Education system

Ecuador
described and compared with
the Dutch system
 Education system | Evaluation chart

Education system Ecuador

This document contains information on the education system of Ecuador. We

explain the Dutch equivalent of the most common qualifications from Ecuador for
the purpose of admission to Dutch higher education.

Disclaimer
We assemble the information for these descriptions of education systems with the
greatest care. However, we cannot be held responsible for the consequences of
errors or incomplete information in this document.

With the exception of images and illustrations, the content of this publication is
subject to the Creative Commons Name NonCommercial 3.0 Unported licence.
Visit www.nuffic.nl/en/home/copyright for more information on the reuse of this
publication.

Education system Ecuador | Nuffic | 1st edition, December 2015 | version 2, April 2016 2
 Education system | Evaluation chart

Education system Ecuador

 Education system Ecuador

Doctor L8
(PhD)

3-6
postgraduate

Magíster L7 Especialista/Especialista Superior L6

(universidades/escuelas politécnicas) (universidades/escuelas politécnicas)
1½-2 1-3

Licenciado/Título Profesional L6 Tecnólogo L6

(universidades/escuelas politécnicas) (institutos superiores)
undergraduate

2½
Técnico Superior L6
(institutos superiores)

4½-6 2

Examen Nacional de Educación Superior – ENES L4

(entrance examinations)

Bachiller en Ciencias L4 Bachiller Técnico L4

Educacion General Unificado Educacion General Unificado
(general unified education) (general unified education)

3 3

Educacion General Básica L1

(basic general education)

10

0 Duration of education

Education system Ecuador | Nuffic | 1st edition, December 2015 | version 2, April 2016 3
 Education system | Evaluation chart

Education system Ecuador

 Evaluation chart

The left-hand column in the table below lists the most common foreign
qualifications applicable to admission to higher education. The other columns
show the Dutch equivalent along with the comparable levels in the Dutch and
European qualifications frameworks.

Degree or qualification Dutch equivalent and NLQF level EQF

level

Bachiller en Ciencias/ Approximately HAVO diploma 4 4

Humanidades stating the
specialisation

Bachiller en Ciencias HAVO diploma 4 4

Especialista/ At least an HBO or WO bachelor’s 6 6

Especialista Superior degree

Licenciado/Título Profesional HBO or WO bachelor’s degree 6 6

Magister HBO or WO master’s degree 7 7

NB
• The information provided in the table is a general recommendation from
which no rights may be derived.
• NLQF = Dutch Qualifications Framework; EQF = European Qualifications
Framework
• The EQF/NLQF level is not so much a reflection of study load or content; rather,
it is an indication of a person’s knowledge and skills after having completed a
certain programme of study.
• Information about Dutch equivalent qualifications can be found on our
website: the Dutch education system.
• The Cooperation Organisation for Vocational Education, Training and the
Labour Market (SBB), evaluates statements on foreign qualifications and
training at VMBO and MBO level. The evaluation may vary if SBB evaluates the
diploma for admission to VET schools or the labour market in the Netherlands.

Education system Ecuador | Nuffic | 1st edition, December 2015 | version 2, April 2016 4
 Education system | Evaluation chart

Education system Ecuador

 Introduction

Ecuador is a presidential republic in north-western South America.

The country has a population of 16 million, who are represented in the parliament
(Congreso Nacional) which consists of a single house: the Asamblea nacional.
The capital city is Quito, and the majority of the population speak Spanish.

The Ministerio de Educación (MINEDUC), Ministry of Education, is the body

responsible for primary and secondary education in Ecuador. The Ministry designs
the basic curriculum, the details of which are filled in by the various regions. The
Consejo de Educación Superior (CES) is the body responsible for higher education
policy, the implementation of which falls to the Secretaría de Educación Superior,
Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (SENESCYT). The body responsible for quality
assurance in higher education is the Consejo de Evaluación, Acreditación y
Aseguramiento de la Calidad de la Educación Superior (CEAACES).

