Práctica profesional para el fortalecimiento del SGA y el desarrollo efectivo de los programas de gestión ambiental en la coordinación de gestión ambiental de la Universidad Santo Tomás – seccional Villavicencio

Abstract

Universidad Santo Tomás, Villavicencio branch, has implemented its Environmental Management System (SGA) under NTC ISO 14001:2015 since 2017. The Environmental Management Coordination identified the need to strengthen the System's monitoring, particularly regarding environmental indicator measurement, the proper functioning of the implemented operational controls, and the update of the legal compliance register. In this context, the professional internship aimed to support the strengthening of the SGA through technical follow up of the seven institutional Environmental Management Programs (PGA), contributing to compliance with the standard's requirements and to the effective development of these programs. The methodology was structured around the PHVA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle in three phases. In the planning phase, a documentary review was conducted of the Environmental Policy, the PGA, and the current Environmental legal matrix. In the doing phase, water, energy, gas, and waste consumption databases were updated monthly; 34 periodic inspections were carried out across eight categories —hazardous waste, non-hazardous waste, environmental noise, pest control, spill kits, paper collection boxes, tank washing, and civil works—; and environmental training sessions were conducted for different segments of the university community. In the checking phase, indicators were analyzed, regulatory compliance and the effectiveness of operational controls were evaluated, and corrective actions were formulated in response to identified nonconformities. Finally, the acting phase comprises the recommendations given in this document for the improvement of the system. As a result, an updated diagnosis of the campus's environmental performance was obtained: electricity consumption decreased by 2.2% and water consumption by 14.6% compared to the previous period, while recyclable waste generation increased by 52% and paper consumption by 37.7%, both associated with the institution's academic growth. The average progress of the PGA at the end of the internship was 17.8%, consistent with each program's annual schedule. The EMS was found to partially comply with the guidelines of NTC ISO 14001:2015; non-conformities were identified along with their corresponding proposed corrective actions, aimed at formally closing the System's continual improvement cycle.