National University of the Altiplano of Puno

National University of the Altiplano of Puno Overview

The Universidad Nacional del Altiplano de Puno (UNAP), located in Puno, Peru, has a rich history and has played a significant role in the region's education landscape. Founded in 1856, it is one of the oldest public universities, established at the initiative of the people of the Puno Department. Initially, it was created as a school for aristocratic formation and has since become renowned for its focus on sciences, technologies, and applied arts.

The university's history can be traced back to the presidency of Ramón Castilla, who, on August 29, 1856, issued the law that established the Universidad Nacional del Altiplano, initially referred to as the Universidad de Puno. Subsequently, it was named Universidad de San Carlos de Puno, taking its name from the National College of San Carlos de Puno. The exact naming history has been a subject of debate among scholars. Some argue that it should be referred to simply as Universidad de Puno, while others maintain that San Carlos de Puno is a valid name. Regardless of the name, the university played a pivotal role in the region's education.

The founding law of 1856 emphasized the university's role in providing education in various fields, including Theology, Jurisprudence, Medicine, Philosophy and Letters, Mathematics, and Natural Sciences. It was also stated that the university would have the authority to confer academic degrees. However, during its early years, the university faced challenges such as the lack of its own statute, a proper location, and adequate budget allocation. It relied on the regulations of the Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa and held its academic functions at the Colegio Nacional de Puno.

The university's initial years were marked by periods of activity and inactivity, with discrepancies in historical accounts regarding its exact duration. While some records indicate around six years of institutional life, others suggest 17 years. Inaugurated on March 1, 1858, with a faculty that included notable figures such as Dionisio U. Cortes, Bernabé Urbina, and Manuel Pino, the university had a significant impact during its existence.

On December 6, 1860, authorities in Puno and the university declared San Carlos Borromeo as the patron saint of the institution, emphasizing its ties to the local community.

The creation of the university in Puno was a response to the demands of intellectuals and politicians in the region. Puno's society was known for producing prominent intellectuals in Peru, and deputies Ramos, Aguirre, and Quiñonez were instrumental in crafting the law that established the university.

Over the years, the university underwent name changes, reflecting its evolving mission. In 1961, it was named Universidad Nacional Técnica del Altiplano (UNTA), and in 1983, it became Universidad Nacional del Altiplano (UNA). In 2014, it officially became Universidad Nacional del Altiplano de Puno (UNAP).

On December 30, 2017, the National Superintendency of University Higher Education (SUNEDU) granted the university institutional accreditation, highlighting its commitment to providing quality education.

One of the university's most significant contributions is the inclusion of a wide range of students from the aimara and quechua communities, serving as a catalyst for the empowerment and recognition of indigenous populations in this remote area of Peru.

The UNAP consists of 20 faculties encompassing 37 professional schools. These schools offer various accredited programs in fields such as education, engineering, social sciences, and health.

The university places a strong emphasis on academic research, and many of its programs and schools have received accreditation from the National System for Evaluation, Accreditation, and Certification of Educational Quality (SINEACE). This accreditation underscores the university's commitment to maintaining high educational standards.

Furthermore, the UNAP has gained recognition on the national and international academic stage through its presence in various university rankings. These rankings rely on objective and measurable criteria, such as academic reputation, graduate employability, research citations, and web impact. The university's consistent placement within the top tiers of these rankings reflects its dedication to academic excellence.

In recent years, the use of international university rankings has become a common practice to evaluate the performance of universities on both national and global levels. Within the pool of 92 licensed universities in Peru, the Universidad Nacional del Altiplano de Puno has regularly secured a place among the top thirty institutions in certain international university rankings.

Moreover, in 2007, the Asamblea Nacional de Rectores del Perú (National Assembly of Rectors of Peru) ranked UNAP as the fifth-best university in the country. According to the general ranking of universities by Sunedu, it ranked 11th. In the "Scimago Institutions Rankings 2023," it achieved the 10th position nationally.

UNAP has also conferred the title of Doctor Honoris Causa to several distinguished individuals, both nationally and internationally, recognizing their significant contributions to their respective fields.

The university's dedication to sports is reflected in the Deportivo Universitario UNAP, a recognized sports club affiliated with the institution.

In conclusion, the Universidad Nacional del Altiplano de Puno has a long and illustrious history of providing quality education and contributing to the development of the Puno region and Peru as a whole. Its commitment to academic excellence, research, and inclusion is evident in its continuous efforts to improve and grow. This commitment has also been recognized in various national and international university rankings, highlighting its significance in the field of higher education.