Current challenges of higher education in Ecuador

Abstract

Ecuadorian higher education is undergoing a process of innovation and transformation that responds to the demands of the 21st century. In this context, there is a need to analyze the processes of innovation and transformation in Ecuadorian higher education, evaluating the educational models implemented and their ability to respond to current trends. For this reason, the research objective is to analyze the challenges facing Ecuadorian higher education. The research was conducted using a qualitative approach. An extensive literature review was carried out, including doctrine, regulations, development plans, institutional reports, and academic literature on educational innovation. Despite regulatory and structural advances, the higher education system in Ecuador still faces challenges related to equity, the articulation between educational levels, and the effective integration of teaching, research, and community engagement. Higher education in Ecuador faces the urgent challenge of integrating a teacher competency-based approach that meets the demands of the 21st century. This involves not only mastery of content but also teaching, digital, critical, and emotional skills that enable the creation of truly meaningful teaching-learning processes. Therefore, active methodologies constitute a key pedagogical alternative for achieving meaningful learning, but their implementation requires trained teachers and institutional contexts that ensure technological infrastructure and pedagogical freedom.