Higher Education in Ecuador

Having spent the last several months working with a project in higher education with tourism students from Canada we have learned a lot in the education hallways of Ecuador.

 

In Ecuador public school education is compulsory until the age of 14. Inadequate Public education here has resulted in overcrowding of schools and the growth of attendance at private schools. In fact the education model here is almost opposite to North America where the majority attend public schools and private schools are reserved for the elite. In South America the private schools receive the majority of the students with the limited public school capacity, and poor quality.

A high percentage of children, especially in rural areas, do not ever attend high school. About 40 percent of those who do attend high school go to private schools. The United Nations Human Development report ranked Ecuador as 80th out of 182 countries in 2007, in terms of human development factors such as, life expectancy, literacy and per capita GDP.

The Constitution passed in 2008 eliminated tuition fees for the public universities, in a step to make education more accessible to all.

Ecuador's higher education systems consists of over 75 Universities, of which about half are public, and over 300 institutions that provide higher technical or vocational training. Most Universities provide a wide range of subject areas while polytechnics and some other schools specialize. Graduate level education is relatively immature in Ecuador, having only started in 2000. In fact Ecuador's first doctoral candidates have yet to graduate ! Not all University professors have a Master's degree, and only some University presidents and research professors have doctoral degrees. Very few school teachers have any degree or higher education.

Ecuador's President Rafael Correa, a former University Economics Professor educated in University of Illinois, is undertaking strong measures to improve higher education standards in Ecuador. Ecuador has 75 Universities educating some 625,000 students. "Ecuador probably has the worst universities" in South America, he said in an interview at the presidential palace. Many of the failing universities, which serve 69,500, "are cheating their students because they don't have the minimum elements to guarantee academic excellence," he said. But despite his being a former academic, the president and his ideas are opposed by university leaders. They charge him with trying to undermine university autonomy in violation of the Constitution.

The National Council of Higher Education, known as CONESUP, oversees and accredits all higher education institutions. Universities maintain a great deal of autonomy although this is beginning to change in an effort to tie university education more directly to the country's workforce needs. The reform of higher-education is seen as a key prerequisite to the country's development.

Ecuador University and College Directory

The government's evaluation process created a significant hole in the traditional autonomy of universities. Ecuador's efforts to improve higher education poses a threat to dozens of privately owned 'garage universities.' Twenty four privately owned Universities have received a failing grade from the government's assessment. If these Universities do not make major improvements they will be closed. Two government schools also received failing grades and may be shut down. This has created a lot of anxiety and uncertainty amongst current students.

Many of the schools receiving a failing grade are younger institutions and administrators argue the measures used, clearly placed them at a disadvantage to their older well established peer institutions.

Improvement measures include the implementation of admission requirements this year based on aptitude. That will replace a chaotic and often unfair system in which many students got into schools because of their connections. Admission criteria vary by school and may include entrance exams and secondary school grades. Tuition at public institutions is very low since they are heavily subsidized while private institutions charge substantial tuition fees.

Although controversial, Correa's proposal seeks to improve the quality of teaching. By 2017, all professors must have at least a master's degree, and many will now be required to have a doctoral degree. Currently Ecuador only has 250 full-time professors with doctorates, all from foreign institutions. "Here, anyone thinks they can be a university professor," the president was quoted as saying by the Cuban news agency Prensa Latina. "I graduated and I started to teach a course on economic dynamics, and I am now ashamed of the stupidity of what I taught."

In order to increase the pool of qualified professors, the government has embarked on an ambitious scholarship program. Several years ago, the country gave scholarships for postgraduate study abroad to about 20 students a year. In 2011 1,070 students received the scholarships. In 2012 they expect over 3,000 students. The program requires the students studying abroad to return to Ecuador for twice the amount of time the government sponsored their education abroad.

The current proposal also seeks to increase enrollment, particularly among underprivileged students, by creating six new public universities and bringing two others under state control. Critics argued that the existing universities are sufficient to meet demand, and that creating new ones would only divert scarce government funds. Ecuador has one of the highest university matriculation rates in the region—23 percent, compared with the regional average of 18 percent.

Other standards are been proposed such as a minimum of 60 % of teaching faculty should be full time. A recommended minimum level of computer resources available for students.

