Interview with Nilber Javier Mosquera, Dean of the Faculty of Education of UCN; by Claudiany Manrique, Assistant to the Internationalization Coordinator of FGU.
Writing and journalistic adaptation by Jorge Marchena, Marketing and Events Coordinator.
In an interview with the Dean of the Faculty of Education of the Catholic University Foundation of the North (UCN) – Colombia, Nilber Javier Mosquera, conducted by Claudiany Manrique, Assistant of the Internationalization Coordination of Florida Global University (FGU), in the framework of the Internationalization Agreement “Global Degree Program” FGU-UCN, an in-depth look at the challenges that define the III International Congress on Virtual Education was offered. This UCN event, co-organized with FGU and the Universidad Andrés Bello of Chile, arises not only as an academic meeting, but also as an urgent response to the omnipresence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the educational ecosystem.
A Legacy of Innovation: From Wiring to Generative AI
The dialogue began by establishing the historical context of UCN, a pioneer in Colombia since 1997, a time when virtuality faced elementary connectivity barriers. Mosquera explained to Manrique how the evolution of the congress reflects the maturity of the sector:
- 2017: The approach was normative, seeking to regulate an educational modality that lacked clear legislation in the region.
- 2020: In the midst of the pandemic, the discussion turned to pedagogical practices and the democratization of virtual knowledge.
- Current affairs: “Artificial intelligence is now,” said the Dean, stressing that the challenge is no longer just connectivity, but automation and ethical dilemmas.
The Big Conversation: Identity vs. Artificial Authorship
One of the highlights of the interview was the analysis of academic integrity. Mosquera raised an evolution in the issue of identity in virtual education. While the historical concern was to validate whether the person behind the screen was who they claimed to be, AI has sharpened this challenge.
“If that concerned us at the time, now the scenario is to get busy,” said the Dean. The discussion focused on how tools such as ChatGPT, Perplexity or Gemini have complicated competency validation. The central question guiding this conference is: How do we ensure that the student actually acquired the competency and was not simply a passive user of an AI?
Pedagogical Revolution: Oral defense as a new standard
When asked by the interviewer about the pedagogical changes needed to integrate AI without sacrificing critical thinking, Mosquera detailed concrete and radical measures that the university is already implementing:
- Mandatory Synchronous Socialization: It is no longer enough to submit an essay. The Dean explained that
“all activities submitted by students must be socialized synchronously”. This implies that the student must verbally defend his/her work to demonstrate appropriation of knowledge, dividing the grade between the delivery and the presentation.
- Project-based learning (PBL): The purely cognitive approach is being abandoned in favor of active methodologies such as problem-based learning. The goal is to assess practical and socio-affective competencies that AI cannot easily replicate.
- Intensive Teacher Training: Throughout 2025, the faculty has participated in training cycles to learn how to use AI in research, evaluation and curriculum design, under the premise that “if there is no training, there can be no adoption”.
Strategic Alliances and Integral Sustainability
The congress transcends the exchange of ideas; it seeks tangible results in international cooperation. In response to Manrique’s questions about the post-congress steps, Mosquera highlighted the importance of the alliance with Florida Global University. The objective is to consolidate networks to apply for European Union calls for proposals and attract resources to impact vulnerable territories.
The concept of “integral sustainability” was also introduced, which encompasses not only environmental issues, but also the academic, financial and administrative viability of institutions in the face of digital transformation.
Scientific Rigor and Projection
To ensure that these discussions have a real impact, the event has a Scientific Committee that acts as curator. Its function is to ensure that the papers present solid and relevant research results, avoiding thematic dispersion. The findings of the congress will not remain in the air; they will be systematized in reports and indexed publications to ensure the management and transfer of knowledge.
With a projected 3,000 participants and more than 2,700 registrants to date, this congress is shaping up to be a milestone in defining the ethical and operational future of virtual education in the age of artificial intelligence.