Social and sporting activities were held prior to the ceremony in honour of one of the youngest academic units of the UTEQ.

During the solemn session held on August 2, Mercedes Carranza, dean of the faculty, gave her 2018-2019 management report, in which she mentioned the most relevant results during this period, including the realisation of several outreach and research events for the benefit of the university community and society in general, such as symposiums, conferences, campaigns and mingas.

"It is commendable to recognise the constant support for ongoing training in favour of academic excellence provided by the highest authorities led by Dr. Eduardo Díaz Ocampo. The main function of the University is to ensure that teaching, research, creation and cultural development are integrated and enhanced in order to simultaneously produce higher education, scientific research and cultural development," said the dean.

At the ceremony, awards were presented to students Doris Vergara Monrroy, Jamilex García Sanchez and Anahí Gallardo Cedeño (Best average of the faculty); Best Teacher Ana Moreno Vera; Best Worker Manuel Arcos Aza.

Also recognised were teachers Carlos Belezaca Pinargote and Carolina Tay Hing Cajas for fifteen years of service to the institution; while the Research Merit was awarded to Edison Solano Apuntes, Yarelis Ferrer Sánchez, Francisca Contreras Mosquera, José Muñoz Marcillo, Rolando López Tobar, Lidia Vlassova, Ximena Cervantes Molina, Carlos Belezaca and Ana Moreno.

On the other hand, Lorena Cadme and Betty González received recognition for Academic Merit; and Juan Carlos Troya, former mayor of the canton of Valencia, also received recognition for the support given to outreach projects during his administration.

Eduardo Díaz, rector of UTEQ, in his speech highlighted the work that the Faculty of Environmental Sciences has been doing, in addition to the creation of new engineering careers. "This Faculty has a great possibility of doing transcendental things by virtue of what can be articulated with the GAD of Quevedo and the province, for which this Faculty has the strong support of the authorities of the UTEQ," said the rector of the UTEQ.