He will also create a new academic accrediting agency, and tighten government control over the university system through a revamped governing body, the National Council for Higher Education. There is a global trend for country governments to demand more accountability from their Universities.

Originally places to train priests, the universities of Ecuador have gone through changing missions. While more recently they have trained students in the law, arts, and philosophy, they now prepare to train students in engineering, technology, and CIS. Ecuador's universities are changing to meet the challenges of the technological age. During the colonial period, the authorizations for universities were by papal authority, royal decree, or authority of the Council of the Indies. All the universities established during the colonial era emulated the University of Salamanca model, which emphasized theology, law, arts, and medical studies. The Universidad de San Fulgencio de Quito was Ecuador's first university. It was authorized by papal bull in 1586.

Progress of higher education in Ecuador seems to be out of control because external economic and political forces have changed the characteristics, emphasis, curriculum, and student populations of most public institutions. Certainly the sifting of the educational, political, and economic agendas has resulted in new goals, priorities, and missions for public universities. New academic and economic models had to become important to the higher education system. Extreme financial constraints have challenged the traditional rights of public higher education. Reform has been difficult and is not likely to further equalize university entrance. Perhaps the greatest problem is one that is seen in many countries: budgets were not compensated when enrollment increases occurred.

Thus the growing demand for admittance to universities and access to academia through public universities over-came the delivery abilities of those schools.

University budgets were almost entirely consumed by faculty and staff salaries with no room for the physical plant and operating costs.

The problem that public institutions are facing is one of growing elitism. With rising student fees, increasing technological costs, and governments less willing to continue to pay the traditional percentage of the cost of educating a student. After exhausting student fees Universities creatively privatize services. In the 1990's over half of a University's operating budget was self-generated. Free higher education is a longstanding tradition in Latin America and often constitutionally guaranteed.

Interesting these developing countries funding models may be leading, as Post Secondary Education in North America has been trending this way for the last several decades. Contrasted with funding models in other countries where government continues to fund a significant share, student tuition fees contribute 15 - 25 %, and privatized services play a small but increasing role in funding the University.

Simple Life

Here in coastal Ecuador we enjoy a simple life. On our small hobby farm we collect fresh eggs each morning along with oranges, limes, grapefruit, or lemons for squeezing into fresh juice. We enjoy a fresh cup of coffee while surveying the new growth in the flower garden filled with butterflies, hummingbirds, and birds. A bicycle ride, walk on the beach or malecon, and chat with neighbours and its time to think about lunch. After lunch and a fresh tropical cocktail we seek some quite time in the hammock swaying in the gentle ocean breeze.....

The last couple of months we have undertaken a project of organizing and co-ordinating a six week field study program for seven senior University tourism students from Canada. Hopeful that the project outcomes would assist local community residents with sustainable employment opportunities and ultimately help in reducing poverty. It was a wonderful experience for everyone until the final week when we were robbed of several laptops, digital cameras, blackberry cell phones, wallets, backpacks, and a lot of the students work & photos !  Any tourism promotion gains that might have been made for the community were destroyed in that single instant !

Normally our crime is not officially reported in the newspapers - initially we found this a refreshing, positive change until we discovered the reasons for this. Our local newspaper is mounting a campaign in order to get the authorities and local citizens attention to the need for action. " Bahia has lost its reputation of being tranquil without the influence of crime " This past week several more homes in Bahia have been burglarized, and visitors robbed on the beaches.The community is organizing neighbourhood watch patrols, installing video surveillance in the streets, and installing  " panic or emergency " buttons dispersed throughout the city.

A controversial subject, and obviously relative to your  personal experiences, theft is very common in Latin America and currently there is no fundamental reason for that to change. Theft of items valued at less than  $600 US is not even considered theft ! A recent newspaper survey reflects 67 % of Ecuadorian people, and 72 % of foreigners surveyed had been robbed with the use of physical intimidation.  The wide disparity in income levels creates the environment and with the  lack of any law enforcement ( police ) and a credible judicial system it further  exacerbates the problem. As citizens take the law into their own hands, forming vigilante groups and employing  assassins  for several hundred dollars.

Our largest metropolitans of Quito & Guayaquil have been placed under  "military control" by the president in an effort to reduce violent crime.

