The Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL) held the Welcome Ceremony for the New Tenured Faculty Members of 2026 on Monday, July 20, in the ESPAE Auditorium on the Peñas Campus. The ceremony recognized the faculty members who secured their positions through the Public Merit-Based Competitive Examination, reaffirming the institution’s commitment to academic excellence, research, innovation, and the comprehensive education of future professionals.
During the event, ESPOL’s top officials officially welcomed the new members of the faculty. Appointment as a tenured professor is one of the major milestones in an academic career and represents the outcome of a selection process based on academic merit, professional experience, and scholarly output.
The Faculty of Geosciences Engineering (FICT) celebrated the addition of Professors Carola María Gordillo Vera, a full-time Assistant Full Professor in the area of Road Engineering and Management, and Bethy Guillermina Merchán Sanmartín, a full-time Assistant Full Professor 1 in the area of Water, Sanitation, and Environmental Engineering. Both will contribute to strengthening teaching, research, and community engagement in their respective areas of expertise.
During the ceremony, the professors received their certificates of recognition in the presence of family members, officials, and members of the university community. This symbolic event highlighted the value of academic talent as one of the fundamental pillars for institutional development and the fulfillment of ESPOL’s mission to generate knowledge that has an impact on society.
The addition of new tenured faculty members strengthens FICT’s academic capabilities and expands opportunities for research projects and student training. It also contributes to the strengthening of quality higher education, grounded in transparent and rigorous processes that promote teaching excellence and the generation of knowledge in service to the country.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
SDG 4: Quality Education. To strengthen teaching excellence and the quality of higher education.
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. By promoting research, innovation, and the generation of scientific knowledge in the areas of expertise of the new tenured faculty members.
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. To consolidate institutional capacities by strengthening academic talent and collaborative work for the benefit of society.
