Educación de calidad

Petroleum Engineering students from FICT-ESPOL participated in a technical debate analyzing the current reliance on Electrical Submersible Pumps (ESP) versus alternative artificial lift systems in Ecuador's mature fields. The activity integrated environmental, economic, and technological impact assessments, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and strengthening critical thinking applied to real-world challenges in the national energy sector.

ESPOL's FICT held the RUTA FICT “Explore, Discover and Decide” event, an interactive career guidance experience that allowed applicants to learn about careers in Geology, Mining, Petroleum, and Civil Engineering in a practical way. Through tours of laboratories, technical challenges, and experimental activities, participants were able to experience the career before choosing it, strengthening an informed and motivated decision about their university future.

Mining Engineering students from the Faculty of Geosciences Engineering (FICT-ESPOL) participated in a co-teaching session with Dr. Fernando Morante (CIPAT) regarding zeolite deposits in the Chongón–Colonche Range. The session bridged the gap between applied geology and selective mining techniques within the Ecuadorian context, strengthening the technical judgment of future professionals and aligning with SDGs 4, 9, 12, and 15 through quality education linked to the real industry.

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.

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.

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.

ESPOL’s FICT welcomed Luke Bockelmann, a student from Universidad del Norte (Colombia), to share innovations in pavement diagnostics through video processing. This technical and academic activity optimizes road conservation while strengthening the Faculty’s internationalization and global collaboration indicators.

Geology students from ESPOL carried out a field trip to the Zaruma–Portovelo mining district, where they strengthened their knowledge through the observation of real geological conditions and rock mass analysis, highlighting the value of practical training and responsible mining.