Ecuador Tourism Safety Information

In Quito's upscale mall Quicentro 7 armed men opened gunfire when robbing $ 80 k from an armoured service vehicle. In the fiasco of gunfire 6 innocent shoppers and two guards were injured, and one guard was killed. This was all captured on vidoetape. The perpetrators were apprehended and interrogated in court for several hours and then released !!!!  The justice system here is corrupt and failing the citizens of Ecuador miserably.

News article 

Television Coverage

Ecuadorean villagers have asked the Canadian Court in Ontario to enforce the $18.3 -billion judgement won against Chevron Corp. over oil pollution caused in the Amazon.

Late last Thursday evening at midnight on the beach just a few miles south of here ( Punta Bellaca ) a community patrol officer called for police assistance for some irregular activity he spotted on the beach. By the time help arrived there were numerous " coolers " scattered amongst the rocks but the people had left by boat. The police discovered 1.5 tons of cocaine !

On May 13th  a Mexican plane crashed into a hill near San Isidro ( about 45 km north ) In the aircraft they found $1.5 million in cash. Three days later police discovered a cocaine laboratory and seized a half ton of cocaine.

In the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, England Julian Assange seeks political asylum.

Trust is fundamentally missing in this culture in all social levels, all walks of life, even amongst good friends. It makes it a very challenging environment in which to do business or live. The " gringo tax " is applied daily to most items here. There are many foreign newcomers who unfortunately have no idea of the challenges and adjustments that lay ahead of them. Lack of trust is often one of the fundamental reasons many of the newly arrived, naive, disillusioned retirees return to their home country.

As long as we stay within our property walls, and eliminate all interactions with others it is a simple life indeed ! ? !


Thought provoking article on crime and corruption in Ecuador

Carnaval 2012 Bahia de Caraquez & Manabi Flooding

Yellow Alert 

Although there were hundreds of truckloads and buses filled with people,

 

visitors to Bahia de Caraquez were down significantly from previous years. Record rainfall,  mudslides interrupting highway travel,


 


the economic situation,  and the new bridge which allows easy access to San Vicente & Canoa may all be factors.

 

For Carnaval the daily sunshine was intense, however  nights were continuous strong heavy showers  dampening  evening celebrations.


 

One of the most popular cities to celebrate Carnaval in Ecuador is Ambato. 

Photo gallery of Carnaval Reinas and the parades in Ambato.

Amidst celebrations of Carnaval 2012  the provincial and national authorities have declared a " yellow alert " for the intense winter precipitation we have been receiving, and is expected to continue.

 

 Rainfall is currently exceeding 30 year records set in the coastal province of Manabi. Similar flooding of the Portoviejo River 30 years ago devastated almost half the town of Rocafuerte.

 

 In addition to the direct rainfall we receive, most of the precipitation from the Andes will also reach the coastal lowlands  from streams, and rivers carrying the excess water to the sea. There is significant flooding in the area of Charapotó, especially by the sector of Correagua. We have experienced a sharp increase in some fresh fruit and vegetable costs where crops have being damaged, or supply routes disrupted. 




 

 All public machinery with the Ministry of transport and Works is on standby ready to act as circumstances require.

Recently returning from Quito where, as you descend the coastal mountains into Eloy Alfaro and the Chone agricultural plains, lushly vegetated hillsides are becoming saturated with water and collapsing daily onto the highways under the tremendous weight.

 

We witnessed no fewer than several dozen slide occurrences and had to wait for the road to be cleared in two instances. In the flat agricultural areas, and the entire city of Chone are submersed underwater as the saturated ground is no longer able to soak any more water. When the sirens sound in Chone it warns residents the Chone River is flooding the city and within hours they are submersed to a depth of about 3 feet in flowing water.   Flooding waters mix with sewer and septic systems and contaminate city potable water making it unusable for human use.   This creates an ideal  breeding ground for mosquitoes and disease. Bahia, Chone & Tosagua have been without city water for several weeks - apparently due to debris continuously clogging the intakes.  

 

People are wading through the city or to their homes and living in the second story of their houses while the first floor is flooded.

 


Those family homes without stilt construction or second stories have been displaced.


 


 In this province officially 162 families have been temporarily relocated, and eleven people have died.  

In traveling from Bahia to Portoviejo or Manta over the last several weeks the highway near Rocafuerte has been breached by the flooding of the Portoviejo River.

