" The University of Santander is a non-profit private university which was founded by Dr. Fernando Vargas Mendoza in 1982. With 32 years of existence, the University of Santander has gone through the entire educational process, from a technical and technological institution to that of a full-fledged university. It is organized according to its own statutes in line with the provisions of Law 30 of 1992 and has the approval of the Ministry of Education via Resolution No. 6216 of December 22, 2005, with Legal entity status 810 of 1996." The University of Santander, UDES, started its academic activities in February, 1982, in response to the growing demand for professionals and technicians in the areas of health, hospitality, tourism, textile design, marketing and advertising. On December 20, 1985, the Ministry of Education granted the University its legal status as a technological Institution, a recognition that allowed developing classroom and distance learning programs in the areas of management, engineering and education. In 1986, the organization ventured into the area of health sciences and became a pioneer in the teaching of technological programs such as Surgical Instrumentation, Radiology and Occupational Health.