Educación de calidad

Students in the Petroleum Engineering program deepened their knowledge of artificial lift systems, fault diagnosis, and satellite monitoring as they apply to oil well performance through a technical seminar organized in collaboration with Halliburton and the SPE-ESPOL Student Chapter. The event promoted the exchange of experiences with industry professionals and provided an update on technologies that help optimize hydrocarbon production.

FICT–ESPOL successfully concluded the course “Traditional and Contemporary Structures: Inspection, Monitoring, and Digital Techniques (DIC and Photogrammetry),” held as part of the Erasmus+ KA171 program. The training strengthened the skills of students and professionals in advanced technologies for structural assessment and reinforced academic cooperation between ESPOL and the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.

FICT–ESPOL held an academic outreach event at educational institutions in Zaruma to introduce high school students to the world of geosciences through hands-on activities related to geology and mining. The initiative promoted career guidance, scientific outreach, and the strengthening of ties between the university and the community.

The SPE–ESPOL Student Chapter held a technical presentation titled “Production Optimization Through Re-fracturing and Stimulation,” aimed at students in the Petroleum Engineering program at FICT. The presentation provided insight into techniques used in the industry to optimize hydrocarbon production and strengthened the link between academic training and professional practice.

More than 60 students from FICT–ESPOL joined the workforce as new professionals during the 38th graduating class ceremony. The ceremony recognized the academic excellence of the top graduates from each program and reaffirmed the school’s commitment to training professionals who contribute to the country’s sustainable development.

Professors and researchers Andrés Velástegui and Priscila Valverde were selected as Early-Career Editorial Board Members for international scientific journals indexed in Scopus and ranked in the Q1 quartile, thereby strengthening FICT-ESPOL’s presence in high-impact academic networks. Their appointment to these editorial boards will contribute to the management and dissemination of scientific knowledge, as well as to the strengthening of international research collaboration.

Walter Hurtares Orrala, an engineer and professor at FICT–ESPOL, participated in El Foro Tech to explain how civil engineering and structural monitoring technologies help reduce seismic risk and strengthen building safety. During the interview, he highlighted the importance of earthquake-resistant design, updating codes, and using innovative tools to build more resilient cities.

Representatives from various schools and departments at ESPOL toured the main laboratories at FICT as part of the LAB-CONNECT event to learn about their scientific capabilities, research projects, and specialized services. The event highlighted advances in petroleum, water treatment, geotechnical engineering, and sustainability, fostering new opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and technology transfer.

Natividad García Troncoso, Ph.D., a faculty member and researcher at FICT–ESPOL, participated as a panelist in the discussion “Women Engineers Shaping the Future,” organized by UNEMI as part of International Women in Engineering Day. Her participation strengthened academic exchange and promoted women’s leadership in STEM fields, inspiring future generations of women engineers.

FICT hosted the first biannual meeting of the project “Assessment of the Volcanic Risk Index in Ecuador,” where ESPOL-TECH and the National Secretariat for Risk Management presented the methodological and technical progress of the research. The initiative strengthens cooperation between academia and the public sector to develop geospatial tools that support volcanic risk management and land-use planning.