Universidad del Sagrado Corazón Universidad del Sagrado Corazón (The University of the Sacred Heart), a higher education institution with the oldest roots on the Island, was established in l880 by the religious order of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart. It is a Catholic educational institution, firmly established in the ecumenical spirit of the Second Vatican Council. It is a community which welcomes and integrates persons of all creeds, races and cultures, bringing to life the message of the Gospel. Its mission is: “To educate in intellectual freedom and moral responsibility, men and women willing to participate in building a more authentic Christian society: a community united in its purpose to seek justice and peace.”

In December 2008, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching granted the University the classification of Curricular Engagement and Outreach/Partnering as a result of its unique Service-Learning Model. This is a unique Service Learning Initiative where all regular Senior students serve as expert consultants in their major field to community-based organizations for the development of solutions to identified problems in their organizations or communities. This is done through required capstone courses in the senior year.

Voces Ciudadanas (Citizen Voices) is the main project of the Urban Journalism Graduate Studies (1996) through its Urban Communication Research Group. Voces Ciudadanas has the objective to promote an open and diverse public dialogue about public affairs in which common people are at the center of the process by participating in public deliberation. The media associated to Voces Ciudadanas in Colombia (newspapers, TV news and radio news) promote civic participation through questions to citizens and “conversaciones ciudadanas” (citizen forums) in wich they build what is called citizenship agenda. Voces Ciudadanas has been teaching seminars and promoted public journalism in several Latin American countries such us Panamá, Bolivia, Perú, Mexico, Brazil, and Ecuador. Voces Ciudadanas has published two books: “Voces Ciudadanas por la Seguridad y la Convivencia” (Citizen Voices for Safety and Living Together) and “Voces Ciudadanas Una idea de Periodismo Público” (Citizen Voices – An idea for public journalism), and several articles in political and social sciences reviews.

University of the Andes – Department of Political Science
DECIPOL-UNIANDES was founded in 1968, and since then one of the most important of its goals has been the promotion and strengthening of democracy in Colombia and Latin America. Outside of the university, DECIPOL-UNIANDES is known as an NGO, and it has important links with international networks. DECIPOL is member of the Inter American Network for Democracy, and its principal activities in this network are related to the promotion of deliberation through the work on national issues forums, and through civic journalism. DECIPOL was the promoter and pioneer in the implementation of the deliberative methodology, both in Colombia and in Latin America.