Resumen El objetivo de la investigación fue el de establecer las necesidades de formación a nivel de educación superior, en la subregión del oriente antioqueño colombiano. Esta se adelantó a través de una revisión bibliográfica, contrastada luego con un acercamiento cualitativo a los empresarios de sectores productivos, como: Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación, TIC, Agro y Aeropuertos, Puertos y Terminales Aéreas. Se encontró que, aunque la mayoría de los programas de educación superior ofertados son pertinentes, no responden a las demandas emergentes de competencia laboral requeridas por los sectores productivos de la región. El principal desafío de los nuevos programas académicos es el aprovechamiento de las TIC, para el mejoramiento de la productividad empresarial. En este sentido, la apuesta debe ser por programas de formación con una mirada transdiciplinar, que posibiliten mejoras en los procesos productivos, diseño de programas a la medida, reducción de tiempos de producción, optimización y automatización de procesos.

Abstract The challenges for higher education to meet the demands of professionals in the sub-region of eastern Antioquia, Colombia. The aim of this research was to establish training requirements at higher education level in the sub-region of eastern Antioquia, Colombia. The research entailed a review of existing literature, which was then contrasted with qualitative studies of businesses operating in productive sectors such as information and communication technologies (ICT), agro-industrial sectors and airports, ports and air terminals. The research showed that although most higher education programs were adequate, they failed to meet the emerging labour demands required by the productive sectors in the region. The key challenge for new study programs is the use of ICT for improving business productivity. In this sense, training programs should therefore embody a transdisciplinary approach that helps to improve production processes, enable the design of tailor-made programs, reduce production times, and facilitate process optimization and automation.

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a tropical disease that affects millions of individuals worldwide. The current drugs for CL may be effective but have serious side effects; hence, alternatives are urgently needed. Although plant-derived materials are used for the treatment of various diseases in 80% of the global population, the validation of these products is essential. Gelatin capsules containing dried Artemisia annua leaf powder were recently developed as a new herbal formulation (totum) for the oral treatment of malaria and other parasitic diseases. Here, we aimed to determine the usefulness of A. annua gel capsules in CL. METHODS: The antileishmanial activity and cytotoxicity of A. annua L. capsules was determined via in vitro and in vivo studies. Moreover, a preliminary evaluation of its therapeutic potential as antileishmanial treatment in humans was conducted in 2 patients with uncomplicated CL. RESULTS: Artemisia annua capsules showed moderate in vitro activity in amastigotes of Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis; no cytotoxicity in U-937 macrophages or genotoxicity in human lymphocytes was observed. Five of 6 (83.3%) hamsters treated with A. annua capsules (500mg/kg/day) for 30 days were cured, and the 2 examined patients were cured 45 days after initiation of treatment with 30g of A. annua capsules, without any adverse reactions. Both patients remained disease-free 26 and 24 months after treatment completion. CONCLUSION: Capsules of A. annua L. represent an effective treatment for uncomplicated CL, although further randomized controlled trials are needed to validate its efficacy and safety.