Over the past two years, students from Octavio Calderón Mejía, El Pinar, San José Obrero, and Instituto Técnico Industrial Pascual Bravo have participated in the program.
The EstudIA program, an initiative led by Ruta N through the Medellín Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR Medellín) and the Secretariat of Education, trained 2,166 ninth-, tenth-, and eleventh-grade students from four public schools in Medellín over the past two years. The program is part of the District’s strategy to strengthen digital skills and help young people prepare for their future careers.
"Technology opens up new possibilities for young people to discover their talents. Through the EstudIA program, we bring science and technology closer to new generations, strengthen their capabilities, and help them find tools to open pathways to new opportunities," said Ana María Moreno, Director of the Medellín Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The training reached Octavio Calderón Mejía School in Belén, El Pinar School in Villa Hermosa, Instituto Técnico Industrial Pascual Bravo in La Candelaria, and San José Obrero School in San Antonio de Prado. Students learned about artificial intelligence, website and application development, and data analytics.
¡Vean pues todo lo que pueden hacer nuestros jóvenes cuando les damos las herramientas! Con EstudIA, 2.166 estudiantes de colegios públicos están aprendiendo sobre inteligencia artificial y a crear páginas web y aplicaciones. ¡Y 150 de ellos tuvieron la oportunidad de aprender con expertos de América Latina! Así tienen más herramientas para hacer realidad sus ideas, desarrollar su talento y abrirse camino en el mundo laboral. Talento les sobra y aquí les damos oportunidades para demostrarlo. ¡Diciendo y haciendo les cumplimos a los jóvenes de Medellín!
— Fico Gutiérrez (@FicoGutierrez) October 21, 2026
The program also included an intensive training bootcamp led by experts from across Latin America. The 150 highest-performing students took part in this experience, deepening their knowledge through challenges and practical projects, with an emphasis on applying digital skills in real-world settings.
"In Medellín, we want our students to be more than technology users. We want them to become young people who can create, propose solutions, and transform their surroundings. Through EstudIA, we strengthen their digital skills and promote the thoughtful, creative, and responsible use of artificial intelligence," said Carolina Franco Giraldo, Secretary of Education.
The program has helped students connect their learning with new academic and career opportunities while exploring their interests and planning their professional futures.
"I have learned everything from building websites with artificial intelligence to creating digital marketing campaigns. It has been a great experience because this learning helps us take an active role in shaping our future. It goes beyond what we learn this year; we can put it to use later on. Artificial intelligence is used so widely, and we need to learn how to use it," said Carolina Gómez, a student at Octavio Calderón Mejía School.
Through initiatives such as EstudIA, the District, Ruta N, and C4IR Medellín are strengthening digital skills and preparing young people for opportunities in a labour market increasingly shaped by emerging technologies, contributing to the city’s economic and social development.
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