Fundacion Universitaria Cafam

What Fundacion Universitaria Cafam does

Fundación Universitaria Cafam (Unicafam) is a private, non-profit higher education institution founded in 2008 and headquartered in Bogotá, Colombia. It is wholly owned by Caja de Compensación Familiar Cafam (Cafam), one of Colombia's largest compensation funds, and operates under Mineducación accreditation and Colombia's Special Tax Regime. The institution serves undergraduate and graduate students across four academic units: the Faculty of Engineering, Technology and Basic Sciences (Data Science, Industrial Engineering, Data Analysis, Industrial Process Management, Biomedical Equipment Maintenance); the Faculty of Health and Wellness (Nursing, Sports Training, Pharmacy); the Faculty of Administrative Sciences (Business Administration, Public Accounting, Marketing and Business Intelligence, International Business); and the School of Tourism and Gastronomy. The portfolio includes 6 undergraduate programs, 6 specialization programs, plus continuing education offerings.

Unicafam delivers education through three modalities: in-person (Presencial), flexible/blended (Hiflex/PAT), and fully virtual. The virtual modality runs on a Moodle-based Campus Virtual platform (aula.unicafam.edu.co) with single sign-on, asynchronous content, and Microsoft Teams for administrative communication. Revenue is generated primarily through tuition and academic fees for undergraduate and graduate programs, with rates set annually via the Acuerdo de Valores Pecuniarios and supplemented by direct institutional financing at preferential rates (approximately 1% interest for postgraduate programs). The go-to-market motion is sales-led, with a dedicated admissions office, online portal (SIGA), scholarship programs, and an institutional referral program driving enrollment.

The institution differentiates itself through Cafam's brand ecosystem, internationalization via the 334+ university Delfin research network and MIVI volunteer program across 28 European and 10 Asian countries, applied research output (Minciencias-indexed publications, RedColsi participation), and social-impact projects connecting students to real-world challenges. While not an AI-native organization, Unicafam offers AI/ML training programs and uses Power BI for institutional analytics. Customer concentration is diffuse (B2C student base), with notable institutional partnerships including the Escuela de Postgrados de la Policía Nacional.

Name

Fundacion Universitaria Cafam

Legal name

Fundación Universitaria Cafam

Website

https://unicafam.edu.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Fundación Universitaria Cafam (Unicafam) is a private non-profit higher education institution in Bogotá, Colombia, owned by Caja de Compensación Familiar Cafam, offering undergraduate and graduate programs across engineering, health, business, and tourism via in-person and virtual modalities to Colombian students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online/Hybrid Lifelong Learning Platforms & Open Enrollment Programs (EDAAAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

University-Affiliated Pathway & Foundation Programs (EDAIAJAA), Project, Quality & Operations (PMP PDUs, Six Sigma, Quality CE) (EDAAALAM)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Undergraduate programs
• Graduate specializations
• Virtual learning
• Continuing education

Headquarters

HQ city

Bogotá

HQ country

Colombia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Academic Fees: As a private higher education institution, Unicafam generates revenue primarily through tuition payments for undergraduate (pregrado) and postgraduate (posgrado) programs, technology programs, and continuing education (educacion continua) courses. Tuition varies by program and modality as outlined in the annual Pecuniary Values Agreement (Acuerdo No. 06 de 2025).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Fundacion Universitaria Cafam (Unicafam) is a private higher education institution that delivers undergraduate degree programs, graduate specializations, continuing education bootcamps, and international academic exchanges. It operates four academic units (Engineering/Technology, Administrative Sciences, Health/Wellness, and Tourism/Gastronomy) and offers programs in on-campus, virtual, and hybrid modalities through its proprietary Moodle-based Campus Virtual platform.

