An emotional afternoon was experienced at the Popayán campus of María Cano University. The reason: the farewell of Sofía, a student from Mexico who completed her academic process at this institution as part of her international experience.

Sofía came not only to learn, but also to share, to connect, and to leave an indelible mark among classmates, professors, and the administrative team. During her stay, she stood out for her warmth, commitment, and joyful spirit—qualities that quickly made her an essential part of the group. The farewell was lovingly organized by the entire campus team. There were heartfelt words, messages of gratitude, hugs, and a gathering full of smiles. It was a moment to celebrate what had been shared, to thank her for her presence, and to wish her great success on the path she now begins.

She returns to her native Mexico with a full heart and a beautiful image of Colombia, of Cauca, of Popayán, and of the family she found within the institution. This is a university that is open to promoting internationalization through student exchange— in this case, from the Aztec country, from which many students commonly show interest in María Cano.

Exchange programs become transformative experiences that offer multiple perspectives—not only academically and professionally, but also culturally and personally. They foster the understanding of new knowledge and provide different ways of seeing the same situation. This is why promoting such experiences is mutually rewarding: they fulfill a transformative and educational role, expanding the scope of how knowledge is applied in various social, economic, environmental, and even political contexts, and how these dimensions influence outcomes both directly and indirectly.