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Innovation in front of the new paradigm in the Ecuadorian Universities: The experience of the Technical University of Ambato

Abstract:

The government of the Revolución Ciudadana of Rafael Correa, and particularly the Higher Education Council for Evaluation, Accredditation and Quality Assurance (CEAACES by its acronym in Spanish), has been requiring organizational transformation in Ecuadorian universities that in order to improve the academic quality standards. In order to face this challenge, Ecuadorian universities have been put in the crossroads in between (a) following the official models presented by CEAACES or (b) design an innovative new model of higher education institution based on the needs of the context. The present research, shows how the Technical University of Ambato (UTA by its acronym in Spanish), has addopted the second way and not only that is shifting from a traditional Napoleonicorganizational structure based on Schools to a new an innovative university model based on dominiums of knowledge. The proposed model is more adequate for the context where the university is based and brings more possibilities for the Academy to leverage the development of the local and regional comunity (Tungurahua Province in Ecuadorian Central Andes). This new and innovative model presented by UTA is based on the Triple Helix model where government, industry and academy joint efforts towards the common goal of the sustainable development of the region. A key part of the model is the formula: Academics, Research and Development, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship [a+(R+D)+i+e] that is promoted as the organizational DNA.