The constitution and various education acts provide the legal framework for the
Ecuadorian education system. The most significant acts are the new 2011
education act that sets out the reforms in primary and secondary education (Ley
Orgánica de Eduación Intercultural, LOEI), and the 2000 higher education act
(Ley de Educación Superior, Ley No. 16. RO/77). The latter was most recently
amended in 2010 in the form of the Ley Orgánica de Educación Superior (LOES),
which established a national quality assurance system for higher education.

Ecuador has a unitary higher education system which does not apply a clear
distinction between academic education and higher professional education.
Study programmes can contain elements of both higher professional education
and academic education.

As of 2011, education is compulsory for all pupils in primary and secondary

education (educación general básica and educación general unificado)
between 5 and 17 years of age. The language of education is Spanish. Towards
the end of their secondary education, it is compulsory for pupils to learn a foreign
language, usually English.

For primary and secondary education, the academic year is currently divided
into 5-month periods (quimestre) and runs from April to February or from
September to July, depending on the educational region.

For higher education, the Academic Regimen Regulation (RRA) stipulates that
universities and higher education institutions should divide their academic years
into at least 2 periods of minimum 16 weeks each.

Education system Ecuador | Nuffic | 1st edition, December 2015 | version 2, April 2016 5
 Education system | Evaluation chart

Education system Ecuador

Undergraduate programmes run from April and May or September and October.
Postgraduate programmes begin in different dates, determined by the offering
institution.

 Primary and secondary education

The primary and secondary education systems are currently in a transition period.
The reforms have been established by law, and have been introduced gradually
to each region since the 2011-2012 school year. The age range for compulsory
education has been extended by 1 year, and the curriculum is now arranged so
that pupils all take the same general subjects for a longer period.

Situation until 2011

Primary and secondary education used to last 12 years, and pupils had to choose
a specific subject profile at a relatively young age. A distinction was made
between 2 types of education: educación primaria and educación secundaria.

Educación primaria
Educación primaria was part of compulsory primary education, and was
intended for children aged 6-11. This type of education had a nominal duration of
6 years and was divided into 3 2-year cycles.

The basic curriculum was established by law, and prescribed 8 subjects for grades
1-6, including mathematics, language and literature, physics subjects, physical
education and an elective. No separate certificate was issued upon completion
of educación primaria.

Educación secundaria
This type of education was subdivided into 2 3-year cycles: a ciclo básico and a
ciclo diversificado or bachillerato.

Ciclo básico
Education in the first cycle (ciclo básico) was aimed at pupils aged 12-15 and
covered the final 3 years of compulsory primary education. The curriculum in
grades 7-9 consisted of the same subjects as those from the first 6 years of
compulsory primary education, and at the end of the programme, pupils
received diplomas from the schools they attended.

Ciclo diversificado
This type of education (ciclo diversificado or bachillerato) was offered by a
colegio or instituto. The curriculum consisted of 9 common subjects:
• literatura general (general literature);
• historia general (general history);

Education system Ecuador | Nuffic | 1st edition, December 2015 | version 2, April 2016 6
 Education system | Evaluation chart

Education system Ecuador

• geografia económica general y del Ecuador (general economic geography

and geography of Ecuador);
• cívica (social studies);
• logica y ética (logic and ethics);
• problemas filosóficos (philosophical problems);
• psicología general (general psychology)
• idioma extranjero (foreign language); and
• educación física (physical education).

The other 8 subjects depended on the pupil's chosen specialisation:

• especialización físico-matemática (physics/mathematics profile);
• especialización químico-biológicas (chemistry/biology profile);
• especialización sociales (social sciences profile); or
• especialización informática (computer technology).

Upon completion, the certificates Bachiller en Ciencias or Bachiller en

Humanidades were issued stating the chosen specialisation, e.g. Bachiller en
Ciencias, especialización: químico-biológicas or Bachiller en Ciencias,
especialización sociales.

In terms of level, the Bachiller en Ciencias/Bachiller

en Humanidades stating the specialisation are
approximately comparable to a HAVO diploma.

