Presentation of the Colombian Alumni Chapter
The Colombian Alumni Chapter was founded in 2006 with the aim of contributing to the development and exchange of experiences between former IDEC and UPF students. With the understanding that one thing we all have in common is having completed training at UPF, either on postgraduate or master’s programmes at IDEC or other degree or master’s programmes at UPF, we here at the Alumni Chapter Argentina would like to take advantage of this common experience to maintain and extend our contacts with those students who have returned to our country. 
This network of former students is enriched by the experience of every former student who joins us and takes an active part in our meetings. So why not get in touch with us and help us to strengthen our alumni community?
 

How many of us are there?
At present there are 128 IDEC alumni from Colombia, so we are talking about a social and professional network which has great potential. This number includes all alumni who have completed on-site, online or dual qualification programmes.
During the 2007-08 academic course there were 47Colombians taking part in on-site programmes at IDEC in Barcelona.
 

Previous meetings
To date, meetings have been held on the occasion of UPF institutional visits. The following are particularly worthy of note:
- 3rd November at 08.00. In collaboration with Universidad EAN and the Fundación Carolina de Colombia IDEC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra organised an international meeting on cultural administration entitled: “Culture, fundament or ornament?” This was given by Mr. Ferran Mascarell, Director of the Postgraduate Programme in Management of Cultural Institutions, Companies and Platforms at Universidad Pompeu Fabra. Also taking part in the event were Dr. Rodrigo Campos, Cultural Advisor from the Spanish Embassy in Colombia; Dr. María Elisa Holguín, Co-ordinator of Cultural Entrepreneurship from the Colombian Ministry of Culture and Dr. Julieta Ramírez Mejía, Director of the undergraduate programme in Cultural Studies and Management and of the Specialisation in Music Businesses, Services and Products Management at Universidad EAN.
- On 3rd September, 2009 the XX exchange meeting was held between former and future students in Bogota (Colombia) with the notable presence of former students, who showed great interest in taking part in activities. For future students the meeting was the perfect moment to exchange personal details and access the network.
- Pompeu Fabra University’s participation in the World MBA Tour and Meeting of former and present students: September 5th and 6th, 2008, Bogotá Plaza Hotel.
- Alumni meeting in Bogotá, December, 2006. Attended by 15 former students.
-  An information session to present IDEC programmes and Alumni Meeting, as part of the visit to Colombia by Sr. Pau Verrié, Director General of IDEC: 23rd October, 2006, Hotel Casa Medina.

Future meetings
 Why not join us at the following meeting?
- September 2009: second edition of the exchange meeting of alumni and students about to start the new academic year.  Don’t miss this opportunity to do some networking and get to know old and new students from different promotions.
The aim of this meeting is to establish a link between students who have just graduated from IDEC and those about to start studying there, about to leave their country to complete programmes in Barcelona and who would be grateful for some guidance about what their experience in Spain will be like.  All those alumni residing in Colombia are also invited so that they can get to know new members of the Chapter. 
 

Contact details
If you are a former student and you wish to contact us, you can do so by logging on to alumni.co@idec.upf.edu.
IDEC relations with universities in Colombia
IDEC has several collaboration agreements with universities and institutions worldwide to develop international training projects, such as dual qualification programmes. With Colombia, we would emphasise IDEC’s relations with Universidad EAFIT and Universidad EAN.
 

What could be your role in the Local Chilean Association?
It is mainly former students, with the support of IDEC and UPF, who, on returning to their country, contribute to the dynamic activity of the Chapters. Their motivation is to maintain links with IDEC and UPF, to get to know alumni from other years and to promote the value of their qualification within their own community.
If you would like to join us, we invite you to:
- Become a contact for future students at IDEC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra who would like to have an “on-line mentor” for any doubts or queries they may have before arriving in Barcelona.
- Form part of the organisational nucleus of the Chapter in order to promote alumni meetings on the occasion of visits by university figures.
- Help in the annual preparation of the experience exchange meeting between former and future students.
Who can become a member of the Local Association?
The Alumni Chapter in Colombia aims to bring together the whole UPF community, made up of all those individuals who have developed a strong link with IDEC and UPF and who are interested in maintaining links with these institutions and promoting exchange and experiences. Specifically, this collective includes:
- former IDEC students
- former UPF students
- lecturers on UPF and  IDEC programmes, either for UPF qualifications or those offered jointly with national universities
-  “friends of UPF”: individuals and companies linked to UPF
 

How do I join?
Provisionally, to ensure that we have your details and so that we can invite you to the meetings we plan to organise, e-mail us at alumni.co@idec.upf.edu with: your name, surnames, e-mail address, postal address, the name and academic year of your course at UPF, your position and the name of your company.
 

We look forward to hearing from you!