Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL) held the first Congress on Educational Innovation from the 22nd to the 24th of January. The event was organized by UTPL, Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Ecuador (PUCE) and Universidad Politecnica Salesiana (UPS). Professors and students from our three branch campuses in Cuenca, Guayaquil and Quito attended the Congress and presented innovative projects in the field of education. 

Kelly Pesantes, Adrián Vargas, Andrea Zurita and José Aldana, from Guayaquil, presented one of the best projects: “Gamification in early education”. This project seeks to promote diversity and values in children ages five and six through recreational activities.

Madeleine Arévalo, Ikiam Álvarez and Elías Cedeño, from Cuenca, won third place in the Hackathon thanks to their project EDU-SPHERE. This project is an educational social network focused on sharing short videos that address diverse learning needs, fostering a practical and collaborative approach.

 
The conference provided opportunities for reflection and dialogue, including a keynote address by Fernando Pesántez, general vice president of UPS, who participated with officials from the three universities in a panel entitled "Educational Innovation: Models, Strategies, and Tools."

María Elena Ortiz presented "Teacher Training Curricula and Methodological Processes in Early Childhood Education: What Should Be Innovated?" She addressed proposals for improving teaching in the early years of education. Napoleón Esquivel, coordinator of the Master's Program in Educational Innovation at UPS, moderated the panel "Values and Technology: The Dilemma of the Digital Age and AI in Education," where there was an enriching debate on the challenges of education in a technological world.