Medical students in Paraguay concerned over university campus relocation

Students pursuing medicine at Paraguay's Central University (UCP) in Pedro Juan Caballero are expressing significant concern and demanding intervention from the National Council of Higher Education (Cones) regarding the faculty's relocation to Asunción. Over 200 students feel the process lacks transparency and are worried about the implications for their academic records and the validity of their future degrees.

The building that previously housed UCP's Pedro Juan Caballero campus now operates under the name Universidad Interamericana, adding to the uncertainty. Students are seeking guarantees from Cones that their degrees will be recognized upon completion of their studies. They fear that their academic documents, currently held within the former UCP premises, might be mishandled.

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We are more than 200 students who are not satisfied with the way things are being done; there is no transparent management of the situation, we are afraid something will happen to us or that they will do something bad with our documents that are inside.

Universidad Interamericana, through its communication coordinator Firmino Benítez, stated that students from the seventh semester onwards can complete their medical degrees at the institution without issues. However, students in lower semesters are reportedly required to transfer to Universidad Interamericana. While Benítez claims this transfer is free, students allege it costs 8 million Paraguayan guaranis per student. Attempts to reach Cones representatives for comment have so far been unsuccessful.

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We want to meet with the Cones authorities and have them give us the guarantee that our degrees will be issued and will be valid upon completion of the career.