The strategy “Community Dialogues, Leaderships that Transform,” promoted by the Government of Valle del Cauca through the Subsecretariat of Community Action, successfully concluded its training process with the participation of more than 500 community leaders from Valle del Cauca and other regions of Colombia. Participants strengthened their project development skills through the use of artificial intelligence tools. Fundación Universitaria María Cano, Cali Campus, led the academic component of this initiative, consolidating a partnership focused on knowledge transfer for territorial development.

The training process was coordinated by Professor Jorge Eliecer Manrique Julio, who designed and delivered the workshop-course “Project Formulation with the Support of Artificial Intelligence.” Throughout the different modules, participants acquired practical tools to identify community needs, structure projects, define objectives, develop budgets, and strengthen proposals aimed at accessing funding opportunities. The integration of artificial intelligence tools complemented this learning experience with innovative methodologies that facilitated the organization and development of high-impact initiatives for their communities.

As a result of the program, community leaders from various municipalities in Valle del Cauca and other regions of the country strengthened their capacity to promote social impact projects within their territories. The initiative also fostered knowledge exchange and collaborative learning among participants from diverse local contexts, demonstrating the value of collaboration between academia and communities in addressing regional development challenges.

To expand access to the knowledge generated through this initiative, all training sessions were broadcast live and remain permanently available through the YouTube channel established for the program. This resource continues to support community leaders and other interested individuals seeking to strengthen their project formulation skills through the use of artificial intelligence.

The successful completion of this strategy reaffirms Fundación Universitaria María Cano’s commitment to developing initiatives that connect academia with territorial needs, contributing to stronger community leadership and the creation of solutions with social impact. Through programs such as this, the institution continues to consolidate its role as a strategic partner for regional and national development, promoting an educational model that extends beyond the classroom and contributes directly to community transformation.

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