COLFUTURO Yearbook Selection 2026

Julián Andrés Fernández López Beneficiary 2010 Popayán, Cauca Ph.D. in Political Science Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne Paris, France In 2010, I received the news that I had been selected as a COLFUTURO scholarship recipient to pursue my doctorate in France, after being admitted to the Doctoral School of Political Science at the Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. Without that financial support, I would have found it very difficult to continue my studies. At that time, loan forgiveness was contingent on returning to the country and making a professional contribution in Colombia. Sixteen years later, I was invited by COLFUTURO to join the Political Science Committee for the selection process of the 2026 call for applications, alongside other colleagues in the field. It was a valuable experience, both because of the rigor of the process and the opportunity to contribute through my field of expertise and my work as a professor at Universidad Autónoma de Occidente, to the training of new Colombian professionals in international settings. I trust that COLFUTURO will continue to strengthen these types of initiatives, especially in an increasingly challenging context for funding higher education, which have been key to the country’s academic and professional development.” COLFUTURO 22