With the aim of improving the synergy between academia and the socio-economic, productive and environmental environment, contributing to local and regional development, the Council for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (Caces) and the Quevedo State Technical University (UTEQ) organised the first international forum on professional training in Agricultural Sciences which took place in the auditorium of the Alma Mater Quevedo.

The event took place on 12 and 13 September 2019 and had speakers from Colombia, Brazil, Spain and Ecuador who shared knowledge and experiences with more than 500 attendees, who were able to interact with the speakers and clarify doubts in the area of agricultural sciences.

The inauguration of the forum was attended by important local and national directors and authorities, including: the president of Caces, Gabriel Galarza; Vicente Villegas, representative of Senescyt; Javier Vélez, delegate of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and others who together with the university authorities kicked off this great academic event.

The topics that were addressed included: "Agricultural education in Colombia", "The social link of HEIs that teach Agricultural Sciences", "Academic offer and performance of universities and polytechnic schools in the field of knowledge", "Rural development and agro-education", etc.

Galarza said "we are going to spread the word nationally about this event, encouraging the training of professionals in the agricultural sector. The objectives have been met, the exhibitors demonstrated knowledge, a lot of experience and the development of many strategies that are very important for the sustainable human development of our regions and the country.

Furthermore, the head of Caces emphasised that the UTEQ continues on the path that has been taken for many years and that has now been consolidated with the new authorities and that it continues to advance permanently. "I see (in the UTEQ) a collective work group of authorities, professors and students, which is good for the Ecuadorian university".

Enma Chitupanta, student of Zootechnics (UTEQ), "this academic event has been very productive to strengthen our knowledge in agriculture".

For his part, the rector Eduardo Díaz, indicated that in Ecuador the incessant search for quality in order to achieve academic excellence is imperative and this has allowed all universities to improve their processes in a remarkable way.

Quevedo is located in a central area of the Ecuadorian coast and has always been characterised as an emporium of agricultural production and Ecuador has always been known to the world as a very strong country in terms of banana and cocoa exports, precisely these products are produced in the province of Los Rios," said the Rector.

"The UTEQ currently offers degrees in agronomy, forestry, food, agriculture and livestock, agro-industry, and environmental engineering, with reference to agricultural sciences. At the moment we have approved the design of a career in Aquaculture Engineering, and we are also presenting projects for career designs in: biotechnology, hydrology, agro-ecology, and others. The University of Quevedo, true to its nature, is continuing to bet on the offer of careers linked to agricultural sciences," said Díaz in his speech.

At the closing ceremony on 13 September, the participants of this academic event received the respective certificates endorsed by the academy and by the university evaluation body (Caces).