Pupils also had the option of choosing secondary vocational education, the
curriculum of which consisted mainly of vocational subjects. A range of diplomas
were issued upon completion.

Situation after 2011

In 2011, primary and secondary education was extended to 13 years in total, and
made compulsory from age 5. The system comprises 3 types of education:
Educación Inicial, Educación General Básica (EGB) and Educación General
Unificado (EGU). All pupils take the same subjects for the first 10 years (tronco
común). Differentiation takes place starting from the 11th school year.

Pupils can attend either private or public institutions (establecimientos educativos

públicos e privados).

Educación inicial
This refers to pre-school, and is intended for children up to the age of 5.

Education system Ecuador | Nuffic | 1st edition, December 2015 | version 2, April 2016 7
 Education system | Evaluation chart

Education system Ecuador

Educación General Básica (EGB)

Educación General Básica (general basic education) has a nominal duration of
10 years and is intended for pupils aged 5-14. The basic curriculum is set by law,
and consists of 9 subjects for grades (grado) 1-10:
• lengua y litératura (language and literature);
• matemática (mathematics);
• entorno natural y social (natural and social environment);
• ciencias naturales (natural sciences);
• estudios sociales (social studies);
• educación estética (aesthetics);
• educación física (physical education);
• lengua extranjera (foreign language);
• clubes (clubs).

No separate certificate is issued upon completion, however it does grant pupils

admission to Educación General Unificado.

Educación General Unificado (EGU)

This type of education, also known as Bachillerato General Unificado (BGU), takes
3 years and is intended for children aged 15-17.

The programme has a common core curriculum, comprising a study load of 35

hours per week during the first 2 years and 20 hours per week during the final year.
Pupils also take a number of profile subjects each year, depending on their
chosen specialisation: Bachillerato en Ciencias or Bachillerato Técnico. The total
study load is 40 hours per week for the Bachillerato en Ciencias, and 45 hours per
week for the Bachillerato Técnico.

During the first year, the core curriculum consists of 10 subjects:

• fisica (physics);
• quimica (chemistry);
• historia y ciencias sociales (history and social sciences);
• lengua y litératura (language and literature);
• matemática (mathematics);
• idioma extranjero (foreign language);
• desarrollo del pensamiento filosófico (development of philosophical
thought);
• educación física (physical education);
• educación artística (art education);
• informática aplicada a la educación (computer education).

Students of the Bachillerato en Ciencias take 5 subjects en áreas científico-

humanisticas in addition to their common core curricula, and students of the

Education system Ecuador | Nuffic | 1st edition, December 2015 | version 2, April 2016 8
 Education system | Evaluation chart

Education system Ecuador

Bachillerato Técnico take 10 additional subjects en áreas técnicas, artesanales,

deportivas o artísticas.

The core curriculum in the second year also includes 10 subjects, as follows:
• física y química (physics and chemistry);
• biología (biology);
• historia y ciencias sociales (history and social sciences);
• lengua y litératura (language and literature);
• matemática (mathematics);
• idioma extranjero (foreign language);
• emprendimiento y gestión (entrepreneurship and management);
• educación para la ciudadanía (social studies);
• educación física (physical education);
• educación artística (art education).

This curriculum is also supplemented with 5 or 10 additional subjects per week,

depending on the chosen specialisation.

The greatest differentiation takes place in the third and final year. The common
core consists of 6 subjects:
• lengua y litératura (language and literature);
• matemática (mathematics);
• idioma extranjero (foreign language);
• emprendimiento y gestión (entrepreneurship and management);
• educación para la ciudadanía (social studies);
• educación física (physical education).

Depending on the specialisation chosen, pupils take either 15 additional subjects

(Bachiller en Ciencias) or 25 (Bachiller Técnico).

Upon completion of the secondary education programme, pupils receive a

Bachiller en Ciencias or Bachiller Técnico certificate. Both certificates grant
admission to higher education (see also Admission to higher education). The
Bachiller Técnico certificate also provides direct access to the labour market.

