Vicente Rodríguez: Developing Digital Talent to Expand Opportunities in Colombia’s Interior Region
For more than two decades, SENATIC instructor Vicente Rodríguez has combined his passion for education and technology to support young people in building life projects and creating new opportunities for development.
BOGOTÁ (ILO News) – When Vicente Rodríguez began working as a teacher at the age of 19 in a rural educational institution in Cundinamarca, he could not have imagined that he would dedicate much of his life to connecting two of his greatest passions: education and technology.
Today, as an instructor in SENATIC, an initiative led by the Ministry of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT), SENA, and the International Labour Organization (ILO), he supports young people in the municipalities of Facatativá and Madrid in developing digital competencies that can open new opportunities for their educational and professional futures.
Through SENATIC, thousands of young people strengthen technical and socio-emotional skills that contribute to their preparation for higher education, entrepreneurship, and the world of work. For Vicente, being part of this process represents an opportunity to put at the service of others the experience he has accumulated over the years in classrooms, public institutions, and technology companies.
Born in Bogotá and raised in a family of five siblings, Vicente discovered from an early age the value of education as a tool for transformation.
His educational journey began at Nicolás Esguerra School and continued at the San Juan de Rioseco Teacher Training School in Cundinamarca, where he strengthened his interest in teaching. He later pursued a degree in Systems Engineering at the University of Tolima in the city of Ibagué, convinced that technology could become a powerful tool for creating opportunities. While completing his university studies, he also began his professional career. His first major experience was in education. For eight years, he worked in different educational institutions in Chaguaní, Cundinamarca, teaching information technology, mathematics, and other subjects related to technology.
“Education has always been my passion. I felt that I could help people discover abilities that they often did not know they had.”
Over the years, Vicente expanded his professional experience into the technology and telecommunications sectors.
He participated in projects related to connectivity, fibre-optic deployment, technology infrastructure, and information technology service management. He also worked on initiatives aimed at bringing digital tools closer to vulnerable populations, including older adults, pregnant women, individuals reintegrating after armed conflict, and young people.
Later, he assumed leadership responsibilities in technology projects and coordinated teams involved in infrastructure, technical support, and digital services, including projects implemented with national public institutions.
Despite the technical and professional challenges he encountered throughout his career, he never moved completely away from teaching.
“Technology fascinates me, but sharing knowledge has always been a fundamental part of my life.”
Joining the SENATIC project allowed him to reconnect fully with that vocation.
Since then, he has supported training processes for upper secondary students, helping them develop digital competencies and understand the opportunities offered by an increasingly connected world.
For Vicente, one of the greatest challenges is recognizing that every student learns differently and that each young person has unique talents, interests, and aspirations.
“Every young person is a different world. Our role is to help them discover their abilities and show them how they can use them to build their future,” he says.
He believes that initiatives such as SENATIC are particularly valuable because they bring learning opportunities closer to young people who often face barriers to accessing specialized education or continuing their studies.
BOGOTÁ (ILO News) – When Vicente Rodríguez began working as a teacher at the age of 19 in a rural educational institution in Cundinamarca, he could not have imagined that he would dedicate much of his life to connecting two of his greatest passions: education and technology.
Today, as an instructor in SENATIC, an initiative led by the Ministry of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT), SENA, and the International Labour Organization (ILO), he supports young people in the municipalities of Facatativá and Madrid in developing digital competencies that can open new opportunities for their educational and professional futures.
Through SENATIC, thousands of young people strengthen technical and socio-emotional skills that contribute to their preparation for higher education, entrepreneurship, and the world of work. For Vicente, being part of this process represents an opportunity to put at the service of others the experience he has accumulated over the years in classrooms, public institutions, and technology companies.
A Vocation Built Through Education and Technology
Born in Bogotá and raised in a family of five siblings, Vicente discovered from an early age the value of education as a tool for transformation.
