Through an investigation, the Comptroller’s Office of the Republic determined that the National Superintendency of Higher University Education (Sunedu) committed signs of irregularities by not recognizing the signature of the interim rector of the National University of Engineering (UNI)Arturo Talledo, who replaced his predecessor, Alfonso López Chau, now a possible presidential candidate for Ahora Nación.
It turns out that, last March, the University Assembly of the UNI approved the modification of article 55 of the statute so that, in the event of the rector’s resignation, an election is held among the vice-chancellors, the same one who would assume the position until the end of the term. In this way, last April, after the voluntary departure of López Chau, the University Assembly appointed the vice-rector for research, Arturo Talledo, as rector of UNI until November 11, 2026.
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However, Sunedu declared Arturo Talledo’s signature inadmissible. and ended up recognizing the academic vice-rector, Shirley Chilet Cama, as rector of UNI. who requested that article 57 of the statute must be complied with, which states that, given the vacancy of the rector, she had to assume the position.
“(They declared her rector) despite the fact that the servers of the Degree and Title Registration Unit of Sunedu were aware of the modification of article 55 of the statute of the UNI (with which Arturo Talledo was elected rector)”, responded the auditors of the Comptroller’s Office in the subsequent ex officio action report No. 17702-2025-CG/EDUC-AOP, dated November 7.
They also noted that Shirley Chilet Cama was recognized as rector when had not met various requirements required by the Degree and Title Registration Unit of Sunedu itself, such as having the support of the general secretary of the UNI and having submitted sworn statements.
“(The superintendency’s decision) was executed through a differentiated regulatory application in the span of three days, which denotes an inconsistency of procedures at Sunedu,” they noted.
More signs of irregularities
Last May, the UNI University Council appointed Patricia Yataco as general secretary of the university. After that, Sunedu was asked to recognize his signature. However, the superintendency responded that it was not appropriate because it bore the signature of the rector Arturo Talledo.who they do not make official. After that, Sunedu ended up recognizing Juan Pacheco as general secretary of the UNI because he bore the signature of Shirley Chilet Cama.
“From the review of Chilet Cama’s documentation for the registration of Juan Pacheco as general secretary, it was verified that he failed to comply with the presentation of formal requirements, such as not having the authorization of the UNI University Council and other sworn statements,” reads the Comptroller’s report.
It was also determined that the official Sunedu record of Juan Pacheco is in open contradiction with the institutional reality of the UNI, since the University Council appointed Patricia Yataco Chaparro as general secretary.
Finally, the Deputy Management of Control of the Education Sector of the Comptroller’s Office of the Republic recommended to the head of Sunedu, Manuel Castillo, to adopt the “corresponding actions, in order to address or overcome the events with indications of irregularities.”
defend his position
On November 29, before the Congressional Oversight and Comptroller Commission, the rector of UNI, Arturo Talledo, presented these alleged irregularities and indicated that university autonomy cannot be allowed to be violated.
“For the university, the rector is me. That is the reality of UNI. Everything is working at UNI. The University Assembly is operational, the University Council functions normally, activities are carried out without interruption, the final exams for 2025-II will begin this December 10. Therefore, any external attempt to alter this stability could generate a state of serious institutional disturbance,” he stated.
Problems by grades and titles
This problem has meant that more than 1,200 graduates cannot process their degrees and titles at UNI because Sunedu does not recognize the signature of Rector Arturo Talledo.
Congresswoman Katy Ugarte, representing the Consumer Defense Commission, reiterated the seriousness of the situation. “We are facing a flagrant violation of the principle of the student’s best interest. Young people cannot pay the consequences of internal disputes. The registration of degrees and titles must be guaranteed without delay,” he stated.
Two weeks ago, Ugarte indicated that Sunedu had responded that its board of directors would schedule the exceptional recognition of the degrees and titles of the affected UNI graduateswhich would be a decisive step that will allow them to restore their rights and provide legal security to thousands of families.
They take actions
Sunedu reported that it proceeded to register 702 academic degrees and professional titles awarded by the National University of Engineering (UNI). According to the technical-legal report of the Degree and Title Registration Unit, the verification determined that the documents were issued through diplomas validly signed by university authorities with a mandate in force at the time of their issuance.
He added that 143 additional records were observed for various reasons, such as pending academic prerequisites or documentary inconsistencies. These will be able to register once the university corrects the corresponding observations.
