Above all in the improvement of the productive fabric of Los Ríos and the country.

I am proud to share with you the news we received from the Executive Director of the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIAP), who officially informed us that from this year UTEQ will be part of the board of directors of such an important institution, through a delegate.

This decision is due to the fact that the Consejo de Aseguramiento de la Calidad de la Educación Superior (CACES), based on its periodical evaluations of the higher education institutions (IES), determined that UTEQ is the higher education institution with the highest quantity and quality of scientific production in the agricultural and livestock field in the country.

If I were asked what is the key that has made it possible to have UTEQ aligned to important development processes and committed to show good results, I would not hesitate to answer that, among other factors, it is due to our human talent committed and determined to face the future with optimism. I take this opportunity to congratulate them on their excellent performance and encourage them to continue on the path of excellence.

As far as university management is concerned, there are fundamental pillars that complement the work of our human team and the result has been the qualitative increase in scientific production.

Among these pillars are the constitution of new research groups, the mention of quality for new master's programmes, the successful management in attracting resources for research through competitive projects, the increase in infrastructure for the development of our Science and Technology Park.

With this historic representation in the INIAP Board through our delegate, the Director of Research of the UTEQ, we hope to contribute as we have done for several years of collaboration.

Furthermore, we are sure that we will be able to strengthen our mutual actions with principles of complementarity and sustainability at the service of the agricultural sector of our country.

We are happy and aware of what society expects from us. We know about the responsibility and leadership that this important task demands.

The authorities once again ratify our permanent commitment to continue supporting research initiatives, both in the agricultural field and in the other fields of knowledge that are part of the undergraduate and postgraduate academic offer of our avant-garde university.

Dr. Eduardo Díaz Ocampo, PhD

Rector