Product overview

Fundacion Universitaria Cafam (Unicafam) is a Colombian higher education institution offering undergraduate and graduate programs across four academic units: the Faculty of Engineering, Technology and Basic Sciences (Data Science, Industrial Engineering, Data Analysis, Industrial Process Management, Biomedical Equipment Maintenance); Faculty of Health and Wellness (Nursing, Physical Conditioning and Sports Training); Faculty of Administrative Sciences (Business Administration, Public Accounting, Marketing and Business Intelligence, International Business, Business Management Technology); and the School of Tourism and Gastronomy (Tourism and Hotel Administration, Gastronomic Management). The institution provides educational services through traditional and virtual modalities via its Campus Virtual LMS platform, complemented by continuing education bootcamps, student support services, and internationalization programs including research exchanges and volunteer opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs (Pregrado) Undergraduate degree and technological programs in Data Science, Industrial Engineering, Data Analysis, Industrial Process Management, Biomedical Equipment Maintenance, Nursing, Physical Conditioning and Sports Training, Pharmacy Regencia, Business Administration, Public Accounting, Marketing and Business Intelligence, International Business, Business Management Technology, Tourism and Hotel Administration, and Gastronomic Management. Delivered via Presencial (on-campus), Hiflex/PAT (hybrid), and Virtual modalities.
• Graduate Specializations (Especializaciones / Posgrado) Graduate-level specialization programs for working professionals in Occupational Safety and Health Management (Gerencia de la SST), Integrated QHSE Systems Management, Health Services Management (Gerencia de Servicios de Salud), MiPymes Management (Gerencia de MiPymes), Data Governance and Business Intelligence (Gobierno de Datos e Inteligencia de Negocios), and Digital Marketing (Marketing Digital). Primarily virtual modality with annual billing.
• Bootcamp en Inteligencia Artificial (AI/Machine Learning Bootcamp) Intensive AI and Machine Learning bootcamp delivered under continuing education, covering statistical fundamentals, supervised and unsupervised learning, and RAG systems, with hands-on work in R and Python. Targeted at professionals seeking rapid AI upskilling.
• Ruta de Emprendimiento UNICAFAM 12-week virtual entrepreneurship program designed for aspiring entrepreneurs and students, using Lean Startup and Business Model Canvas methodologies, with mentorship and a culminating Demo Day.
• Continuing Education Programs (Educación Continua) Continuing education umbrella offering bootcamps, short courses, vocational training, and professional development programs outside formal degree structures, for professionals and community members.
• Campus Virtual (Virtual Learning Platform) Moodle-based virtual learning platform at aula.unicafam.edu.co supporting asynchronous and synchronous online education for undergraduate, postgraduate, and continuing education programs, with single sign-on, video tutorials, and integrated support via WhatsApp and Microsoft Teams.
• International Exchange Programs (Programa Delfin / MIVI / Academic Missions) International academic programs offering Unicafam students 7-week research stays at 334+ partner universities across Latin America, USA, and Europe through the Delfin Program; fully funded international volunteering placements through WeCollab/MIVI; and academic missions to Mexico, Peru, USA, and Caribbean institutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Three research seedbed projects were recognized at the EISI RedCOLSI Mexico 2026 International Encounter, standing out among initiatives from five countries.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fundacion de Estudios Superiores ComfanortecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Unicafam contributed seven academic articles to Vol. 15, No. 33 (2025) of Revista Mundo FESC, published by Fundacion de Estudios Superiores Comfanorte and indexed by Minciencias. The collaboration consolidated knowledge from research seedbeds and the VIII International Congress on Ingenio y Emprendimiento, projecting toward the IX Congress 2026.
• Escuela de Postgrados de la Policia NacionalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Four Unicafam professors served as thesis advisors in the Master's in Security Management at the Police National Graduate School. Seven research projects were developed, with four receiving the 'Laureada' distinction and three rated 'Approved', evidencing deep academic-articulation and quality assurance between institutions.
• Fundacion Doggy in HomeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial Engineering students at Unicafam collaborated with Fundacion Doggy in Home to design and manufacture custom 3D-printed wheelchairs for rescue dogs with disabilities. This social innovation project integrated technology, empathy, and applied learning to generate real-world impact.
• Programa Delfin (334+ Universities)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 31st Delfin Scientific and Technological Research Summer Program provides Unicafam students access to research placements at 334+ universities across Mexico, USA, Brazil, Spain, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Panama, and Peru. The 7-week program runs from June 8 to July 24, 2026, with virtual or in-person modalities.
• WeCollabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe MIVI (Movilidad Internacional Voluntaria) 2026 program, organized with WeCollab, offers Unicafam students, graduates, faculty, and staff the opportunity to volunteer in 28 European countries, 10 Asian countries, and 2 American countries. Fully funded placements (accommodation, meals, local transport) are available for 1-12 week durations, with the Catedra de Competencias Interculturales certification.
• Caja de Compensacion Familiar CafamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnicafam was created by Cafam (Caja de Compensacion Familiar Cafam) to continue its educational system and contribute to the integral formation of human talent for enterprise and social development. Cafam provides institutional backing, student benefit ecosystem, and social mission alignment.
