Page 74 - El Placer de Volar 3ra Edición

Nuestro País

By: Pedro Rodríguez Aray

Mérida

city of students and
teachers

The State of Mérida, located in the heart of the Venezuelan On December 4, 1808, its first students graduated: José
Andes, is a place of extraordinary geographical benefits, Lorenzo Reyner, Doctor of Canons; Mateo José Mas and
pleasant climate and interesting stories. Its capital was Rubí alongside Buenaventura Arias, both Doctors in
initially founded under the name of Santiago de los Sacred Theology.
Caballeros de Mérida in 1561, in the place where the city of
Mérida is currently located and has grown over time until In the 20th century, it was at the forefront of women’s
it became the city we know today, a tourist and academic rights and that is how on July 29, 1935, the first female
reference for Venezuelans and foreigners. pharmacists graduated from its salons: María Dolores
Quintero and Olivia Díaz Albarrán.
This beautiful and colorful Andean state has well•earned
its reputation as a national and international tourist The combination of excellence and inclusion is visible
destination, thanks to its beautiful landscapes, a very when the numbers are checked, for example, in 2008,
well•preserved colonial architecture typical of the capital 4,392 new professionals graduated from its classrooms,
city, attractions that range from mountain sports to visits while in 2009 the number rose to 5,127 bachelor graduates.
to the National Observatory from Llano del Hato, located In both years, over 400 professionals completed different
about 70 kilometers from the capital city and at an altitude fourth•level programs between postgraduate degrees,
of about 3,600 meters above sea level, a few minutes from master’s degrees and doctorates.
Pico El Águila.
The ULA is spread throughout all the Andean states,
It also has a cable car system that is unique due to its guaranteeing the training of young people and adults
technology and height, being the highest in the world. But for the development and the social, economic and
without a doubt the most charming thing about Mérida institutional balance of the region. But without a doubt,
will always be its people, known for their cordiality and for many the University of the Andes is synonymous with
kindness, which really makes it a welcoming place. Mérida as a city.
Mérida is more than tourism and recreation; the This is why Mariano Picón Salas is credited with the
state is also the cradle and home of one of the most statement that “Mérida is a university with a city inside”,
representative Venezuelan universities: The University of an expression that metaphorically explains how the ULA,
the Andes (ULA). Today it is an important house of superior with its professors and students, faculties, classrooms
studies, recognized for its large number of students, its and laboratories, cafes and university residences,
scientific contributions and the constant strengthening of engulfed the entire city creating the worldview among its
social inclusion. inhabitants and visitors of an edutropolis.
Its origins date back to the colony, where it was born at In the publication of the prestigious QS World University
the hands of the clergy, and later became a republican Rankings of 2024, which measures university excellence
university. It has eleven faculties: art, architecture taking into account significant indicators, the Universidad
and design, sciences, economic and social sciences, de los Andes was ranked among the first five in Venezuela.
environmental and forestry sciences, legal and political This only reaffirms its solid reputation throughout the
sciences, pharmacy and bioanalysis, humanities and nation’s educational history and on the international
education, engineering, medicine and dentistry, from academic stage, projecting it as a very attractive
which distinguished Venezuelan’s professionals and alternative when selecting a house of superior studies in
scientists have emerged. the country.

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