On April 23rd, at the Maria Cano University Foundation and on virtual mode, the official launch of the Academic Reading and Writing Center, LEAMOS, took place. This is an institutional initiative that has been developed for a couple of years in an effort to consolidate a strategy to address the need to strengthen the reading and writing skills of the university community.

During the event, the Academic Vice-Rector Jorge Albeiro Herrera Builes participated and highlighted the importance of this initiative which, from the Speech Therapy Program, has begun to impact consistently on the entire university population, as part of the Strategic Development Plan of the Maria Cano University Foundation. The Vice-rector pointed out that in response to the need for a comprehensive training process for students, the university has developed programs such as «Te Quiero en la U«, and LEAMOS has been added today in order to continue meeting the proposed goals.

The main presentation of the event «Reading and Writing at the University: A Joint Challenge» was given by Pilar Mirely Chois Lenis, PhD Candidate in Educational Sciences, teacher and coordinator of the Department of Speech Therapy of Universidad del Cauca. Professor Pilar, presented an initial overview on the subject of reading and writing referring mainly to the constant «complaints» of teachers and students in front of common situations in the classrooms. From the above, five common realities to university-level education were addressed, which pose challenges at the formative, managerial and administrative levels.

For the official launch, Hector Ivan Guerrero Jimenez, professor of the Department of Speech Therapy, along with LEAMOS’ tutors Daniela Sierra and Tatiana Bonilla, made the presentation of the Reading and Writing Center, informing the participants about the most relevant aspects concerning the subject. During the intervention, the organization chart was presented, highlighting the axes, objectives and specific actions of the Center. The members of the university community were invited to become part of LEAMOS by interacting and requesting the services through the social networks, the official microsite and the institutional e-mail.

In the framework of the event, LEAMOS coordinator and tutor Catalina Lopera were in charge of the award of the First University Short Story Contest «Creete tu cuento», thanking the participation of the evaluation committee formed by Specialist Blanca Isabel Ramirez – Professor of the Secretary of Education of Antioquia, graduates Diana Villamarin- Representative of Lectura Entre Lineas Club and John William Jaramillo -Piloto Public Library, as well as Magisters Diego Roman Muñoz -Unicomfacauca teacher and Hector Ivan Guerrero- Coordinator of LEAMOS. The quality of all the productions and the importance for the institution of the great potential that underlies the different instances of the Maria Cano University Foundation were highlighted.

According to the verdict of the evaluating committee, the winners of the contest were announced: In third place, Professor of Neiva Campus, Betuel Bonilla Rojas with his work «El misterio del salón 111«, in second place, student Luisa Fernanda Sanchez Vargas with «Enigma de la mente«, and in first place, Professor of Phonoaudiology Program Andres Fernando del Prado with «Víspera de todos los santos«. It was announced, that once the respective process of style correction has been carried out, these productions will be disseminated in different media for the entire academic community.

The closing of the event was in charge of the Program Director Belkis Torres Osorio and the Coordinator of LEAMOS, who reaffirmed the invitation to all the university community to get to know the Academic Reading and Writing Center, visit the microsite on the internet and access the services offered by LEAMOS through the tutorials, workshops and the support material that are available to all the members of The Maria Cano University Foundation.

More information:

leamos@fumc.edu.co

https://www.facebook.com/leamoscentrodeescritura/

http://20.232.9.141/leamos-presentacion/

#MásMaríaCano