The Universidad Gerardo Barrios (UGB) is an educational institution in El Salvador, founded in honor of the illustrious Salvadoran military and political figure Gerardo Barrios.
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Students
Microcredentials
Virtual Careers
Founded on December 5, 1981 in the heart of the Historic Center of the city of San Miguel, this institution was born under the vision and leadership of Dr. Raúl Rivas. Since its inception, it has been a benchmark of commitment to excellence, community development and quality education. Inspired by the values of innovation and service, its foundation marked a milestone in local history, becoming a fundamental pillar for the academic and professional training of generations of students. Today, it continues to honor its legacy, evolving with the times and adapting to new educational demands, while remaining steadfast in its mission to positively impact society.
With a community of 9,000 students and a diverse team of faculty and staff, UGB stands out for its innovative approach to teaching and learning. The university strives to use modern technologies and advanced pedagogical methods to enhance the educational experience.
Although Gerardo Barrios University (UGB) began incorporating technology in education since 2005 using Moodle, and had introduced 8 virtual careers by 2020, they still faced significant challenges that limited their growth and effectiveness in the virtual realm.They recognized that they needed to move forward in a more accelerated and scalable way to reach a larger number of students and offer quality education that was aligned with the needs of the 21st century.
UGB needed to effectively incorporate the development of soft skills and non-technical competencies into its curriculum. Skills such as effective communication, teamwork, critical thinking and leadership are essential for success.
Educational programs required constant updating to remain relevant. In addition, greater academic flexibility was needed to allow students to develop new skills throughout their educational and professional careers, thus adapting to global and technological trends.
There was an urgent need to complement the curriculum with additional training to meet the changing demands of the labor market. Employers are looking for professionals with up-to-date knowledge and specialized skills, and the university had to adapt to meet these expectations.
To face and overcome the aforementioned challenges, Universidad Gerardo Barrios (UGB) decided to take a significant step towards educational innovation.
In collaboration with Griky, it implemented the lifelong learning platform called UGB Plus. This platform offers an extensive catalog of more than 11,000 updated and specialized courses, available to the entire university community: students, faculty and administrative staff.
Universidad Gerardo Barrios (UGB) is an educational institution in El Salvador, founded in honor of the illustrious Salvadoran military and political figure Gerardo Barrios. UGB offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in diverse areas such as engineering, social sciences, education and business.
- Support for existing careers: UGB Plus was initially implemented as a support resource for different careers, especially in areas that required constant updating due to the rapid evolution of knowledge and technologies.
- Staff training: In addition to benefiting students, the platform activated a continuous training process for teaching and administrative staff. This allows them to keep up to date with the latest trends in education, teaching methodologies and professional competencies.
- Accessibility and flexibility: The platform is available online, which facilitates access to courses from anywhere and at any time. This is especially useful for those with tight schedules or geographical limitations.
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- Assignment according to needs: Learning paths have been created that allow specific courses to be assigned to users according to their training needs and professional objectives.
- Tracking and certification: The platform provides tracking of each user's progress, making it easier for them to complete courses and obtain recognized certifications.
- Soft skills development: In addition to technical knowledge, the paths include courses to develop soft skills such as leadership, effective communication, teamwork and time management, essential in today's work environment.
- Articulation with subjects: UGB Plus courses have been integrated into the existing curriculum in a way that complements and reinforces the content of regular subjects. This helps students delve deeper into specific topics and better understand the subjects.
- Strengthening from entry: From the first year, students have access to resources that strengthen their core competencies, better preparing them for future academic and professional challenges.
- Adaptation to labor market trends: By integrating updated and relevant courses, UGB ensures that its academic programs are aligned with current labor market demands, increasing the chances of success for its graduates.
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The implementation of UGB Plus has had a positive and tangible impact on the entire university community:
Standardization and educational quality
With the addition of UGB Plus, all subjects now have standardized virtual classrooms, clear rubrics and well-defined learning outcomes. This has improved the quality of education and made it easier to track academic progress.
Increased student engagement
Direct contact with students through the courses improved engagement and raised satisfaction levels, reflected in a higher NPS (Net Promoter Score).
Professional updating of personnel
Teachers and administrative staff have used the platform for continuous professional development. This has led to improvements in teaching practices and administrative efficiency.
Scalability and extended reach
Since the introduction of the platform, there has been a notable increase in participation. A large number of students, as well as faculty and staff, have taken advantage of the more than 11,000 courses available. This has created a continuous and collaborative learning environment throughout the institution.
Participation of the university community
Since the introduction of the platform, there has been a notable increase in participation. A large number of students, as well as faculty and staff, have taken advantage of the more than 11,000 courses available. This has created a continuous and collaborative learning environment throughout the institution.