Post-secondary education
Post-secondary education is offered by institutos superiores técnicos (higher
technical institutes) and institutos superiores tecnológicos (higher technological
institutes). In Ecuador, these institutions are classified under higher education (see
University and higher professional education).

Education system Ecuador | Nuffic | 1st edition, December 2015 | version 2, April 2016 9
 Education system | Evaluation chart

Education system Ecuador

 Admission to higher education

Admission to the Ecuadorian higher education system requires a secondary

school diploma: Bachiller en Ciencias or Bachiller Técnico. Prior to the reform of
primary and secondary education, some universities required students seeking
admission to the higher education system to complete an examination, in
addition to providing a secondary school diploma. The sections of this exam
varied among universities.

In 2011, a national entrance examination was adopted for admission to public

higher education institutions: the Examen Nacional de Educación Superior (ENES).
The responsibility for the content of this exam lies with the Secretaria Nacional de
Educación Superior, Ciencia, Tecnologia y Innovacion (SENESCYT). Further
information is available on the Sistema Nacional de Nivelación y Admisión (SNNA)
website. Admission examinations to private higher education institutions are not
subject to the ENES exam.

 Higher education

Unlike the Netherlands, Ecuador does not have a binary higher education system.
Higher education institutions offer study programmes containing elements of both
(higher) professional education and academic programmes. In the Netherlands,
comparable programmes are classified as academic (WO), higher professional
(HBO) or senior secondary (MBO) education programmes, depending on the
relevant specialisation.

The education system comprises the following types of institutions:

• Universidades (universities);
• Escuelas politécnicos (polytechnical schools);
• Institutos Superiores (higher institutes), divided into institutos técnicos,
tecnológicos, pedagógicos, de artes and conservatorios superiores.

Higher education is offered by both private and public institutions. Ecuador

currently has 315 accredited higher education institutions:
• 153 state-run institutions: 29 universidades and escuelas politécnicas, and 124
institutos superiores;
• 18 partly state-funded private institutions: 8 universidades and escuelas
politécnicas, and 10 institutos superiores;
• 144 private institutions that receive no state funding: 18 universidades and
escuelas politécnicas, and 126 institutos superiores.

Education system Ecuador | Nuffic | 1st edition, December 2015 | version 2, April 2016 10
 Education system | Evaluation chart

Education system Ecuador

 University and higher professional education

The higher education system, including undergraduate and postgraduate studies,

is currently in a transition period, which has been determined by law. Higher
education is organised in 3 levels:
• Nivel técnico or tecnológico superior, programmes offered by institutos
superiors;
• Tercer nivel: pregrado-programmes, these are offered exclusively by
universidades and escuelas politécnicas;
• Cuarto nivel: posgrado-programmes, offered exclusively by universidades and
escuelas politécnicas.

Institutos superiors
These types of institutions include institutos técnicos superiores, institutos
tecnológicos superiores, institutos superiores pedagógicos, de arte and
conservatorios músicos. They offer professional programmes: carreras de nivel
técnico superior and carreras de nivel tecnológico.

Admission to these programmes requires a secondary school certificate, and is

generally subject to an entrance examination. Entrance to a conservatorium
requires either prior musical training or an entrance exam. The programmes take 2
years for full time students (nivel técnico superior) or 2,5 years (Tecnólogo) to
complete, with respective study loads of 3200 or 4500 hours. Upon completion of
the programme, students are awarded a Técnico Superior or Tecnólogo
certificate, both of which provide direct access to the labour market.

Certificate evaluation may vary depending on the specialisation and duration of

the programme.

Universidades en escuelas politécnicas

Programmes at these institutions are divided into 2 levels:
• tercer nivel or pregrado programmes;
• cuarto nivel or posgrado programmes.

Pregrado programmes
These programmes usually have a minimum length of 4.5 years (7200 hours), and
can be either professional or academic in nature. The curriculum may consist of
both theoretical and practical subjects. Pregrado programmes are available in
all subject areas, including technical specialisations, such as ingeniería y
arquitectura and medical programmes: odontología and medicina veterinaria,
which take 5 years to complete (8000 hours), and medicina humana, which take
6 years to complete (10,800 hours).

