Access and Retention in Higher Education in Colombia: The Case of the Children’s University EAFIT

This chapter offers a detailed analysis of the attempts one university has made to extend access to higher education (HE) through a comprehensive and structured programme of pre-HE support: the Children’s University. In Colombia, education is defined as a rocess of continual formation provided in approved education centres, with the primary objective of achieving the integral development of students. This education, defined as formal, is offered in both public and private (referred to in Colombia as ‘official’ and ‘unofficial’, respectively) facilities and is divided into four levels: preschool, elementary, middle and higher. In addition, it is mandatory that the population participate in formal educational processes between the ages of 5 and 15 years, and it is the duty of the state, society and the family to ensure quality and promote access.