Originally posted on LinkedIn
When it comes to closing gaps, higher education talks a lot about access but very little about social cohesion ❌
Programs like Ser Pilo Paga (Colombia’s flagship merit scholarship) or private scholarships achieve a lot in terms of access, but very little in actually bringing people together. Scholarship recipients study, but they don’t manage to integrate with their classmates. They don’t eat together, don’t go out together, don’t become friends.
This does NOT happen mainly because of elitism. It happens because of convenience (why would I befriend this new person when I already come in with 30 friends from high school), economic reality (they get invited to the party… but it’s at Andrés Carne de Res 💸), and the scholarship students’ own fears (what will people think of how I look, how I talk).
Paula Pinzón did incredible research that reveals these realities. I was one of the people she interviewed a few months ago, and now she’s sharing the results. I invite you to listen to this episode of “A Fondo” where she digs deep into the invisible barriers of social mobility — beyond just finishing your degree.
Paula puts it really well: Environments where rich and poor mix together promote more social mobility. And everyone wins from that, not just one side. Everyone gains a more complete vision of the country and a mutual understanding that can chip away at the polarization we live with.
We need to work on building social capital in order to create a more sustainable country, with more growth opportunities and less polarization.
That’s the long-term dream we have with Ignia: Higher education where people don’t just develop practical skills and gain fairer access, but also build real social cohesion between all participants.