 




 

 In the early days some 12 to 18 inches of water rushed across about ½ mile of highway.

 

 Despite huge efforts to divert the water flow and maintain the road, the volumes of rushing water has eroded the asphalt surface and roadbed.  Early this week there is now water with depths up to 3 feet – reaching the mid section engine compartment on a large bus - with a an uneven rocky bottom similar to a river bed.  In several areas the edge of the previous highway had now collapsed and created a cascading waterfall. Several adventurous smaller vehicles were unable to successfully traverse this section of highway.  With the erosion from the water I was convinced the highway would be closed within hours, however the enterprising and innovative people here created a solution. For $ 1  guides were stationed in the rushing water to lead and guide your vehicles for safe passage, avoiding the larger troublesome potholes !

 

A detailed account from Tosagua about the impact on the families living in these communities  from the flooding from the Eden Rose Foundation. Remarkably the Ecuadorian people  continue to smile even in the face of such adversity.

Floods,  landslides,  and route interruptions related to the heavy rainfalls are being reported throughout the country, and indeed Columbia, Peru, and Bolivia.   Although it would be one year late  the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology , dismisses the notion that we may be under the influence of an El Nino.

Bahia de Caraquez 2012 Resource List

Feliz Ano Nuevo

We would like to wish you and your family a Happy New Year!  Your readership, support and continued loyalty is appreciated.



Not yet recovered from  the Christmas festivities, where we enjoyed helping at a children's neighbourhood Christmas party,

 



 
 
watched several different schools Christmas events,  and shared wonderful meals with friends.  New year's festivities are starting.





New year's Eve is one of the biggest festive nights of the year all over the world. Ecuador is no exception where it is an exciting holiday full of cultural traditions, and good luck superstitions.

 

In Latin America tonight you will wear yellow underwear for prosperity in the New Year or red if you are looking for love  & passion.  At midnight you will eat 12 grapes, each grape represents a month in the New Year. You will  make a wish with each grape that you eat.  People of all ages participate, and the city streets, malecons and beaches are full of people.



Families gather for a nice pork roast dinner on New Year's Eve.  The New Year's celebrations that follow lasts the whole night where you'll welcome the first sunrise of the New Year with a delicious breakfast of ceviche or aguado de gallina – a thick chicken soup.  Drinks of choice for this evening will range from hot cinnamon drinks made with sugar cane alcohol in the Andes to cold beer, champaign, or tropical fruit drinks on the coast.



One of the most important Ecuadorian traditions for ringing in the New Year is the making and burning of años viejos or monigotes. These paper mache creations often charged with fireworks. They represent the passing hardships and troubles of the past year.  At midnight they are burned away in bonfires in the middle of the streets.

You may make one yourself or purchase one from several talented artisans who have made this a very successful business in selling hundreds of effigies. Made from paper mache or old clothes sewn together and stuffed with firecrackers and sawdust (newspaper or any other flammable material can also be used).
The heads of the effigies are covered with paper mache masks, shaped into caricatures of politicians or other people who have been in the news, ( generally for scandals ) famous celebrities, cartoon characters, or many other imaginative creations. Bahia's most creative and popular this year was a life size effigie of the Hospital.




The Año Viejo or Old Year has to leave a will or testament to his heirs. The testament is a list of memorable satirical events from the past year ( good, bad, funny ) – that are somewhat satirical and involves listing items and/or advice that you would leave to your friends/family/famous people so that they can have be better off in the New Year. These wills can be written in the form of a basic letter, a rhyming poem, a song, etc. They are usually very creative and very politically incorrect. There are also contests for people to submit their testaments.




Another curiosity for newcomers When the Año Viejo or Old Year passes on, he leaves a Viuda or Widow, who needs financial support. During the day many guys are dressed in skimpy black dresses, nylons and wear wigs/make-up portraying  provocative widows of the old year known as viudas. They will go to popular intersections or parks and stop cars/passerby's asking for money. They are often  very dramatic; they dance, and also cry about how their beloved Año Viejo has died. It can be very entertaining. In our small towns we may know the guys who are dressed as viudas – which makes it even more entertaining. The money they receive will fund their New Year's party. 

And finally for those who like to travel at midnight you will take an empty suitcase and run around the block with it. This will bring you good travels and adventure in the New Year. Add some coins or cash to your suitcase, so you that can you also have some prosperity – or stay at 4 star hotels during your travels.



