Peruvian university revealed to have a fake façade by drone photographs

A university in Peru has been revealed to have a fake façade by drone photographs in what has been deemed “a symbol of the façade that is the Peruvian university system.”

Despite appearing to be a seven-story tower, photographs have revealed that the newest building at the Telesup University in Lima is only four stories tall, with the top three floors simply being a glass façade supported by metal struts.

Máximo Estupiñan, a spokesman for the University, has denied accusations that the University intended to present a false façade.

He said that the design was a “curtain wall, an architectural category and concept which was implemented for purely aesthetic reasons.” He later added that the false top three floors were a temporary construction in place as building work continued.

The pictures were released by education inspectors as they announced that the University had failed to gain accreditation for falling short of basic academic standards.

Sunedu, the state body which regulates higher education standards, found that the institution failed to meet any of the eight basic quality conditions enshrined in law; the third condition is adequate infrastructure.

Telesup is one of eight universities that has been denied licensing since October last year.

Sunedu blocked fresh student enrolments at the University, giving Telesup two years to shut down completely.

Martin Benavides, the head of Sunedu, told local media that “we evaluate the essential conditions for a university service. The infrastructure is one of them and [the façade] is part of the reality of this university”.

We evaluate the essential conditions for a university service. The infrastructure is one of them and [the façade] is part of the reality of this university 

– Martin Benavides

He has said that the majority of Telesup’s student body of over 20,000 students will go on to complete their studies at licensed educational institutions.

Ricardo Cuenca, Director of the Institute of Peruvian Studies, said that the situation is a symbol of the booming Peruvian university system: “It was presenting an image with nothing behind it.”

There are currently more than 140 universities in the country; more than four times the amount in the 1980s. Many of them are fee-paying institutions that offer degrees which are not recognised outside of Peru.

The university boom occurred in the late 1990’s, when president Alberto Fujimori passed a law promoting for-profit private universities with deregulation and tax breaks.

Cuenca said that the boom meant what was on offer for students was “disorderly, of poor quality and very fragmented”. 

He continued: “Poor higher education means poor quality professionals. It’s a terrible sign that a country can grow economically but fail educationally.”