ICETEX President Addresses Funding Concerns, Confirms Negotiations for 2026 Budget

Bogotá, Colombia – Álvaro Urquijo Gómez, President of the Colombian Institute of Educational Credit and Technical Studies Abroad (ICETEX), has addressed concerns regarding the institution's financial stability and future. In an exclusive interview with El Espectador, Urquijo clarified that ICETEX is not facing a funding crisis, despite earlier government announcements about ceasing certain subsidies. Urquijo stated that ICETEX has been actively collaborating with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance to secure necessary resources. "We are currently working on the 2026 budget construction and submitting resource requests," he explained, emphasizing that while fiscal situations and resource availability are factors, the three entities are working together. The ICETEX President underscored the institution's dual commitment: to complement free education initiatives and to ensure continued opportunities within a mixed educational system. This approach aims to allow individuals to pursue diverse academic programs and postgraduate studies, ensuring broader access to higher education in Colombia.