Industria, Innovación e Infraestructura

Professor Johanna Zambrano, from the Petroleum Engineering program at FICT, completed the Bootcamp on Instructional Design and Education for Sustainable Development, organized by UNESCO IESALC. During this regional program, participants from Latin American universities worked on tools to integrate sustainability across all areas of higher education. As part of the program, Johanna Zambrano, along with Paulina Criollo and Raquel Borbor Rosales, participated in the pedagogical redesign of the Drilling course, incorporating strategies that link technical content with impact analysis, decision-making, collaborative work, and the search for responsible solutions. The initiative helps strengthen a university education that integrates technical, environmental, social, and economic dimensions.

FICT selected 11 students from the Civil Engineering, Mining, Geology, and Petroleum Engineering programs to participate in the VIVA FICT Engineering Pioneers program, an international experience that will strengthen their academic, professional, leadership, and intercultural skills through activities during a stay in Madrid, Spain.

ESPOL participated in a project coordinated by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to improve the identification of sources of nitrate pollution and emerging contaminants in surface and groundwater. The Ecuadorian study was conducted primarily in Chanduy, Santa Elena, where six sampling campaigns were carried out between 2022 and 2025, incorporating physicochemical, hydrochemical, and isotopic analyses. The combination of nitrate isotopes and emerging contaminants provided information to distinguish between possible sources of pollution associated with agricultural and domestic activities, as well as other land uses.

FICT participated in Pares o Nones 2026 with 21 research projects presented by 18 researchers from various fields, highlighting the diversity and multidisciplinary nature of its scientific output and creating new opportunities for academic and scientific collaboration.

FICT promotes the iPEER international certification among its academic community to strengthen faculty professional development, recognize the competencies of its engineering educators, and promote continuous improvement in teaching and learning processes in STEM programs.

FICT-ESPOL participated in the second edition of the international program “Application of New Methodologies and Technologies for Water Supply in Ibero-America and the Caribbean,” with the presentation “Utilization of Mine Water for Industrial Use and Water Supply,” delivered by Paúl Carrión, Ph.D., and Silvia Loaiza, Ph.D. The training session brought together nearly 80 participants from Latin America and the Caribbean and provided an opportunity to share strategies, technologies, and case studies developed in Ecuador for the treatment and sustainable use of mine water. This participation strengthened the international exchange of knowledge on water security, environmental management, and the use of water resources in mining contexts.

FICT-ESPOL organized a technical conference on trenchless technologies for the rehabilitation of water and wastewater networks, aimed at students and professionals. During the event, solutions such as CIPP, spiral winding, flexible sleeves, pipe bursting, and horizontal directional drilling were presented, all designed to reduce project durations, urban impacts, and rehabilitation costs. The case of the Parson Sur sanitary sewer in Guayaquil was also discussed to analyze the challenges of the existing sanitary infrastructure and potential intervention options. The event strengthened the technical training of the civil engineering community through exchanges with specialists from industry and the public sector.

Civil engineering students from FICT-ESPOL took a technical tour of La Llave’s facilities in Guayaquil as part of the “Building Systems / Installations” course. The tour provided an opportunity to learn about equipment and solutions for pumping systems, as well as technical criteria related to their selection, application, and installation in buildings. The tour, coordinated by Ingrid Orta Zambrano, M.Sc., and led by La Llave’s Omar Rodríguez, strengthened the connection between academic content and the technologies used in professional practice.

FICT-ESPOL conducted a technical visit to the Bira Mine and its processing plant in Zaruma to learn about operational practices related to water management, mine water treatment, and tailings management. During the visit, the group observed processes such as the neutralization of acidic water, metal precipitation, solid sedimentation, and industrial water recirculation. Of particular note was the 100% reuse of process water in the grinding and flotation stages. The experience provided students and professionals with firsthand exposure to technologies applied in a real mining operation and generated insights for training and applied research in mining environmental management.

FICT evaluated 28 applications for the “VIVA Engineering Pioneers” International Mobility Program, taking into account academic excellence, leadership, research, social commitment, and extracurricular activities to select students who will represent the School in academic and professional experiences in Spain.