His educational journey began at Nicolás Esguerra School and continued at the San Juan de Rioseco Teacher Training School in Cundinamarca, where he strengthened his interest in teaching. He later pursued a degree in Systems Engineering at the University of Tolima in the city of Ibagué, convinced that technology could become a powerful tool for creating opportunities. While completing his university studies, he also began his professional career. His first major experience was in education. For eight years, he worked in different educational institutions in Chaguaní, Cundinamarca, teaching information technology, mathematics, and other subjects related to technology.
“Education has always been my passion. I felt that I could help people discover abilities that they often did not know they had.”
From the Classroom to Major Technology Projects
Over the years, Vicente expanded his professional experience into the technology and telecommunications sectors.
He participated in projects related to connectivity, fibre-optic deployment, technology infrastructure, and information technology service management. He also worked on initiatives aimed at bringing digital tools closer to vulnerable populations, including older adults, pregnant women, individuals reintegrating after armed conflict, and young people.
Later, he assumed leadership responsibilities in technology projects and coordinated teams involved in infrastructure, technical support, and digital services, including projects implemented with national public institutions.
Despite the technical and professional challenges he encountered throughout his career, he never moved completely away from teaching.
“Technology fascinates me, but sharing knowledge has always been a fundamental part of my life.”
An Opportunity to Transform Lives
Joining the SENATIC project allowed him to reconnect fully with that vocation.
Since then, he has supported training processes for upper secondary students, helping them develop digital competencies and understand the opportunities offered by an increasingly connected world.
For Vicente, one of the greatest challenges is recognizing that every student learns differently and that each young person has unique talents, interests, and aspirations.
“Every young person is a different world. Our role is to help them discover their abilities and show them how they can use them to build their future,” he says.
He believes that initiatives such as SENATIC are particularly valuable because they bring learning opportunities closer to young people who often face barriers to accessing specialized education or continuing their studies.
An Opportunity to Transform Lives
Joining the SENATIC project allowed him to reconnect fully with that vocation.
Since then, he has supported training processes for upper secondary students, helping them develop digital competencies and understand the opportunities offered by an increasingly connected world.
For Vicente, one of the greatest challenges is recognizing that every student learns differently and that each young person has unique talents, interests, and aspirations.
“Cada joven es un mundo distinto. Nuestro trabajo consiste en ayudarlos a descubrir sus capacidades y mostrarles cómo pueden aprovecharlas para construir su futuro”she says.
He believes that initiatives such as SENATIC are particularly valuable because they bring learning opportunities closer to young people who often face barriers to accessing specialized education or continuing their studies.
Technology as a Tool for Building Life Projects
Beyond technical knowledge, Vicente believes that digital education can help broaden horizons and strengthen young people’s confidence in their own abilities.
According to him, many students have grown up surrounded by technology but need guidance to understand how it can be used as a tool for learning, innovation, and professional development. “The important thing is for them to realize that technology is not only about entertainment. It can also become a gateway to education, entrepreneurship, employment, and new opportunities,”, he explains.
The opportunity to earn a certification and develop skills valued in the labour market represents, in his view, a significant advantage for young people who are beginning to define their life projects.
Looking Towards the Future
While continuing to support new generations of learners, Vicente also maintains his own professional development goals.
Among his plans is to deepen his expertise in cybersecurity and continue developing projects related to the technology sector. He also hopes to promote business initiatives focused on software development and digital security solutions.
Beyond his personal aspirations, however, he remains motivated by a constant purpose: contributing to community development through education.
“I have always felt that my purpose is to serve others. Being able to do so through initiatives such as SENATIC, which create opportunities for young people, is one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.”
His story demonstrates how the combination of technical knowledge, a commitment to service, and dedication to education can help open pathways for new generations and strengthen their preparation for a world of work that is constantly evolving.
Vicente Rodríguez, a SENATIC instructor in Cundinamarca, supports young people in strengthening their digital competencies and life skills through this initiative led by the Ministry of ICT, SENA, and the ILO.
