LA INGENIERÍA BIOMÉDICA EN COLOMBIA: UNA PERSPECTIVA DESDE LA FORMACIÓN DEL PREGRADO - Biomedical engineering in colombia: an undergraduate studies approach

El presente articulo expone el estado de la formacion en Ingenieria Biomedica en Colombia a nivel de pregrado. Se revisaron programas de la Union Europea y los Estados Unidos. A nivel nacional, se revisaron, bajo la categoria de Ingenieria Biomedica y Bioingenieria, los planes de estudio de quince instituciones de educacion superior a partir de tres fuentes de informacion: Paginas Web de Universidades, Sistema de Informacion de Educacion Superior y Observatorio Laboral (Ministerio de Educacion Nacional). Se encontro que la oferta de los programas nacionales de Ingenieria Biomedica y Bioingenieria en su conjunto en la ciudad de Bogota D.C. representa el 30% de la totalidad de la oferta en el pais, Antioquia (Medellin) representa el 27%, Valle del Cauca (Cali) el 13% y los demas departamentos representan el 30% restante. Los programas de educacion superior en Ingenieria Biomedica muestran una uniformidad en cuanto a la duracion y a las competencias a desarrollar con ligeras diferencias en los enfasis y los perfiles de egreso. Actualmente existen al menos 528 Ingenieros Biomedicos y Bioingenieros graduados en el pais (0,27% del total de las ingenierias). La tasa de graduados por ano, entre 2001 y 2007 es en promedio de 75 Ingenieros Biomedicos y Bioingenieros. Se puede concluir que a pesar de la oferta de programas activos de Ingenieria Biomedica a nivel nacional, la tasa de graduados es baja con relacion a: la poblacion colombiana que va en aumento, el incremento de personas con discapacidad y adultos mayores y el numero de graduados de otras ingenierias. Se propone la reflexion, sobre el reto que imponen los avances cientificos y tecnologicos mundiales que de alguna manera se convierten en directrices de formacion. Abstract— This academic paper presents the state of Colombia`s undergraduate education in Biomedical Engineering. Programs of the European Union and of the United States were reviewed. In the national level, fifteen programs of different higher education institutions were reviewed under the category of Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering, based on three information sources: University official Website, Information System on higher education and work observatory of the National Education Ministry. It was found that the total offer of national undergraduate programs in Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering in Bogota D.C represents the 30% of the total offer in the country, Antioquia (Medellin) represents the 27%, Valle del Cauca (Cali) the 13% and the other departments represent the 30% left. The undergraduate programs in Biomedical Engineering show similar standards regarding length, and professional developing competences with slight differences in the graduation profiles and the emphasis. In the present, there are at least 528 graduated Biomedical Engineering and bioengineers in the country (0,27% of all engineering graduates). The rate of graduates per year, between 2001 and 2007, is close to 75 biomedical Engineers and bioengineers. It can be concluded, that despite the offer of active programs in the national level, the rate of graduates is low in relation to: the Colombian population which is growing, the growth of the number of people with disabilities and elders, and the number of graduates from other engineering fields. A reflection is proposed, regarding the challenges that worldwide scientific and technological advances present, which in some measure become formation directives.