Introduction
The University of Cuenca proudly presents the Eleventh Cohort Nomination Call for Applications of the Honores Vanguardia Program, an academic initiative designed to recognize and support UCuenca students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, intellectual curiosity, and a strong commitment to research and innovation. This prestigious program offers a unique opportunity for highly motivated students from diverse faculties to enhance their academic journey through advanced mentoring, interdisciplinary learning, and participation in high-impact projects.
Aims of the
Program
The Interfaculty Honors Program for Academic Excellence aims to contribute to the development of the University of Cuenca as an international research-focused academic institution.
Honores Vanguardia is an initiative that seeks to train the researchers of future generations.
Through high-quality research and academic training, it will enable students who have achieved outstanding academic excellence to reach their maximum intellectual potential and develop new skills.
Honores Vanguardia Program will develop through the following guidelines:
Who is the
Honors Program for?
The Honores Vanguardia Program for Academic Excellence is organized as a joint program between the Academic Provost Office (Vicerrectorado Académico) and the 12 Colleges of the University of Cuenca.
The Program is offered to the students with the best academic scores across UCuenca, i.e. those who achieve academic excellence and are interested to gain training for becoming researchers or to apply to a graduate program (masters or doctoral) in the future.
Program Structure
| Duration | The program is planned to be covered over four academic semesters, or 2 academic years (during semesters 5-6-7-8 for 4-year, and the semesters of 7-8-9-10 for 5/6-year academic undergraduate programs), students are required to complete two courses per semester. |
| Learning | Students will learn through the course materials autonomously or in small teams through synchronous or asynchronous class sessions, power-point presentations, or readings following the syllabus of each instructor. Instruction is based on the flipped-classroom approach, and online learning so they can adapt the Honores Vanguardia Program Training to their schedules and other academic requirements. |
| Classes | Classes are developed in hybrid format with meetings face-to-face every two weeks and with a fixed weekly schedule (setting day and hour with each course instructor). Weekly synchronous sessions will be devoted to questions, class discussion and practical demonstrations. |
| Meetings/Seminars | Other class meetings will be seminars provided by UC researchers and scientists. These meetings/seminars will be related to the research being conducted at the University of Cuenca through the Research Provost Office. The seminars/webinars will seek to network and engage Vanguardistas with UCuenca´s research departments, college´s research centers and research groups and to the thesis research of the students. |
Program Content
The Program intends to motivate and train participants for scientific research during their studies and their later career and life.
Students must complete 8 courses, two in each semester of the Program, for a total of 17 credits. Four courses belong to the research track and the remining four belong to the academic English track. A course for each track must be completed each semester:
- The Nature of Scientific Knowledge and Scientific Research (2 credits).
- Research projects and advanced methods for quantitative research (2 credits).
- Research projects and advanced methods for qualitative research (3 credits).
- Organization, communication and valorization of scientific research (2 credits).
- Academic Reading (2 credits).
- Academic Writing (2 credits).
- Academic Speaking (2 credits).
- TOELF Preparation (2 credits).
During the program, students will be involved in the research efforts of their university. The activities completed in the Program may be linked to their final graduation project according to the undergraduate program requirements that follow research or intervention graduation final projects.
Relevance of
the Program
Merely participating in the Program should be motivation alone, additionally:
- Students obtain credits toward their regular undergraduate study program.
- Participants who complete the program successfully obtain a certificate attesting to their selection, participation, and success in the Program.
- Students benefit from individualized coaching in finding and conducting their thesis projects and in finding opportunities for further studies at leading academic institutions in the world.
Who is the Honors Program for?
The Honores Vanguardia Program for Academic Excellence is organized as a joint program between the Academic Provost Office (Vicerrectorado Académico) and the 12 Colleges of the University of Cuenca.
The Program is offered to the students with the best academic scores across UCuenca, i.e. those who achieve academic excellence and are interested to gain training for becoming researchers and faculty or to apply to a graduate program (masters or doctoral) in the future.
