December 5, 2000

To: SDSU, Office of International Programs

From: David Ballesteros, Dean Emeritus and Professor

Re: Travel to Ecuador Report

I wish to thank the Office of International Programs for a grant received to travel to Ecuador in May 2000 to explore student and faculty exchanges with two private universities: Universidad del Pacifico and Universidad del Azuay. The trip took place May 22-30, 2000..

San Diego State University has an agreement (convenio) with Universidad del Pacifico which has branches in Quito, Guayaquil, and Cuenca-the three largest cities in Ecuador. At the Universidad del Pacifico I met with the Chancellor, Dr. Sonia Roca, senior administrators, and faculty of the three campuses. During the past two years we have had student exchanges and they are interested in continuing with these. Universidad del Pacifico also has expressed an interest in exploring joint programs and possibly some joint degrees; their focus is on International Business and Educational Administration. Recently, the University has written to the Office of International Programs as well as forwarded E-Mails to my attention. We should explore these possibilities.

In Cuenca I also met with the Rector of Universidad del Azuay, Dr. Mario Jaramillo, a historian who is an authority on Incan civilization and archeological sites. I also met with the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Director of International Programs. Universidad del Azuay is a liberal arts institution with more emphasis on teaching and the humanities. Cuenca is a colonial city in the southern part of Ecuador and not far from the Peruvian border. There is a great interest in collaborative border studies from the regional universities comprising Ecuador and Peru.. There is an emerging consortium involving half a dozen universities which include Universidad del Azuay and Universidad del Pacifico. This new research interest on their part fits in nicely with our border studies program at SDSU.

While in Ecuador I took advantage of other opportunities. I was invited to give the commencement address at Universidad del Pacifico, Guayaquil Campus, on May 24^th. This gala event was held at the Banker's Club Building on the 34^th floor overlooking the Guayas River.. While in Guayaquil I was also invited to a Chamber of Commerce dinner where the President of Ecuador, Dr Gustavo Noboa spoke; I had the good fortune of meeting him after the banquet. This invitation was arranged by Universidad del Pacifico; Chancellor Sonia Roca knows the President well since she attended Universidad la Catolica in Guayaquil with President Noboa.

Other opportunities included visiting Rotary Projects in Quito and Guayaquil and visiting with the Rotary District Governor of Ecuador, Simon Velazquez, and other Rotary officials. The Governor took me on an excursion to see some housing and home-banking projects where a large segment of low-income families live. Some Rotary clubs in San Diego County are sponsoring projects in Ecuador. In Guayaquil I also met and interviewed a graduate student sponsored by Rotary International, Ricardo Granda, who is spending the 2000-2001 academic year at San Diego State. In addition I had the good fortune in meeting Dr. Marcos Guayasamin and Dr. Yvonne Fabara from the Sierra Azul Foundation. The Foundation is very much involved in environmental issues and also owns an ecological reserve on the eastern slopes of the Andes. The Foundation would be very interested in assisting SDSU faculty with research projects pertaining to the environment. I also met with officials of Globatel which offers satellite programs to universities and businesses in South America. They too would like to establish linkages with us. I plan to return to Ecuador in July 2001 to follow up on some of these contacts and projects. I have also been invited to teach a course at Universidad del Pacifico for the MBA program (Cross-Cultural Perspectives).

I believe my trip to Ecuador was successful. There was ample preparation prior to the trip and I made it a point to keep in touch with persons I was to visit. We exchanged E-Mails, made telephone calls, and sent faxes. President Steve Weber through the good offices of Dr. Barbara Hartung assisted me in taking some SDSU mementos which were greatly appreciated by my hosts in Ecuador. I was able to take several books, bulletins, and other materials which they had requested. Universidad del Pacifico made my travel arrangements and scheduled my appointments. All of this was arranged prior to my trip. The planning before the trip proved to be beneficial. Since returning I have kept up the contacts both with Universidad del Pacifico and Universidad del Azuay. We are currently making arrangements for a Convenio with Universidad del Azuay and hope to finalize this in the near future. I have reported this to Dr. Alan Sweedler of the Office of International Programs and Dr. Khosrow Fatemi, Dean of the Imperial Valley Campus, as well as interested faculty of the IVCampus wishing to apply for a travel grant.

Having Exchange Agreements with Universidad del Pacifico and Universidad del Azuay could be very beneficial to our students and faculty. It offers SDSU the opportunity to tap the Andean Region of Ecuador and Peru with its rich history, geographical beauty, environmental studies pursuits, and wonderful people. Now that the dollar is the monetary unit of Ecuador, the economic future of Ecuador looks brighter. I will continue to work with the Office of International Programs, Institute for Regional Studies of the Californias, Extended Studies, CIBER, Latin American Studies Center, International Student Center, and the Imperial Valley Campus to assure continuity with Ecuador..