The Aquacultural Engineering program is part of the objectives of the creation of ESPOL, which is higher education in science and research of natural phenomena and resources of the coastal region, including the territorial sea. It is of great importance as it arises as a response to the need for highly qualified professionals for the development and balance of aquaculture species cultivation, management, and restocking activities. To study the Aquacultural Engineering program, we seek curious, honest, reflective, analytical, tenacious, supportive, critically-minded students with abilities in abstraction, logic, and basic knowledge of experimental sciences and mathematics. They should be interested in research and be willing to work under pressure both autonomously and as part of interdisciplinary collaborative groups.
Mission
To train excellent Aquacultural Engineers, leaders, and entrepreneurs with strong moral and ethical values who contribute to the country's development, improving it socially, economically, environmentally, and politically. To conduct high-quality research, technology transfer, and extension services to serve society.
Core Components of the Program
1) Aquaculture Production: Aquatic organisms; Fertilization, feeding and
nutrition; Genetics and species transfer; Integrated cropping systems;
Uses of land, water and irrigation; Production technologies and trends; biology
reproductive, seed production, incubators; Training and extension;
Water quality.
2)Health of Aquatic Organisms. Health management and diseases.
3)Sustainable Aquaculture. Economy and investments; Environmental aspects; Harvest,
processing and marketing; Information, statistics and GIS; Aspects
legal; Policies and planning; Research and methodology; Aspects
sociological and cultural.
4)Aquaculture Engineering. Facilities, equipment and engineering.
International Accreditation
The Aquaculture program is accredited with the EUR-ACE quality seal, by the European Network for Accreditation of Engineering Education (ENAEE).
* Undergraduate tuition/fees:
The Constitution of the Republic of Ecuador in its Article 356, among other principles, establishes that third-level public higher education will be tuition/fees free. Zero cost education is linked to the academic responsibility of the students.
Number of admitted students per academic year
Number of graduates per year
Number of enrolled students per academic year
Graphs show the figures in real time, at the time of the query
In the Aquaculture career we are looking for students with knowledge in biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, who have analytical and teamwork skills; who have a sense of social responsibility, ethical and moral qualities, facility for problem solving; and interest in the culture of aquatic organisms.
Educational Objectives
Graduates of the Aquaculture career, after 3 to 5 years of graduation, will be able to:
1.Contribute to the development of aquaculture, through the management and optimization of production systems, taking existing technological references, innovating them and developing new technologies when necessary.
2.Integrate technical and scientific knowledge, with business and social management, to generate wealth and well-being, teamwork and efficiency in communication.
3.Develop an environmentally sustainable and socially responsible aquaculture, for the benefit of human beings.
4.Transfer knowledge and technology to the private, public and social and solidarity economy sectors to promote a change in the productive matrix and the improvement of the quality of life.
Student Outcomes
a.Ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and aquaculture engineering.
b.Ability to design and conduct trials, as well as to analyze and interpret data.
c.Ability to design a system, component, or process related to aquaculture engineering, to meet the desired needs with realistic constraints, such as: political, economic, environmental, social, legal, ethical, health and safety, manufacturing, and sustainability.
d.Ability to work as a member of a multidisciplinary team.
e.Ability to identify, formulate and solve aquaculture engineering problems.
f.Ability to understand ethical and professional responsibility.
1.Ability to communicate effectively in Spanish.
2.Ability to communicate in English.
g.The broad education necessary to understand the impact of aquaculture engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and social context.
h.Recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in lifelong learning.to. Ability to learn about contemporary issues.
i.Recognition of the need to undertake, and the skills to become an entrepreneur.
j.Ability to use modern techniques, skills and tools, necessary for the practice of aquaculture engineering.
First Year
Description:
It is a core course for Engineering, Natural Sciences, Exact Sciences, and Social Sciences and Humanities, students. Topics, such as, topological notions, limits and continuity of real variable functions, derivatives and their applications, antiderivatives and integration techniques, and the definite integral with its applications, are examined. This course is aimed to the development of student’s skills and know-how in the derivation and integration processes, as a fundamental basis for the following upper level courses in its academic training process
Description:
Physics: Mechanics is a basic, theoretical-practical training course aimed at engineering students, with laboratory experimentation activities, which provides the fundamentals of particle mechanics, rigid bodies and fluid mechanics, in an environment of active learning.