Social Network
Contact
Honores Vanguardia
Edificio A1, Vicerrectorado Académico
Campus Central
Av. 12 de Abril y Av. Loja
Academic Direction
Juan Leonardo Espinoza, PhD
Academic Provost University of Cuenca
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7450-2084
Full professor of Engineering/DEET, University of Cuenca. Researcher in Electrical Engineering, Renewable Energies, Distributed Generation, and Energy Policy.
Monica Pulla Ochoa, BS Dual, PhD
Academic Administrative Assistant
BS Dual in Business Engineering
Academic Analyst in the Office of the Academic Provost, a former analyst in the Dual Bussiness Administration School. Mónica has experience in assisting human resources with wages and compensation.
Johana Orellana Alvear, PhD
Chairwoman Honores Vanguardia
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6206-075X
Research Associate at the Department of Water Resources and Environmental Sciences. Presented with the Best Doctoral Thesis Award 2021 at the University of Marburg, Germany. PhD in Natural Sciences, with a Master in Artificial Intelligence and a BA in Computer Sciences. Author of several high-impact publications and expert in data science applied to interdisciplinary research.
Former Chairs
Fabián León, PhD
He is a Biochemist and Pharmacist graduated at the Universidad de Cuenca (Ecuador). In 2003 he obtained the Master degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the KULeuven. In 2007 he received the PhD diploma in the same institution.
His research area is focused on the pharmacological potential of natural products, with special interest in medicinal plants, cyanobacteria and microalgae. He was the south coordinator of the Inter universitarian Research Program between Flemish Universities (VLIR-UOS) and the Universidad de Cuenca from 2011 until December 2018. He also collaborates as teacher and local coordinator (Universidad de Cuenca) into the VLIR Network-Ecuador initiative between the VLIR and four Ecuadorian Universities, for development of scientific master programmes and research projects.
Guillermo Pacheco, PhD
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8409-6967
Associate Professor of English Language Teaching at the University of Cuenca, Ecuador, has been teaching for 23 years. Born in Cuenca, Ecuador. Prof. Pacheco was educated at the University of Cuenca and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in English Language Teaching.
Then Prof. Pacheco embarked on two master’s programs, one in Teaching and Curriculum Development in Higher Education and another one in Applied Linguistics. Later on, Prof. Pacheco pursued a Ph.D. degree in Education at La Plata National University, Argentina; which has helped him embrace teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students and research.
Prof. Pacheco’s research has embraced Flipped Learning, ICT in higher education, language learning, trends in education, and teaching and learning in higher education
Juan Francisco Cordero, MBA
Associate professor, entrepreneur and researcher. Professor for several years in the School of Economics and Business Administration. Former Director of the Dual Business Program DHLA. Coordinator of academic-business cooperation programs. Founder and President of WISSEN Academic Institute of Technologies. Promotor and Director of INNPULSAR the first business incubator of Cuenca.
Fulbright Scholar. Masters Science in Entrepreneurship at Oklahoma State University (USA). Postgraduate studies in Economic Development. Sports promotor and nature photographer.
Piet Vanden Abeele, PhD
Professor emeritus and former vice-rector, Catholic University of Leuven, KU Leuven in Belgium. Also in academic management he was Dean of Economics and Management.
His studies are on Managerial Economics (MSc, Leuven), Psychology (MSc, Leuven), Statistics (MSc, Stanford) and Management Science/Marketing (PhD, Stanford).
His research and publications domain: Marketing, Consumer Psychology, Behavioral Economics, Statistics, Research Evaluation. Dr. Vanden Abeele has been editor, International Journal of Research in Marketing: Academic Trustee, Marketing Science Institute. As an instructor at undergraduate and graduate level (Belgium, USA, PRChina, Malaysia, Netherlands, France, South Africa, Ecuador)
He was member or Chair of higher-education advisory commissions (Belgium, Netherlands, France). Member of VLIR/UOS team Flanders-Ecuador; mentor of Honores Vanguardia Program at Universidad de Cuenca.
