On Friday, August 7, 2026, ESPOL held a strategic meeting at the National Center for Aquaculture and Marine Research (CENAIM), attended by Dr. Ángela Calderón, academic advisor to the Council for Higher Education (CES), and representatives from the water boards of Manglaralto, Olón, and Valdivia.
The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views and experiences on water management, as well as to share the work that the university is carrying out in collaboration with communities in this area. The presidents of the water boards highlighted the results achieved through these collaborative efforts and acknowledged the contributions of ESPOL faculty and students.
During the meeting, special mention was made of the participation of Ms. Gloria Malavé, president of the Manglaralto Water Board (JAAPMAN), along with Joselyne Solórzano, Ph.D. (c), who served as speakers in Chile to present the humanitarian engineering case study developed in Manglaralto within the framework of LACCEI—an initiative that has also been internationally recognized by UNESCO as a Demonstration Site for Ecohydrology. The presentation by the JAAPMAN president was particularly significant in highlighting community leadership in water management and sustained collaboration with academia over more than 20 years, which has raised international awareness of a collaborative model focused on sustainable water resource management and the strengthening of local capacities.
The exchange highlighted the importance of maintaining sustained ties between academia and community organizations to generate knowledge and experiences that address the needs of the region. The participation of the water boards allowed for the incorporation of perspectives and lessons learned from the communities.
Such forums help strengthen cooperation between academic institutions and local stakeholders, promoting the exchange of knowledge and the continuity of initiatives related to sustainable water management.
Representatives and strategic partners:
Dra. Ángela Calderón, Academic Advisor at CES
Eng. Paola Romero, Ph.D., Vice President for Academic Affairs
Eng. Paúl Carrión, Ph.D., Dean of the FICT
Eng. Kenny Escobar, M.Sc., Associate Dean of the FICT
Eng. Marcos Buestán, Ph.D., Undergraduate Dean
Eng. Silvia Loaiza, Ph.D., Coordinator of the Mining Program
Eng. Joselyne Solórzano, M.Sc., Coordinator of the Geology Program
Ms. Gloria Malavé, President of the Manglaralto Drinking Water Board
Mr. Humberto Molina, President of the Olón Drinking Water Board
Mr. Camilo Domínguez, President of the Valdivia Drinking Water Board
Related news: FICT strengthens its contribution to humanitarian engineering with research presented at the LACCEI international conference
Related Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 4: Quality Education. By strengthening vocational training through practical experiences linked to the productive sector.
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. By promoting collaboration between academia and communities to address challenges related to the territory and its resources.
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. By strengthening cooperation among academia, community organizations, and institutions involved in water management.
