(universidad centroccidental lisandro alvarado) or ucla, is a public institution with seat in barquisimeto, created on september 22, 1962, under the government of romulo betancourt, with the name of "experimental center of superior studies", it begins with four schools: medicine, agronomy, veterinary and administration. in 1967, the name is changed to "center-west university", continuing the educational and administrative activities of the "experimental center of superior studies". on april 2, 1979, venezuelan government rename the organization like lisandro alvarado center-west university.