On September 29th, 62 new students from the salesian missions who stay in the University Residency organized a festive program for the start of the new semester. Father Maffeo Panteghini, Father Javier Herran and Jose Juncosa attended the program.

Students from different parts of the country such as Moisés Pallo (Social communication) and Rosa Cuchipate (Management and Leadership) from Zumbahua; Juanita Chiwiant (Business administration) and Roberto Wisum (Pedagogy) from Wasakentza; Lorena Rea de Salinas and Nelson Nasamtai from Macas (management and leadership) thanked the university in their native languages.

The event was filled with music and dancing performed by students from Bomboiza, Tatiana Wampash (Natural resources biotechnology) and Fabiam Kininto (Psychology). Juan Carlos Pazmiño (Electronic engineering) and Josselyn Quiñones (Mechanics engineering) from Esmeraldas; while Antonella Yépez (Management and Leadership) read one of her poems.

Joseph Aldair Santos, from the Salesian missions in Esmeraldas, arrived for his first semester in electronic engineering and said "I got the scholarship because of my constant participation in community service, I thank God and the Priest in my community. In the residency and in the university there's a family environment, professors are highly trained, UPS is very organized. We are very thankful for everything they have given us".

Maria Fabiola Pastuña and Paul Naikiai are about to end their studies in Management and Leadership and they say their expectations are to graduate and get involved in their communities in order to improve economic, social and cultural aspects. Paul Naikiai said "We need people who can work and create development plans in communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon. People migrate to the city and don't' stay in the Amazon; I want to go back to my town and apply what I have learned."

The UPS Intercultural Residency began in 2011 and is located in the South of Quito, the aim of having the residency is to help youngsters from salesian missions in the andes, the coast and the amazon to have a human, Christian and professional education.