Colombia is a large and diverse country covering approximately 440,831 square miles. It is bordered to the north by the Caribbean, to the east by Venezuela and Brazil, to the south by Peru and Ecuador, to the west by the Pacific and in the north-west by the narrow Panamanian Isthmus. Colombia also possesses several English speaking Caribbean islands.
The capital, Bogotá, is the largest city in Colombia and the major industrial, financial and governmental centre. Medellín, Cali, Barranquilla and Cartagena are the main cities and together with towns of primarily regional importance (Manizales, Armenia, Pereira, Cúcuta and Bucaramanga), account for 58 per cent of Colombian urban population. With around 42 million inhabitants, Colombia is the third most populous country in Latin America.
Colombia has a long tradition of stable democratic government, paralleled with the well-deserved reputation for prudent handling of its economic affairs. Since 2004 the country has experienced a period of accelerated growth and employment. This is due to a very positive international environment and an increase in domestic security conditions.
Colombia exports nearly 50 per cent of its goods to the USA, and 20 per cent to Ecuador and Venezuela. All three of these countries have growing economies, largely due to their oil product sales and are important for the Colombian market due to the close economic relationship they have in terms of imports and exports.
International education is very highly valued in Colombia, however undergraduate degrees obtained within the country remain popular and are still considered beneficial. Most students who study abroad pursue postgraduate courses and although America has traditionally been the first choice of study destination the UK is becoming increasingly popular.
Delivery of Higher Education in Colombia is below international averages. In 2002 the level was 20 per cent of the population group, which was below the Latin American average of 25 per cent and the OECD average of 54 per cent. In Colombia, the State guarantees Universities’ autonomy and overseas the quality of the education provided through inspection of all Higher and Further Education institutions.
Higher and Further Education institutions can be categorised as one of the following:
- Technical / Professional Institutions: Those that are officially approved to offer occupational training programmes of a practical nature and specialise in particular areas without neglecting the humanistic aspects appropriate to the level of education.
- Higher and Further Educational Institutions: Those with official approval to develop occupational training programmes, academic programmes for professions and programmes of specialisation
- Universities: Those that are already recognised as such, as well as those institutions where activity is based on university level criteria
The costs of higher education are high and are comparable to costs in UK. Entry is via State Examination. The plans of the present Government for Higher Education are to increase the number of registrations to 400,000 via more credit, better management of state institutions and the promotion of vocational and technical education. There are 981,458 students registered in higher education institutions. Eighty-two per cent were in universities, 18 per cent in vocational and technical education institutions.
Competitors: although, traditionally, America has been the most popular study destination, Australia is fast becoming a valid competitor having the added advantage of offering the opportunity to study and work in country. The USA’s popularity has also been affected by more stringent visa regulations. The UK therefore has become the third most popular destination, favoured for the quality of education it provides and its European location.
- The obvious British advantage in English Language Teaching offers an excellent opportunity for English Language schools to utilise that expertise and establish Colombian connections. Students and business people across Colombia are interested in improving their English language skills.
- Traditionally, Colombian students have pursued postgraduate courses in the UK, however it has become relatively more common for Colombian students to pursue Undergraduate degrees. A potential market that may not have been targeted.
The British Council in Colombia has the largest teaching Centre in Latin America which is based in the capital city of Bogotá. The British Council Colombia has been extensively promoting UK education there for ten years. It regularly presents to local institutions and holds a live chat on a weekly basis. It has developed a large scale countrywide project in ELT consultancy with the Ministry of Education. Due to the high demand for English Language skills, the British Council Colombia’s main focus is on ELT. The Education UK Exhibition, has been running for the past seven years and has annually on average over 1,000 visitors.
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