The Fundación Universitaria María Cano Cali campus participated in the XIII Regional Research Seedbeds Meeting and the X International Research Groups Meeting, titled «Transformation with Science,» organized by the Colombian Association of Higher Education Institutions with Professional, Technical, or University Education (ACIET). The event was held at the facilities of the Institute of Professional Technical Education (INTEP) in Roldanillo, Valle del Cauca.

María Cano was represented by Physiotherapy student and seedbed researcher Mariana Cruz Sepúlveda, who presented the paper «Evaluation of Graduates’ Perception and Satisfaction with the Training Practices in the Physiotherapy Program.» This work is part of a macro-project led by researchers from the Cali campus: Jorge Manrique, Julián Cerón, and Leydin Carolina Vásquez, who, along with researcher Nelson Andrade, also participated as evaluators of papers from other institutions and as moderators in the presentation rooms.

The presented research revealed that:

• 84% of graduates consider the training practices to be «relevant» or «very relevant» to their professional training.

• 90% highlighted that these practices allowed them to acquire key technical skills for their professional performance.

• 92% positively valued the development of soft skills, such as communication and teamwork.

These results emphasize the importance of training practices in the development of competent physiotherapists and their impact on employability, while also providing insights to improve curriculum design.

The participation of María Cano in this academic space reflects its commitment to formative research training and its contribution to the development of the health sector in southwestern Colombia. The institution’s researchers not only shared the progress of their projects but also contributed to academic feedback as evaluators, strengthening ties with other higher education institutions.

The Fundación Universitaria María Cano continues transforming with science!