Description:
In this course, students apply the Design Thinking methodology to identify, analyze real-life problems or needs, to design innovative solutions. Students work in multidisciplinary teams to present solution proposals that add value to customers/users from private companies, public organizations and non-profit organizations.
Description:
This basic and general education subject presents grammatical structures to produce a simple paragraph based on a writing program. Additionally, it allows the identification of a specific argument in oral and written communication. It also considers learners’ personal opinions about different topics related to social, academic, and professional aspects. It includes the necessary vocabulary to make comparisons between present and past, books or movies description, creation of simple students’ profile, opinions about inventions, formal apologies and tell past events.
Description:
General Chemistry is a theoretical-practical course aimed at the basic training of professionals in the areas of Engineering and Natural Sciences, which provides a scientific basis of the matter and its interactions, and seeks to develop in students the ability to solve problems related to the content of the subject. It begins with an Introduction to Thermochemistry, then the analysis of the physicochemical properties derived from the state of aggregation of matter: liquids, solids and solutions, the study of the Kinetics and Equilibrium of reactions and solubility.
Description:
The course presents students with strategies to solve common problems in various professional fields through the design and implementation of solutions based on the use of a programming language. It covers the basic principles so that the student can read and write programs; emphasizing the design and analysis of algorithms. In addition, it introduces students to the use of development and debugging tools.
Description:
The course of General Biology belongs to the basic subjects and is aimed at students who are in the first year. It addresses the study of living beings, from the organization and properties of biological macromolecules to the structure, function and composition of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Additionally, there is a unit comprising an overview of cellular metabolism. Subunits involving the examination of the functions performed by the organelles are also included. This program also incorporates the study of genetic material, how it is inherited and its role for the observable characteristics of each living being. Techniques and methods of analysis of experimental data, case studies and application of the scientific method and critical thinking are used, which are essential for the understanding of biological sciences in its trasnversal fields
Description:
Calculus of several variables is a transversal course aimed at the basic training of professionals in the areas of Humanistic and Social Sciences that require developing problem-solving and problem-solving skills in the n-dimensional context. For this purpose, the course consists of 4 general topics: three-dimensional analytical geometry and functions of several variables, differential calculus of scalar fields, optimization of scalar functions of several variables, and multiple integration; being the main applications of this course: the optimization of functions of several variables applied to practical problems, the calculation of areas, volumes and work, using objects of the plane and space.
Description:
This subject of basic formation and general education presents the grammatical structures for the production of an academic paragraph, through the development of the writing program in a transversal way. In addition, it allows the identification of specific arguments in oral and written communication, considering the production of one's own criteria on different topics of a social, academic or professional nature. The necessary vocabulary is also applied to refer to the different forms of communication, share work experiences and the use of digitl technology, tell short stories about interpersoanl relationship and personalities, and comment on the future of the environment.
Description:
Organic Chemistry is a course for Biology, Nutrition and Dietetics, Food, Agriculture, and Aquaculture students. This course studies the principal rules of IUPAC nomenclature for the naming of organic compounds; also includes the study of the structures, properties, and reactions of organic compounds with a wide interest in several industries. Active learning, discussion, and problem-solving in the laboratory are part of the course teaching methodology, which contributes to the development of skills for the design and execution of laboratory tests.
Second Year
Description:
The biochemistry course is aimed to serve transversally to students of careers with a biological nature. It includes an introduction to biochemistry and the principles of bioenergetics. The dynamics of the metabolic processes of the main biomolecules that allow the development of life are studied. Each metabolic pathway is described in chemical and enzymatic terms, the energy requirements and energy sources are demonstrated, and it concludes with the description of the regulatory mechanisms of the different pathways. Additionally, the biosynthesis and degradation routes of each of the biomolecules are described: carbohydrates, lipids and nitrogenous compounds (proteins), for a better understanding of the origins of life on earth.
Description:
In this subject, we study the development of the academic prosumer profile of the students, which should be consolidated throughout each individual's life, based on the processing of complex, holistic, and critical thinking. We aim to foster understanding and the production of academic knowledge through rigorous analysis of realities and readings from various academic/scientific sources.
