Translated by Andrés Martínez Forero
In Bogotá, My City, My Home, we are strengthening residents’ educational opportunities while helping connect them to the world. Bogotá continues to strengthen education and bilingualism as key drivers for connecting local talent with opportunities on the global stage. During the first half of 2026, the Suba Local Mayor’s Office, through its Internationalization Office, implemented five strategies as part of its Bilingualism Route, benefiting more than 400 students and residents. The initiative helped participants strengthen their English communication skills while gaining access to academic, cultural, and professional experiences with a global perspective.
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Built around a local approach to global engagement, the initiative aims to take English learning beyond the classroom and turn language skills into a gateway to opportunities in education, employment, entrepreneurship, and international experiences.
During this period, 14 activities were held at schools, community spaces, and immersive learning venues through partnerships with binational centers, international chambers of commerce, local universities, companies in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, international organizations, and experts.
Five strategies connecting Suba with the world
The first strategy reached five schools across Suba through workshops focused on preparing students for the workplace, career guidance, personal finance, and English-language proficiency assessments benefiting more than 120 11th-grade students.
Through Local 2 Global Classrooms, students in Suba had the opportunity to interact in English with international guests through in-person and virtual sessions. Participants during the semester included professional kitesurfers from Finland and the United States, as well as an expert in sustainability and global connections with experience in cities such as London, São Paulo, and Austin. The sessions helped 60 students strengthen their communication skills while learning from international experiences in sports, innovation, and sustainable development.
To bring language learning to the broader community, the Internationalization Office also consolidated the English Fridays Club, a free English conversation space developed in partnership with Fundación Universitaria Juan N. Corpas and the YMCA.
Sessions held at Corpas University, the Suba House of Culture, and Zona TU brought together more than 150 participants, creating ongoing opportunities to practice English in welcoming community settings.
The English Camps strategy introduced young people to the business world through an immersive experience developed with leading companies in the BPO sector. Thirty students strengthened their English skills while gaining firsthand insight into the competencies required by the global labor market and the employment opportunities available in internationally connected industries.
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Finally, in partnership with the Colombo Americano Binational Center, the English Days strategy offered immersive sessions at the Center as well as activities held directly in local schools. Three sessions were conducted during the first half of the year, benefiting 190 students and helping them improve their listening comprehension, speaking skills, and confidence in communicating in English through experiential learning methods.
Education as a gateway to global opportunities
Beyond learning a second language, the Bilingualism Route seeks to strengthen the global skills of children, young people, and residents by promoting cultural exchange, a global mindset, and the development of life projects with an international outlook.
“Global engagement begins in the classroom and within our communities. Every student or resident who strengthens their English skills expands their opportunities to pursue education, access competitive jobs, and participate in international experiences. Through the Internationalization Office, we are working to make Suba a place that prepares globally minded citizens who are connected to the world,” said Suba Local Mayor César Salamanca.
The results achieved during the first half of the year strengthen an initiative that brings together the public sector, academia, international organizations, and private companies to expand educational and employment opportunities for the community.
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The Suba Local Mayor’s Office will continue strengthening this area of work during the second half of 2026, expanding the reach of the Bilingualism Route through new strategic partnerships and positioning Suba as a district leader in education, innovation, and global engagement.
*This article was created using information provided by the Bogotá’s International Relations Office and curated by a journalist from Portal Bogotá. For suggestions, questions, or more information, visit Bogotá Te Escucha: https://bogota.gov.co/sdqs/
