FICT-ESPOL and Corporación Agua para Todos are strengthening their strategic alliance to implement advanced water treatment technologies, bridging the gap between academic scientific rigor and the corporate sector's operational needs. This partnership not only drives sustainable solutions for water access in communities (SDGs 6 and 17) but also transforms our students' education by allowing them to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios, enhancing their technical judgment and social responsibility before graduation.
FICT-ESPOL enhances postgraduate education through field practices in its Master's in Geotechnics program. Under the guidance of expert Maurizio Mulas, students conducted stratigraphic column logging, applying real technical criteria to strengthen decision-making in infrastructure projects. This experience reflects ESPOL's academic excellence, which combines scientific rigor with hands-on learning to train leaders in engineering.
Aquí tienes la traducción al inglés, manteniendo el tono profesional y resaltando el logro del estudiante: "Demian Román Abad, a Civil Engineering student at FICT-ESPOL, made history by becoming the first student nationwide to receive the Academic Excellence Recognition from the Holcim Academy. With a perfect score of 10/10 in the program's seventh cohort, Demian stands out as a benchmark for elite training at ESPOL—a pioneer institution of this alliance that seeks to empower young talent and bridge the gap between academic rigor and the sustainability demands of the global industry.
FICT-ESPOL will co-lead the international STARS project, funded by the Erasmus+ program, to strengthen disaster prevention in South America through the use of Geospatial Artificial Intelligence, GIS, and satellite data. Led by Dr. Andrés Velástegui in partnership with universities from Portugal, Sweden, and Colombia, this initiative will modernize laboratories and develop academic capacities aligned with the SDGs for innovation and sustainable cities.
Petroleum engineering students from ESPOL went on a field trip to the San Rafael Commune to strengthen good mining practices, with an emphasis on environmental management and occupational safety. The activity allowed them to evaluate local practices, identify risks and opportunities for improvement, and contribute to the promotion of safer, more responsible, and sustainable mining through community outreach activities.
In an analysis for Teleamazonas, M.Sc. Freddy Carrión, a research professor at FICT-ESPOL, described this news as a strategic success toward meeting the country's production goals. Carrión emphasized that, to ensure a sustainable impact, it is essential to attract high-tech foreign investment. This would allow not only for crude oil extraction but also for increasing oil reserves in response to the natural depletion of mature fields.
Here is the translation of the summary into English: "Students from the Petroleum Engineering program at ESPOL carried out a community service initiative in the San José de Ancón parish, where they trained students from the Ancón Educational Unit and local residents on the history and operational infrastructure of the sector's oil wells. Under the guidance of professors Danilo Arcentales and Freddy Carrión, and with the support of the local Parish GAD, this activity strengthened the transfer of technical knowledge and the faculty's social commitment to the development of oil-producing communities.
FICT-ESPOL hosted Dr. Marisa Giuffrida, a researcher from the University of Catania (Italy), for a scientific stay focused on the mineralogical study of rocks on Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos. This collaboration, carried out under the Climred and Peligal projects alongside Dr. Maurizio Mulas' team, seeks to decipher the geological origin of the archipelago. In addition to the scientific contributions, this alliance with the University of Catania —the oldest in Sicily— strengthens the Faculty's internationalization, paving the way for future exchange programs for students and researchers.
Karolayn Gaibor Yambay, a student at FICT-ESPOL and President of the ASCE ESPOL student chapter, has been selected for a four-month research internship at the École de Technologie Supérieure (ÉTS) in Montreal, Canada. At this prestigious institution, a leader in applied engineering, Karolayn will work on a regenerative infrastructure project focused on developing low-carbon permeable concrete mixes to optimize their strength and sustainability.
The Holcim Academy 2025 – II PAO successfully concluded after three months of hands-on training in concrete technology, solidifying the long-standing strategic alliance between Holcim and ESPOL. This academy-industry partnership boosted technical knowledge transfer and professional skill development for engineering students, preparing them with high standards of sustainability and efficiency to meet the current challenges of the country's construction sector.