Description:
This is a training basic course training and provides the knowledge to the engineering and science student can convert data into information, associate everyday situations with statistical processes, and determine scientific conclusions through experimental observations, applying descriptive statistics, notions of probability, models of random variables and inferential analysis.
Description:
This subject of basic instruction and general education presents grammatical topics for the elaboration of an outline and a structured composition, through the development of the writing program in a transversal way. In addition, it allows the identification of arguments in oral and written communication on contemporary and academic topics. Additionally, appropriate vocabulary is applied to discuss issues related to different cultures, places where we live, everyday news, entertainment media, and past and future opportunities.
Description:
This subject of basic formation and general education, presents the grammar structures to produce a persuasive essay, through the transversal development of the writing programme. In addition, it allows students to identify specific arguments in the oral and written communication, as well as, to express their own opinions about different topics of social, academic, or professional fields. It also includes the necessary vocabulary to stablish a conversation, narrate situations of their environment, activities to reach their goals, analyze cause and effect and personal and professional opportunities.
Third Year
Description:
This transversal course addresses the conditions required to innovate and the process associated with developing an innovation from an entrepreneurial point of view. Subsequently, topics such as the identification of opportunities, value creation, and prototyping and validation of products/services proposals are reviewed, as well as the elements of the business model and financial considerations that are essential for the feasibility and adoption of an innovation. Finally, entrepreneurial competences and process associated with the development and adoption of an innovation are studied.
Description:
This transversal training course for all students of the institution has five chapters. It introduces the key principles of sustainability and the path to sustainable development. Addresses ecological principles by deepen into biodiversity, ecosystems, human population and ecosystem services. Study the fundamentals of renewable and non-renewable resources as well as the alternatives for sustainable use. Analyzes environmental quality specifically in the air, water and soil components, delving into issues such as climate change, eutrophication and deforestation. Finally, it emphasizes on the economic axis with topics such as circular economy and on the social axis on topics such as governance and urban planning.
Fourth Year
Additional
ARTS, SPORTS AND LANGUAGES ELECTIVE COURSES
1 credits - 1.9 ECTS
HUMANITIES ELECTIVE COURSES
1 credits - 1.9 ECTS
SELECTED ELECTIVE COURSE
3 credits - 5.8 ECTS
SELECTED ELECTIVE COURSE
3 credits - 5.8 ECTS
After 4 years of study, you will be able to:
- Design and direct aquaculture production systems, respecting economic, environmental, social, legal, ethical, health, safety and sustainability policies.
- Design and conduct research in different areas of the career.
- Identify, formulate and solve Aquaculture Engineering problems.
- Act ethically and professionally within all areas of its competence.
- Develop Aquaculture Engineering solutions within a global and sustainable context.
- Use techniques, skills and tools necessary for aquaculture production.
Occupational Profile
The ESPOL Aquaculture Engineer will be able to design, produce and implement sustainable measures in the area of farming aquatic organisms, as well as perform the profession for the benefit of the country in a responsible manner, with ethical awareness and solidarity, contributing to the needs of local, national and international development. In this sense, the professionals of this engineering will be able to work in the following environments:
- Management, supervision and administration of aquaculture production systems for fish, molluscs, crustaceans, algae and others.
- Management, supervision and administration of crops in the open sea (mariculture).
- Technical advice and aquaculture services.
- Applied research.
- Completion of curricular mesh.
- Degree work (Integrative Subject)
- Pre-professional internships (240 hours) and liaison (160 hours)
- Delivery of personal documentation to STA (Academic Technical Secretary)
The Capstone Project is a culminating requirement for graduation. These projects provide students with the experience of applying acquired knowledge and skills to the needs of society, with a focus on sustainability.
The IDEAR Fair showcases all Capstone projects, offering students a valuable opportunity to showcase their work and hone soft skills such as communication and teamwork. It is also a space for students to network with potential clients and future employers.
Explore all of the Capstone projects completed by the Aquaculture Enginnering program.
DID YOU KNOW?
ESPOL is part of the progress of aquaculture since the beginning of the 1980s. We are pioneers in the training of professionals and in the development of technology, research and production of shrimp, fish and marine mollusks, supporting the Development Goals. Sustainable.
We have the largest aquaculture research center in the South Pacific (CENAIM), where you can carry out research and internships as part of your professional training.