Among his professional experience, he has done business Management: advisory and board member positions for several firms, included stock-exchange listed companies. Founding member of spin-off company IMO (technology marketing consultant).
Dr. Vanden Abeele is proficient in Dutch, French, English, Spanish, German.
Denisse Vásquez-Guevara, Ph.D
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2703-1416
Associate professor and multidisciplinary researcher in the School of Communication and Biosciences Department. Former Honors Student who graduated Summa Cum Laude at the Doctoral level at The University of New Mexico in Communication and Community and Regional Planning. Author of several books and high-impact publications on science and health communication.
Faculty
María Isabel Espinoza, PhD
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3574-5729
Associate Tenure Professor of English Language Teaching at the University of Cuenca, Ecuador and has been teaching since 2006. She is also the Director of the Language Institute, the University of Cuenca. Professor Espinoza holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Language Teaching. She was a visiting Spanish Professor at St. Andrews University in North Carolina, USA in 2014. Then Prof. Espinoza embarked on a master’s program in English Language and Applied Linguistics. At the moment, Professor Espinoza is pursuing a PhD. degree in Education at La Plata National University, Argentina. Her career as an academic has helped her embrace teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students and research. Prof. Espinoza’s research has encompassed ICT in higher education, language learning, trends in education, and teaching and learning in higher education.
Juan José Santillán, M.Ed.
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4968-1332
Full-time adjunct professor and researcher at Universidad de Cuenca. BA in Educational Sciences with specialization in English Language and Literature. Master’s in Teaching English as a Foreign Language. Presented with the Benigno Malo Award for Academic Excellence. Honor student at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Author of several high-impact publications.
Elisabeth Rodas Brosam, MA
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6518-6243
Adjunct Professor of English in the Institute of Languages and researcher at Universidad de Cuenca. Graduated Summa Cum Laude from Southwest Minnesota State University, United States, with a BS in Speech Communication: Radio and TV and graduated with Merit from the University of Reading, England, with an MA in English Language Teaching. She has over twenty years of experience in language teaching and language program administration. Her research includes language learning, writing groups, and academic writing in general. She has published several high-impact publications.
Marcelo Bernal, PhD
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6309-7394
Ph.D. degree in Health Sciences; a Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction, TESL emphasis on Postsecondary Education; a BA in Education Sciences, English specialization, and a BA in Educational Psychology and Counseling. He is a full-time Associate Professor and Researcher at the Universidad de Cuenca and has been researching reading at the elementary and university levels. He has taught several English courses and Academic Reading, Writing, and Presentation in Ecuador and the USA. His research interests include language teaching and learning, reading skills, university education, mental health, critical thinking, and creativity.
María Cecilia Vintimilla Álvarez, MSc
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8269-5413
Associate professor and researcher at Universidad de Cuenca. Master of Science in Technology – Integrated Food Studies at Aalborg University, Denmark, with a BA in Gastronomy, and a specialization in university teaching. She has a special ability with languages – English, German, and some French. Working to promote better eating habits, especially among young adults.
Luis Timbe, PhD
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5623-0487
Full-time Senior Professor and Researcher at the Department of Water Resources and Environmental Sciences, Universidad de Cuenca. PhD in Engineering (2007) from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium. Author of high-impact publications and expert in water resources, flood risk and assessment, and river hydraulics.
Paúl Arias, MSc
Adjunct professor and researcher at the Interdisciplinary Department of Space and Population and Assistant Professor in the College of Psychology. Bachelor in Economics, Master of Science in Development at Antwerpen University, and Ph.D. student at KU Leuven. My research interest includes measurement, adaptation, cooperation, and corruption. I am head of the CIRCLE research project at PYDLOS.
Former Faculty
Paul Muñoz, PhD
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8000-8840
Doctoral Researcher at the Department of Water Resources and Environmental Sciences, Universidad de Cuenca. MSc. in Water Resources Engineering by the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium. Author of high-impact publications. He currently teaches statistics and data analytics for undergraduate and graduate students. His expertise is the use of artificial intelligence, hydrological forecasting, and exploitation of remote sensing products.
