Network of Colombian Professionals in Belgium
Profile
The Belgium Node is a group of professionals linked with Colombia, that
are studying or have completed their studies at postgraduate level in several of the best
educational centers in Belgium. Our main objective consists of
applying the knowledge, connections and acquired experience in Belgium, in order to
develop projects at an inter-institutional and international level. The ultimate goal is
to promote the development of education, science and technology in Colombia.
The Node was founded in 1992 as a non-profit association independent of
any political party or religious group. To date, around 180 professionals, from all
branches of knowledge, who have studied in at least one of the seven Belgian universities,
have been associated to us.
To finance its activities, the Node has its own budget assigned by the Colombian Institute
for the Development of Science and Technology (COLCIENCIAS).
Nevertheless, other institutions have been approached for financial and logistical
support.
The Node is a member of the Caldas Network (Red
Caldas), which is a COLCIENCIAS program created to channel efforts that will
contribute to the participation of Colombians in projects of science and technology at a
national or international level. The Network is world wide spread. It includes 23 Nodes that group around 800 persons
interchanging information via Internet.
Philosophy
It is well-known that for the development of any country, the enforcement systems to
improve the education, science and technology are relevant. Since the 1980's, Colombia is
formulating a national policy on science and technology; however, its condition as a
developing country have not permitted to consolidate the programs designed for that
purpose.
The work of the Belgium Node addresses this problem. Through concrete actions, it is
creating opportunities that in the medium and long term will contribute to the
invigoration of the education, research and technology in Colombia. Our projects consider
the economic efficiency, social impact and optimal use of the resources available in
Belgium.
The activities of the Node seek to take advantage of the enormous potential of qualified
Colombian personnel, creating the conscience of a scientific formation as a way of life,
and its programs intend to establish some profitable relationships between the parts
involved.
Type of members
Effective members: They are the university professionals that fulfill the
requirements of the statutes and are up to date with the affiliation fee.
Beneficent members: People interested in financing and promoting the activities of the Node through donations.
Adherent member: Physical or moral people addmited by the administration comittee, that fulfill the requirements of the statutes and are interested in participate on the activities of the group.
Members of honor: The
administrative council of the association declares like such, people of highlighted
trajectory in areas of education, science and technology, or that have performed special
services for the Node.
Previous projects
1. Continuous cycle of conferences: Lectures on mechanisms of scientific
cooperation and transfer of technology to developing countries.
2. First general meeting between European Nodes and Colciencias (1995): Evaluation meeting of the Colombian Network of Scientists Abroad (Caldas Network) during which common objectives were identified.
3. Cooperation Seminar between the European Union, Colombia and Latin America (1995): Informative seminar on the European Union policies of cooperation in science and technology and university interchange with Latin America.
4. Mini symposium on Malaria (1997). Dr. Manuel Elkin Patarroyo presented his work on the development of the malaria vaccine and European investigators showed the results of their work in the same area.
5. Program of stimulus to scientific
youth (1998). Program of guided visits to scientific and technological centers in
Benelux and in France for the 10 winning high school students of the Science Fair in
Colombia.
Publications
The Belgium Node publishes a quarterly Bulletin with articles of educational, scientific
and technological interest; current information on available grants, congresses,
seminars; job offers and announcements. In addition, the Node publishes a monthly
Informative Letter highlighting the activities of the Node work committees as well as
study opportunities and grants with a imminent application deadline.
Future projects
1. Cycle of conferences on the latest scientific
achievements.
2. Generation and reactivation of agreements between Belgian and Colombians academic institutions.
3. Management Program: It is designed to speed up the level of internal administration of the association.
4. Projects on education and science:
Basic knowledge library in CD-ROM: It consists on compiling around 700 books in Spanish and covering diverse areas of knowledge. It will be supplied for free to educational institutions in Colombia.
Scientific research teaching in Colombia: It is a test program where an educational method is applied to teach children how to do scientific research since early years of school.
5. Award Belgium Node: It is a grant to the best research project presented by a young Colombian university student.
6. Godfathers of the education: It is a program designed to stablish contact with people or private european institutions interested in subsidizing the university education of Colombian students of excellent academic level but low economical resources.
7. Participation on
the reconstruction of the coffee area project. Due to the destruction induced by
the February 1999 earthquake, this project intends to help the reconstruction and
equipement of the Quindio University Institute of Biomedical Research, the reconstruction
of the Medicine Faculty of the same university and the construction and equipment of a
Health Care Unit in one of the devastated villages.
Committee
Chairman:
Eduardo Báez, Ing, MSc.
Co-Chairman:
Remi Roggeman, Ing
Secretaries:
Cristina Salinas, Ing, M.Sc.
Gloria Alicia Jiménez Tobon QF Msc, PhD Sc
Jean Louis Lams, Ing
Treasurers:
Oscar Barrero, Ing, MSc
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Manager:
Daniel Jordan, Lic. C. Polit
Prosecutor:
Jairo Jose Espinosa, Ing, PhD
Nodo Bélgica NPA.
nodo.belgica@swing.be
Arrêté Royal Belge 6361/93