Several gusano's ( worm train ) wind through the ciudela streets like a serpent undulating through the crowds,   music blaring, and neon lights flashing for a 15 minute excursion. The length and visibility of the train enable it to command the streets  weaving drunkenly, and sometimes circling and chasing its tail in a wide intersection.




New Year's Eve in Bahia de Caraquez, Ecuador -  plenty of fireworks all day long , Disney parade at mid-day,  bonfires, music and dancing. Here you can purchase almost any kind of fireworks imaginable - Ecuador is right behind China in the production of fireworks.
                      
At approximately 10:30 p:m everyone in the city - young and old - walked to the malecon and lined the beaches for a fireworks display.  This year as there is no gabarra the fireworks were launched from the new bridge.  The evening sky originally filled with a full moon, and many twinkling stars boomed with resonating explosions and was soon filled with smoke and the pungent odour of gunpowder.

South America is well known for grand fireworks displays for New Years - Valparaiso and Caracas hold some of the largest and most famous.  In Chile more than a million visitors are expected on Valparaiso's beaches, hills and rooftops to watch 37 tons of fireworks explode in a 22 minute display ringing in 2012.

At midnight the sky filled with rockets, the street with firecrackers and screechers, and huge bonfires leaped up in the middle of the street on every block.

The anos viejos have been ripped from their staging and thrown into the bonfires, shrieking as their firework stuffed innards explode. An hour after midnight the city streets were littered with the smoldering remains of the "old year" - it looked like a war zone -  and everyone is ready for a fresh start to the New Year. 





Now the food, music, and dancing began and is expected and was vibrant until sunrise.  While we retired for some rest, when we awoke the next morning festivities and music were still going strong. 

One of the advantages of living in South America is how free you are to live your life. Conversely if you find yourself in a difficult situation this freedom or " lawlessness " becomes a plague.  Government has more important issues to deal with than interfering in community life with bureaucracy and making or enforcing regulations. There is a cultural understanding that you can live the way you want to, and your neighbors will do the same. With fireworks you can set them off anywhere, anytime to your heart's delight, and people around you will applaud, not complain.

Peru and Chile are still in dispute over which country is the original producer of Pisco, a grape distilled brandy. But the pisco sour cocktail is said to have been invented by a North American bartender, Victor Morris, ("Gringo Morris") in the 1920's, at The Morris Bar in Lima, Peru. Pisco sours are notoriously strong, as Pisco varieties range from 60 to 100 proof.

It's hard to improve on the beloved pisco sour, but we like this recipe made with passion fruit juice.  Enjoy this new cocktail.   Maracuya sours taste best if you can use fresh passion fruit juice, or frozen pulp. They are still good when made with bottled juice, but the tart passion fruit flavor will be less intense. If you can't find Pisco, you may substitute rum or brandy.


Ingredients:

    1 cup sugar
    1/2 cup water
    4 ounces (1/2 cup) Pisco
    2 ounces (1/4 cup) fresh, frozen, or bottled passion fruit juice
    Juice of 1 lime
    1 egg white
    10 large ice cubes (or about 1 cup crushed ice)

Preparation:

    Put sugar and water in a pot and bring to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes, remove from heat, and let cool.

    Measure pisco into blender, add passion fruit juice and lime juice.

    Add sugar water, ice cubes, and egg white.

    Blend until mixture is frothy and the ice is completely crushed and blended.

    Makes 4 drinks to be served immediately.

Note: Some bottled passion fruit juices have a lot of added sugar, so you might need to decrease the amount of sugar syrup to compensate.

To extract juice from a passion fruit: Slice in half and spoon out the pulp. Warm the pulp in the microwave or on the stove-top until it thins (almost to a boil), and then strain. Let cool.

All the best for 2012 !

Vina del Mar & Valparaiso Chile

We have just returned from a visit to Vina del Mar, Valparaiso, & Santiago in Chile.

 

It is summer in Chile however we had almost forgotten how cool nights can become when moving away from the Equator.  We enjoyed visiting friends, wonderful long, bright summer days, strolls along the beach, good quality ethnic restaurants, and tropical fruit ice cream. 



The coastal community of Valparaiso is a collection of famous architecturally designed, colourful,  homes and buildings built on a very steep cliff descending to the protecting bay on the Pacific Ocean.

