP (PDF)
Philosophical
Purpose, values, and the meaning of what is human.
Pedagogical
Teaching-learning model and SEL.
Disciplinary
Bilingualism, education, and research.
Leaders in Teacher Training and Bilingualism
SINCE 2004

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