October 15, 2018

Between October 9 and 11, some staff of Yachay Tech University, headed by the Coordinator of International Cooperation and Academic Exchange, Helene Skikos, participated in the REIES 2018 Conference, organized by the Ecuadorian Network for the Internationalization of Higher Education (REIES). The theme of the conference was “Integral internationalization: key issue and decisive resource for Ecuadorian higher education”, and was held at Escuela Politécnica Nacional.

Helene Skikos received the “REIES 2018” award because of her management in the development of international education programs in Yachay Tech University. Part of her work includes the creation of the “From the Amazon to the Galápagos” program for international undergraduate students. Students will do four months in Ecuador, where they have the opportunity to do internships in the Amazon, going over the Ecuadorian highlands and finishing their practices in the Galapagos.

Additionally, this year, from the coordination managed by Helene Skikos, 68 students were sent to countries such as Poland, United States, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Mexico, France, Germany, Czech Republic, Spain, South Korea, Belgium, Switzerland, Peru, Portugal, and Panama to carry out internships and research. Some of the universities that hosted our students included Clemson University, Arizona State University, University of Sao Paulo, National University of Colombia, University of Wuppertal, UNAM, University of Berlin, University of Mons, University of Paderborn, Montana Tech and the Friedrich Alexander University.

The “REIES 2018” award recognizes the effort, best practices and innovations of professionals in international education who have promoted the internationalization of Ecuadorian higher education.

The objectives of the Ecuadorian Network for the Internationalization of Higher Education (REIES) are:

• To contribute to the generation of public internationalization policies for the higher education system in the country.
• To promote criteria, quality standards and the creation of capacities within the Ecuadorian Higher Education Institutions for their integral internationalization.
• To position Ecuadorian higher education in the global academic context, increasing the visibility and international impact of the academic activities of the Ecuadorian Higher Education Institutions.
• To develop academic cooperation among Ecuadorian Higher Education Institutions for their joint participation in international proposals and projects.