Mario Córdova, PhD
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8026-0387
Mario Córdova, Civil Engineer at University of Cuenca, MSc Physics and Climate Science at Utrecht University, PhD candidate in Water Resources at University of Cuenca. His research focuses on the dynamics of extreme precipitation in tropical South America. He has published more than 10 peer-reviewed articles and he teaches Climatology, Climate Modelling, and Climate Change in master programs at University of Cuenca and University of Azuay.
Tammy Fajardo Dack, PhD
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8269-5413
Associate professor and researcher at Universidad de Cuenca. Master of Science in Technology – Integrated Food Studies at Aalborg University, Denmark, with a BA in Gastronomy, and a specialization in university teaching. She has a special ability with languages – English, German, and some French. Working to promote better eating habits, especially among young adults.
Johana Ortiz Ulloa, PhD
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7171-7135
Bachelor in Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Cuenca, Ecuador (2007); Ph.D. in Applied Biological Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium (2014); Postdoc, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain (2020). Full professor at the Faculty of Chemical Sciences and researcher of the Group «Food, Nutrition, Health and Physical Activity», Department of Biosciences, University of Cuenca since 2015. Member of the VLIR-Ecuador Network, Latin American Food Composition Network and the Ecuadorian Food Safety Consortium. Expertise in food and nutritional sciences, food analysis, food safety and exposure assessments.
Summary
Since its inception, the Honors Program has successfully implemented ten cohorts, with eight of them having students who have already graduated. Each cohort reflects the program’s commitment to academic excellence and interdisciplinary engagement. Over the years, a growing diversity of faculties has joined the initiative, enriching the program with a wide range of perspectives, disciplines, and research interests. This evolution demonstrates the program’s expanding impact across the university community. Below, you will find the lists of each cohort, highlighting the increasing inclusion of students from various faculties committed to pursuing high-level academic challenges.
Cohorts
Mi Futuro Network
How to Apply?
The admission to the program is selective and limited up to five students per college. This is an interdisciplinary program that builds on the opportunity to create an integrative network across the 12 colleges of UCuenca providing equal access in terms of academic excellence and gender.
Participants apply for the Honores Vanguardia Program in their fourth/sixth semester and begin in their fifth/seventh semester of studies at the University of Cuenca in agreement to the undergrad program duration. The program will always start at the beginning of each academic year by the September-February semester.
Application Process
- Each of the Deans of the 12 colleges will nominate the best 15 students of their Colleges according to the best academic performance scores and outstanding performance. This list will be required by the Honores Vanguardia Program Director in the semester of March-August through Quipux, requiring the name, school, score,current semester of studies and email of the nominated students.
- An invitation to apply to the Honores Vanguardia Program will be sent by email to the nominees along with the admission requirements and an explanation of the procedure for applying to the Program.
- The recruitment and selection process will take place during the semester of March-August each academic year. The best 28 ranked students will be admitted to the program.
Requirements for application
Students interested in applying to the Honores Vanguardia program will have to respond to the recruitment email by providing;
- 1-page intention letter written fully in English, explaining their goals and plans and how Honors Vanguardia will help them to achieve their professional goals.
- Curriculum Vitae (without photograph).
- B2 English level certificate of approval for the UCuenca Language Institute (certifications from private language institutes, IELTS or TOEFL exams that equate to B2 level may be received).
- Advance of curriculum (avance de malla curricular) detailing qualifications.
- Personal contact information: Full name, UCuenca institutional email, cell phone number.
Procedures and Resolutions
Noticias
junio 13, 2025
Las y los estudiantes del Programa de Honores Vanguardia, del Vicerrectorado Académico, conocieron de primera mano el trabajo que realizan los departamentos y coordinaciones de investigación de la universidad, en la jornada denominada “Explora, Conecta, Investiga: Encuentro con la Ciencia de la UCuenca”, realizada en el Aula Taller la tarde del 12 de junio de 2025.
