The formal event for the delivery of the institutionalization resolution of the University was held at Yachay Tech, with the presence of authorities of the governing institutions of the Higher Education System – SES in Spanish. Attendees included Andrea Montalvo, MSc, as the highest authority of the Secretariat of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation – SENESCYT, Pablo Beltrán, PhD., President of the Higher Education Council – CES, Ximena Córdova, PhD., President of the Quality Assurance Council of Higher Education – CACES and counselors Martha Macías, PhD., and Tangya Tandazo, PhD., also from CACES.

During his speech, Andrés Rosales, PhD., rector of YT, stated: “Thanks to the effort and dedication of the entire university community, we have achieved the long-awaited institutionalization. We face several challenges and we undertake them responsibly as a university focused on research and innovation and we will know how to move forward with the support of everyone.”

During the event, Pablo Beltrán, PhD., in his capacity as president of the Higher Education Council, delivered the institutionalization resolution with the presence of representatives of the Superior University Council, deans, faculty, administrative staff, students and the community of the Urcuquí canton, who attended the event to witness this university achievement.

Beltrán highlighted: “Today, YACHAY TECH has a democratically-elected higher collegiate body and has taken a fundamental step on the road to completing its institutionalization process. By making the formal delivery of the institutionalization resolution, the Higher Education Council, as a regulation, coordination and control body, recognizes the full exercise of university autonomy, a principle recognized in the Constitution of the Republic of Ecuador and which should never be undermined. In this sense, it is important to always keep in mind that higher education institutions exist to serve society, so their autonomy must be exercised with commitment and responsibility in its environment”.

Andrea Montalvo, MSc, Head of SENESCYT, mentioned that: “You have the full support of the National Government and this Secretariat to continue strengthening Yachay Tech, a university that provides opportunities for young people who are trained in research and technological development. The result of the work that we have been carrying out will be reflected in infrastructure and equipment that will benefit the entire Yachay university community”.

Ximena Córdova, President of the Quality Assurance Council, congratulated the authorities of Yachay Tech and promised to work hand in hand to generate self-assessment processes that benefit and contribute every day to now obtain institutional accreditation.

As part of the event, the authorities had the opportunity to visit the Archaeological Collection made up of more than 58,000 items from the Caranqui culture. In addition, they interacted with students from the School of Agricultural and Agroindustrial Sciences, who conducted a food demonstration for the authorities presenting syrups, mead and peanut butter, thus showing the importance of agribusiness that goes far beyond producing food, but rather maintaining a synergy between the environment, health and well-being.

Through these actions, Yachay Tech University is committed to ensuring the quality of professional training for students and generating high-impact research at the service of the community with the support of entities of the Higher Education System.