Education system Ecuador | Nuffic | 1st edition, December 2015 | version 2, April 2016 11
 Education system | Evaluation chart

Education system Ecuador

The programmes conclude with a graduation project (trabajo de titulación). After

completing the study programme, students are awarded a Licenciado
qualification stating the relevant specialisation, or a Título profesional –
professional qualification – such as psicólogo, médico cirujano or ingeniero.

In Ecuador, a Licenciado degree certificate or professional qualification grants

access to the advanced higher education programme.

In terms of level, the Licenciado/Título profesional is

comparable to an HBO or WO bachelor's degree,
depending on the type and duration of study.

Posgrado programmes
Posgrado programmes offer 3 different qualifications:
• especialista
• magíster
• doctorado

Especialista/Especialista Superior
In order to be admitted to this advanced programme, students must have
completed the relevant pregrado programme and – in some cases – taken an
entrance examination. These programmes usually take 9 months (1000 hours) to
complete, and are focused on further specialisation in a specific profession or
field. The programme concludes with a graduation project (trabajo de
graduación).

Upon completion, students are awarded the Especialista or Especialista Superior

certificate, stating the relevant specialisation.

In terms of level, the Especialista/Especialista Superior is

comparable to at least an HBO or WO bachelor's degree,
depending on the type and duration of study.

Admission to this study programme requires a Licenciado degree or equivalent

tercer ciclo certificate. There are 2 types of master's programmes:
• the Maestría Profesional (professional master);
• the Maestría de Investigación (research master).

Education system Ecuador | Nuffic | 1st edition, December 2015 | version 2, April 2016 12
 Education system | Evaluation chart

Education system Ecuador

The Maestría de Investigación concentrates on research in one or more subject

areas, covers research skills (metodología de investigación) and concludes with a
thesis, or tesis. The study programme, with a study load of 2625 hours, has a
nominal length of 2 years.

A Maestría Profesional focuses more on improving competencies in a particular

profession or field of work, but may also include research components. These
programmes, with a study load of 2125 hours, generally take 1.5 years, and
conclude with a final project or thesis (trabajo de grado or tesis).

Students who have completed the programme will be awarded a Magíster

degree stating the relevant specialisation.

In terms of level, the Magíster is comparable to

an HBO or WO master's degree,
depending on the type and duration of study.

Doctorado
A Doctor degree (PhD) is the highest academic qualification obtainable in
Ecuador. A Maestría de Investigación is required for direct admission to the
doctorate programme, and it must be recognised by the SENESCYT. It usually
takes 3-6 years to complete a doctorate. The programme comprises various
subjects and research activities and concludes with a dissertation (tesis de
doctorado). After successful defence of the doctoral thesis, the degree of Doctor
is awarded.

 Assessment systems

There is no uniform system of assessment in secondary and higher education.

Institutions may use a variety of number systems, such as 0-10 with a passing
grade of 6 or higher.

In numbers Description Definition

9.00-10.00 Sobresaliente Excellent

8.00-8.99 Muy Bueno Very good

7.00-7.99 Bueno Good

6.00-6.99 Aceptable/Satisfactorio Acceptable/Satisfactory

<6 Insuficiente Unsatisfactory

Education system Ecuador | Nuffic | 1st edition, December 2015 | version 2, April 2016 13
 Education system | Evaluation chart

Education system Ecuador

 Quality assurance and accreditation

Institutions may only offer programmes if they are officially recognised by the
Consejo de Educación Superior (CES). In order to qualify for accreditation, a
number of statutory quality criteria must be met.

The Consejo de Evaluación, Acreditación y Aseguramiento de la Calidad de la

Educación Superior (CEAACES) is the body responsible for quality assurance in
higher education. The CEAACES grants institutions accreditation for 5 years.

