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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.

Researchers from FICT and technicians from EPAMIL have formed a partnership to advance the ECU7010 project, which will apply isotopic techniques to the study of the Chobo aquifer in order to strengthen groundwater monitoring. This collaboration will generate scientific information to support sustainable water resource management and improve decision-making regarding the drinking water supply in Milagro.

Students and professors from the Petroleum Engineering program at FICT–ESPOL conducted a technical visit to old oil wells in San José de Ancón to assess their heritage value. The activity reinforced the students’ practical training and provided technical criteria to promote the preservation of industrial heritage and the development of a heritage trail.

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.

Civil engineering students from FICT enhanced their practical training through a hands-on class at the Holcim Academy, where they conducted concrete tests and evaluations under real-world conditions; this experience allowed them to develop technical skills, strengthen quality control of materials, and foster closer ties between academia and the construction industry.

Researchers received the Best Paper Award at IEEE TEMSCON LATAM 2026 for their research on construction methods, solidifying ESPOL’s presence at a leading international conference; they also presented studies on community water management and innovation and strengthened scientific partnerships to advance new applied research projects.