Universidad San Francisco de Quito - USFQ
AC-10: Support for Sustainability Research

The Universidad San Francisco de Quito is pleased to offer an undergraduate research option for international students studying at the Cumbayá (main) Campus for a semester or year, entitled Latitude Zero: Ecuador's Research Initiative (L0ERI). USFQ is able to offer a wide range of research opportunities to qualified students.

 Participating students have the opportunity to conduct a research project in conjunction with a USFQ faculty member in various fields of study. The project is undertaken as a 3-credit independent study course in the field of relevance over the duration of a semester. Participants also select from USFQ classes (some of which are taught in English) in a variety of subject areas.

Participants in the L0ERI program commit to work on the research activity over the course of the semester, according to the needs of the professor and project.
 As highlighted in the program´s research option, potential areas of focus include ethnic identity, biotechnology, renewable energy, entrepreneurship, economic development, biodiversity, GIS, water quality analysis, structural and mechanical engineering, climate change, community health, chemistry and ecology. All related to sustainability. More information on the program can be accessed at: https://www.usfq.edu.ec/en/opi/international/international-students/academic-programs/research-opportunities

Universidad San Francisco de Quito and the Dean of Research has created a fund to sponsor groups that generate new research projects, called Collaboration Grants. In the year 2019 15 grants were awarded.

The purpose of Collaboration Grants is to finance and promote interdisciplinary and international collaborations that will result in the creation and/or strengthening of collaborative research networks, in publications, and in the transfer and creation of new, relevant, and innovative knowledge. Collaboration grants are given once a year, for $10,000 each. One of the selection criteria is that the research project is inter or multi-disciplinary and has alone term impact on society or stakeholders.

In addition, since 2016 the University´s Galápagos Science Center (GSC), issues an annual research grant application call, whose objective is to fund scientific research in the Galápagos islands in the areas of biology/ecology, conservation or social sciences with a strong environment and environmental management focus and a contribution to sustainable development within the framework of environmental sustainability. The application calls are open to full time faculty of all disciplines, who have contributed though courses, workshops or other to the GSC, faculty members can also apply in collaboration. The funding offered is up to $10,000. These grants pass through a selection process, with the Galápagos National Park participation, where the project´s research relevance to science, conservation and sustainable management is evaluated during the pre selection phase. The grant winner is required to publish at least one article in a peer reviewed scientific publication with international recognition. Since its issue, more than 51 projects have been funded in areas such as: human-environment relationships, marine ecology, microbiology, earth sciences, sustainable management and conservation.

The University´s internal procedure for faculty promotion and/or tenure decisions include, at the various faculty levels, that full faculty members are eligible for promotions when (amongst others) they have 1) created or published a defined number of relevant works per category, 2) have participated in a defined number of relevant research projects with a minimum duration of which at least a number must have involved collaboration with foreign researchers, institutions or research networks, and 3) have directed or co directed doctoral or masters research thesis. The specifications on duration and number of projects vary depending on the faculty category.

Our library has made available to users’ important information on specific topics related to sustainability that are part of the aforementioned collections. Thus, we have more than 5000 books in physical format that are classified in the following thematic categories; biodiversity; habitat; conservation; environment; ecology; social responsibility; sustainable development, sustainable development.
The library contributes to sustainable education by including sustainability-related topics in our information literacy program where we promote and teach how to conduct research from that perspective. We also offer support to users on how to get the best out of the information available. In 2020 and so far in 2021 we have delivered 218 trainings to undergraduate students, graduate students and professors. In total there are more than 4400 people.
Finally our library actively participates in the HUC Library Network (Hemispheric University Consortium) which provides an online platform that promotes collaborative research on the 5 key global challenges defined by HUC in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030. By coordinating the activities of partner libraries, the HUC Library Network facilitates the sharing of experiences, digital tools and information resources and creates a space for enhancing education, innovation and research.