The accreditation procedure for the universidades and escuelas politécnicas

consists of 3 stages:
• internal evaluation
• external evaluation
• accreditation

Depending on the results achieved for the evaluation criteria in 5 different areas
(academía, eficiencia académica, investigación, organización and
infraestructura), institutions are allocated to one of 5 categories: A, B, C, D or E,
with category A representing institutions that achieved an above-average result
with respect to the criteria. Institutions that fail to meet any of the set criteria no
longer have the right to offer programmes, and have now closed their doors.

• The CEAAES website contains more detailed information on accreditation

procedures.
• Overviews of all accredited institutions and programmes are available on the
website of the Consejo de Educacion Superior (CES). In the overview of all
accredited universidades and escuelas politécnicas is it possible to search
according to funding status (por financiamiento) or programme (por oferta
académica).
• Overview of accredited programmes (carreras vigentes) at the level of
Técnico Superior and Tecnológico Superior, last updated in 2016.

 International treaties

Ecuador currently holds 4 international treaties regarding the mutual recognition

of diplomas. Treaties have been signed with Argentina, Cuba, Chile and Peru.

 Composition of file

A complete secondary and higher education file requires the diploma,

accompanying list of marks and declaration of graduation (acta de grado).

Education system Ecuador | Nuffic | 1st edition, December 2015 | version 2, April 2016 14
 Education system | Evaluation chart

Education system Ecuador

Authenticity
• Secondary school diplomas can be verified on the Ministry of Education
website.
• Higher education diplomas can be verified on the website of the Secretaría
de Educación Superior, Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (SENESCYT).

 Overview of higher education institutions

Website of the Consejo Nacional de Educación (CES), including an overview of

recognised higher education institutions (only in Spanish). Searching is possible by
institution name or type: select universidades en escuelas politécnicas for a list of
all research universities or escuelas politécnicas or institutos superiores for all other
types of higher education institutions. Both options allow searching by funding
status (por financiamiento) or study programme (oferta académica).

 Useful links

• Website of the Ministerio de Educación (MINEDUC), the Ministry of Education

with detailed information on primary and secondary education (only in
Spanish).
• Website of the Secretaría de Educación Superior, Ciencia, Tecnología e
Innovación (SENESCYT) offering detailed information on higher education in
Ecuador (only in Spanish).
• Website of the Sistema Nacional de Nivelación y Adminisión (SNNA) with
detailed information on the higher education entrance examination (only in
Spanish).
• Website of the Consejo Nacional de Educación (CES), including an overview
of accredited programmes and higher education institutions (only in Spanish).
• Website of the Consejo de Evaluación, Acreditación y Aseguramiento de la
Calidad de Educación Superior (CEAACES), the organisation responsible for
quality assurance in higher education (only in Spanish).

Education system Ecuador | Nuffic | 1st edition, December 2015 | version 2, April 2016 15
 Education system | Evaluation chart

Education system Ecuador

 Bachiller en Ciencias

Education system Ecuador | Nuffic | 1st edition, December 2015 | version 2, April 2016 16
 Education system | Evaluation chart

Education system Ecuador

 Bachiller en Ciencias – Acta de Grado

Education system Ecuador | Nuffic | 1st edition, December 2015 | version 2, April 2016 17
 Education system | Evaluation chart

Education system Ecuador

 Licenciado

For an example of the Título Profesional diploma see page 21.

Education system Ecuador | Nuffic | 1st edition, December 2015 | version 2, April 2016 18
 Education system | Evaluation chart

Education system Ecuador

 Licenciado - transcript

Education system Ecuador | Nuffic | 1st edition, December 2015 | version 2, April 2016 19
 Education system | Evaluation chart

Education system Ecuador

 Título Profesional

Education system Ecuador | Nuffic | 1st edition, December 2015 | version 2, April 2016 20
 Education system | Evaluation chart

Education system Ecuador

 Titulo Profesional – transcript (page 1)

Education system Ecuador | Nuffic | 1st edition, December 2015 | version 2, April 2016 21
 Education system | Evaluation chart

Education system Ecuador

 Titulo Profesional – transcript (page 2)

Education system Ecuador | Nuffic | 1st edition, December 2015 | version 2, April 2016 22