Rector of UNAD. Transformational leader of education for the 21st century.
Education and Honors
- Rector, Open and Distance National University, UNAD, Colombia
- President, Ibero-American Association of Distance Higher
- Education (AIESAD) VP for Education – Rector network for sustaintability, UNESCO
- Doctor in Instructional Technology and Distance Education, Nova Southeastern University, United States.
- Doctor Honoris Causa in Education, Universidad Católica de Los Ángeles de Chimbote, Peru.
- Doctor Honoris Causa in Andragogy, Universidad Interamericana de Educación a Distancia, Panamá.
- Honorary Professor of the Academic Union of Oxford. Distinction “Educator for Progress 2018,” awarded, Office of University Cooperation – OCU.
- Master in University Teaching, La Salle University, Colombia.
- Specialization Studies in Educational Planning, University of Rennes, France.
Professional Profile
With over four decades of experience working in the service of Higher Distance and Virtual Education, Dr. Jaime Alberto Leal Afanador has distinguished himself as an innovative leader with significant experience in the university system, including a solid track record as a senior university executive, manager of high economic and social impact projects with the productive and governmental sectors, teacher, researcher, and permanent guest expert in different events and spaces for debate and academic construction. Dr. Jaime Leal has dedicated his professional life with the vocation of a passionate humanitarian and community leader; and a tireless advocate for education and the inclusive role that the University must assume as the fundamental engine and the social and moral conscience of society by virtue of its own development.
His vocation as an academic has been accompanied by extensive intellectual production, highlighting his research, books, and articles on social and educational inclusion, curricular innovation, university autonomy, instructional technology, and analysis of the norms and regulations of Colombian higher education.
His experience as an advisor and consultant for higher education institutions on issues of accreditation, curricular innovation, and organizational modernization has confirmed a successful career as a permanent guest on the global university agenda with international presentations and conferences.
Also noteworthy are his analyses, articles, and opinion columns on current university affairs, inclusion, justice, and peace in Colombia and the world, which have been published in major newspapers and media as well as his participation and presidency in important open and distance education associations in Colombia and Latin America, such as the Network of Distance Education Universities of Latin America(RECLEAD), the Colombian Association of Higher Education Institutions(ACESAD), the Ibero-American Association of Higher Distance Education (AIESAD), the Inter-American Distance Education Consortium (CREAD), and the Association of Ibero-American Educational Television (ATEI).
The achievements derived from his tireless work in the sector have been recognized by national academic guilds such as the School of Military Engineers, the Colombian Association of Engineering Faculties (ACOFI), the Colombian Association of Food Engineers (ACIAL), and international ones like USICCE, UNESCO, and the Office of University Cooperation (OCU) of Spain.