• Colegio CafamminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorColegio Cafam is part of the broader Cafam institutional ecosystem. As a school, it serves as a pathway for student recruitment and represents the continuity of Cafam's educational mission from K-12 to higher education.
• Universidad de San BuenaventuraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents from the Master's in Business Administration at Universidad de San Buenaventura visited Unicafam for an academic exchange focused on management challenges and organizational transformation, promoting bilateral academic enrichment between institutions.
• Universidad Simon Bolivar, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Universidad del MagdalenaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnicafam students participated in a National Mission to Cartagena, Barranquilla, and Santa Marta that included academic encounters, workshops, and institutional visits at Universidad Simon Bolivar, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, and Universidad del Magdalena, fostering inter-institutional academic exchange.
• Universidad Tecnologico Comfenalco, Institucion Universitaria Mayor de CartagenaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs part of the National Mission to the Caribbean region, students engaged in academic activities at these Cartagena-based institutions, strengthening ties with regional higher education partners.
• RedColsicoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUnicafam participates in RedColsi (Red de Semilleros de Investigacion), Colombia's national research seedbed network. The VI Interinstitutional Encounter of Formative Research 2026 at Unicafam served as a qualifying event for the RedColsi Regional Node competition.
• Universidad de La SalleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe RedColsi Regional Event is scheduled for May 2026 at Universidad de La Salle (Sede Chapinero), where qualifying research projects from Unicafam will compete at the regional level.
• Fe y Alegria Schools (5 schools in Bogota)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUnicafam signed an immersion agreement with the five Bogota schools administered by Fundacion Fe y Alegria, providing educational pathway and institutional linkage between the Cafam educational ecosystem and public education institutions.
• ANATO (Asociacion Colombiana de Agencias de Viajes y Turismo)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUnicafam's School of Tourism and Gastronomy actively participates in ANATO's annual Vitrina Turistica, Colombia's most important tourism trade show, providing students with networking opportunities with agencies, airlines, and hotel chains.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Universidad EAN: Private Bogotá-based university with a similar multi-modal (virtual + presencial) delivery model, undergraduate and graduate specializations, and a focus on industry-aligned programs including sustainability, engineering, and business — directly comparable to Unicafam's offering and Bogotá target market.
• Fundación Universitaria Konrad Lorenz: Bogotá-based Fundación Universitaria (the exact same legal/regulatory designation as Unicafam) offering undergraduate and graduate programs in business, engineering, psychology, and design. Shares the same legal structure (Institución Universitaria bajo Personería Jurídica) and Bogotá competitive set.
• Universidad Sergio Arboleda: Bogotá-based private university with comparable program breadth across business administration, engineering, and health sciences, competing for the same fee-paying Bogotá student demographic and offering both presencial and virtual modalities.
• Politécnico Grancolombiano: Large private Bogotá university with extensive virtual modality programs and competitive pricing. Targets similar fee-paying, working-adult student populations and competes head-to-head with Unicafam's virtual postgraduate and continuing education programs in the Colombian capital.
• Universidad Minuto de Dios (UNIMINUTO): Colombia's largest private university, founded by the Eudes humanitarian organization with a strong social mission and nationwide presence across multiple cities. The most direct structural parallel to Unicafam — both target working-class and first-generation students, share a social-impact mission, and operate subsidized financing — competing for similar student segments in Bogotá.
• Universidad Católica de Colombia: Bogotá-based private university with comparable size, modality mix (presencial + virtual), and specialization portfolio in engineering, business, and social sciences. Direct competitor in the same addressable Bogotá student market.
• Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano (UTADEO): Bogotá private university with strong programs in tourism, gastronomy, business, and international business — an exact program-overlap match for Unicafam's Escuela de Turismo y Gastronomía and Faculty of Administrative Sciences. Same target student profile in Bogotá.
• Universidad Manuela Beltrán: Bogotá-based private university with comparable focus on undergraduate vocational and professional programs, particularly in engineering, health, and business administration. Competes for similar socio-economic strata of Bogotá students.
• Universidad Libre de Colombia (Bogotá): Bogotá-seated private university offering similar undergraduate and specialization programs in law, business, engineering, and health sciences — with comparable tuition positioning and a focus on working-adult student segments.
• Universidad de La Salle (Colombia): Bogotá-based private university with similar program breadth in engineering, business, and health sciences. Unicafam's partnership with Universidad de La Salle for the 2026 RedColsi Regional Event demonstrates direct academic collaboration between comparable Bogotá institutions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/%20Fundación%20Universitaria%20Cafam
• Facebookfacebook.com/unicafam
• LinkedInco.linkedin.com/school/fundaci-n-universitaria-cafam
• Instagraminstagram.com/unicafam_oficial
• TikToktiktok.com/@unicafamoficial
• Xx.com/unicafam

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fundacion Universitaria Cafam