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The Technological University of Pereira is a public research university based in Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia.Founded in 1958 in response to a public call for education outside of the local agricultural needs, Technological University of Pereira started life as an electrical engineering faculty, before mechanical and industrial engineering was added, and eventually an institute of fine arts.Today, the university teaches a range of subjects but specialises in technological engineering and related engineering courses. Some liberal arts programmes including Spanish, literature and philosophy, are also taught at degree level, as is medicine.Research is also a major aspect of the institution, which boasts more than 100 research groups across all subjects. The university is highly academic and has a selective admissions policy, with an average admissions rate of between 40-50 per cent.About 20,000 students are enrolled across undergraduate and postgraduate courses at any given time.Facilities on campus include a large library, a botanical garden, which is used for education and research, and a planetarium and observatory.Away from their studies, students are encouraged to take part in extracurricular activities and social clubs, which include music groups and competitive sports.Pereira city centre is a 2km walk away from the campus, where students can access shopping, music venues and bars. Located in the foothills of the Andes Mountains, Pereira is famous for its coffee plantations and are a popular visitor destination in itself. The surrounding region is a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the “coffee cultural landscape of Colombia”.