 

Outdoor ascensors / elevators provide access to these various areas on the cliffs.  The sheltered bay is home to Chile's major seaport bustling with sea cargo, passenger ships, the navy fleet, and fishing vessels.

 


It is an older, poorer area with the major fish and fresh vegetable markets for the coastal area, and refurbished buildings providing homes for artisan galleries and tourist restaurants. 

We enjoyed meandering through the myriad of steep cobblestone streets where often older, richly colourful buildings would appear perched in mid air overhanging steep cliff sides. The architecture has been influenced by many immigrant cultures and provides inspiration for architecture students from around the world. In addition to staircases which traverse the steep hillsides,



Naval vessels occupy the bay, and a large naval training academy is along the beach.





 

Valparaíso has an unusual system of ascensores funicular elevators (highly-inclined cable cars) which are one of the world's 100 most endangered historical treasures, or the Polanco elevator where one enters a long dimly lit mine-shaft like tunnel, and then a traditional vertical elevator which lifts its passengers several hundred feet within the earth to emerge to a daylight exit near the mountain top. There we found an abundance of fine restaurants serving typical plates and folkloric music, and artisan kiosks.

 

Vina del Mar "Vineyard of the Sea" is more modern cosmopolitan, luxurious, with spacious tree lined streets and lots of pedestrian friendly green spaces.







Famous for it's miles of beautiful stretches of beaches, malecon with a variety of activities,

 


Casino, and the business and shopping centre for the coastal communities in the area.  

The Chileans have just voted Vina del Mar  to be the most livable / favourite city in their country.

 


 

It is also a popular beach resort destination for many South American & European tourists.

 

Artists have designed a variety of intricate "life like"  sandcastle sculptures along the beaches. This octopus and giraffe are good examples.

 

Large sand dunes lay opposite the ocean and provide a playground for ATV's, motorcycles, jeeps, and dune buggy's.



Chile has one of the strongest economies all of the South American countries. The streets are lined with shiny new popular franchise stores and restaurants and bustling with brand new vehicles.


 

The people are very active and health conscious with joggers, cycles, swimmers, and fitness centres everywhere. Sports such as surfing, boarding on the sand dunes, roller blading, and extreme cycling are very visibly popular. It's citizens have worked hard and successfully eliminated the prevalent corruption common in Latin cultures.  Transparency International's 2011 Corruption Perception Index  ranked Chile - 22 considered one of the least corrupt countries in the Americas.   Less corrupt than the United States ranked - 24; Canada ranked - 10.  But Ecuador - 120;  Venezuela  - 172 continue to rank among the highest countries for corruption.  This fact continues to be overlooked by the optimistic promoters of retiring or living in Ecuador ! 

The residents of Chile aspire for the material luxury items enjoyed by the western world.  Although property, homes, accommodation, and restaurants are priced higher than other Latin countries we found automobiles, clothing, electronic goods ( computers, digital cameras, televisions, appliances ) and fine red wines to be significantly less expensive than Ecuador. Grocery prices and fresh fruit and vegetables are comparably priced.




On December 2nd & 3rd Chile had a variety of talented artists involved in a 23rd annual countrywide fundraising telethon for charities. They raised 21,735,065,227 Chilean Pesos  ( approx $ 4.5 m US ).  



Preparations for Christmas and New Year celebrations are well underway with decorations, commercial sales & advertising, and " dusting off "  peak season facilities.   Vina del Mar hosts one of the largest famous New Year's fireworks exhibitions in Latin America.  It will be attended by over two million tourists & spectators who fill the length of coastline from Valparaiso to Vina del Mar and hillsides for a view of the bay's pyrotechnic display. The coastal resort areas are currently filling with tourists from Argentina.



The hillsides have being incorporated into the tiered apartment, and hotel structures that line the bayshore.
While vacation hotels, apartments, and suites are abundant if you are interested in visiting for the holiday season be sure to book accommodation well in advance as thousands of South American ( Argentina & Brazil ) and European visitors come for the festivities here on the beach.

Jennifer Lopez was also visiting Chile this past week.

100,000 spectators turned out for the " Paris parade "  held in Santiago. 32 gigantic inflatable helium characters showcased in a 3 hour long Christmas parade.