Universidad de Especialidades Espiritu Santo

Straddling the equator on the northwest coast of South America, Ecuador is characterized by cultural and geographic diversity, and includes the Galápagos Islands of Darwinian fame, the coastal areas of the Pacific, the Andean Mountains, and the headwaters of the Amazon River. Ecuador is a democracy with more than 16 political parties and is characterized by extensive ethnic diversity. It is an ideal site for individuals interested in learning about and experiencing Latin America.

UEES is located in Samborondón, a satellite community of Guayaquil, Ecuador's largest city. Located on the Guayas River, Guayaquil has a population of approximately 2,500,000. Noted for its hustle and bustle and the friendliness of its people, Guayaquil is the hub of an active import-export industry and serves as the financial center of Ecuador. It has several malls with attractive shops and boutiques. There are also numerous theaters and museums in the city. Within an hour by car, there are several ecological areas - mangrove swamp land, desert, tropical dry forest, cloud forest, and pristine beaches.

One of the fastest growing institutions of higher learning in Ecuador, UEES's mission is to serve society through the generation of learning environments for the integral formation of people who, through teaching, research and linkage, contribute to the development of the country. UEES currently has an enrolment of approximately 4000 students.

UEES will offer the following optional activities throughout the semester:

• day-long or overnight trips to areas of ecological or cultural interest
• cultural classes such as salsa dancing, Ecuadorian gastronomy
• documentary/movie screenings relating to Latin America
• short outings to museums, areas of interest in Guayaquil
• “intercambios”, i.e. language exchanges, where CEI will facilitate contact between Ecuadorian and international students with a view to practicing Spanish and English

Courses in English

UEES offers a large selection of business courses. Students may choose to take part in service learning, where they are placed with a community organization that works at addressing pressing local social needs, to earn course credits.

Language Courses

• UEES offers six levels of Spanish language instruction and two content focused levels for those with advanced skills. Students are placed in the appropriate course according to their demonstrated level.
• There is an optional pre-semester Spanish course that includes 4 hours of Spanish language instruction over a 7 week period, complemented by visits to sites of historical and cultural interest

UEES offers students (of varying degrees of working knowledge of the Spanish language) the opportunity to participate in an internship and experience working in a Latin American environment. The program includes an orientation and a series of 4 seminars on culture, organization and business in Guayaquil. Students wishing to participate in the Ecuadorian Internship Program must commit to a minimum of 30 days and must register for 4 months in addition to taking a Spanish language course (min. 4 hours weekly). Internships are offered year round. Included in the program fees are home-stays with meals and laundry arranged by UEES. Additional costs to consider are textbooks, Spanish language course, and visa registration. Students may receive credit for the internship as an Applied Study and should attain approval before their exchange.

Faculties at UEES include:

• Architecture and Design
• Communication Sciences
• Health Sciences
• Law, Policy and Development
• Entrepreneurship, Business and Economics
• Hospitality and Entertainment
• Humanities
• Engineering
• International Studies

You are eligible for this exchange if you are:

• A full-time U of L student
• In at least the 2nd year of your program
• In good academic standing, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher

Students are required to attain a 12-V visa before departing to Ecuador. Visa applications must be made in person to the Consulate General of Ecuador in Vancouver, where the visa is usually issued the same day. There is a fee of USD $100 for the visa and another USD $50 application processing fee. Upon arrival in Ecuador, students should register with the Direccíon General de Extranjería.

Please email outgoing@uleth.ca for more information.

Or, contact the Consulate of Ecuador in Vancouver.

• Phone: 604-299-6600
• Email: Ecuador@telus.net

UEES has a mandatory pre-semester orientation and arrival date.

Mandatory orientation cost: USD $370

The orientation includes:

• 5 nights accommodation
• Daily breakfast
• Welcome dinner
• Airport transfers
• Private bus transport
• Local bilingual guide for Quito and Guayaquil City tours
• Presence of staff members to provide 24-hour support and care.

For detailed information about vaccination recommendations when going abroad, please visit the Government of Canada's website.

Home-stay

• Cost: Approx. USD $550/month
• UEES arranges for students tp live with Ecuadorian families
• Includes 3 meals per day and laundry
• It is part of Ecuador's culture for university students to live with families and helps to accelerate Spanish language learning

Campus Residences (female students only)

• University housing offers a limited number of spaces to female students next to the campus in Samborondon
• Some single occupancy rooms are available, but most rooms are shared
• All houses are fully furnished and come equipped with cooking and laundry facilities
• For more information click here

Private Apartments

• For students who do not wish to live with families, UEES can make arrangements for students to live in private apartments or suites. 

Please contact us for further information at outgoing@uleth.ca