The document summarizes a master's program in sustainable use of biological resources between the University of Pavia in Italy and universities in Ecuador. It describes the collaboration between the universities, including agreements and student exchanges. It notes challenges with the program's organization and funding but emphasizes the benefits for students in gaining an international educational experience. Plans are described to continue the program with a new master's course on ethnobiopharmacy and biodiversity.

1. I ENCUENTRO SOBRE DOCTORADOS DE TIEMPO COMPARTIDO (SÁNDWICH) E INCUBADORAS DE INVESTIGACIÓN ORGANIZACIÓN UNIVERSITARIA INTERAMERICANA Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL) – Loja, Ecuador. Junio 10 al 12 de 2008 Paola VITA FINZI (Università di Pavia – Italia)

2. LOCALIZATION ITALIA Area 301.338 Kmq Population 57.679.955 miliones Capital ROME Language Italian Climate Continental – Mediterraneo Political System –Parlamentary democracy PAVIA 39 KM in the south of Milano Near the Ticino and Po rivers Population 75.000

4. CONNECTIONS IN THE WORLD America Latina Africa Asia Oriente Medio United States Program PEACE

6. UNIVERSITA’ DI PAVIA INTERNATIONALISATION: FORMATION AND RESEARCH UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DI PAVIA

7. Collaboration in the formation field between the University of Pavia and ecuadorian Universities From 1984 and until now there was a strong collaboration with the Escuela Superior Politecnica de Chimborazo: at the beginning to establish the teaching programs for the Faculty of Sciences then to support the research groups mainly in the field of phytochemistry. Students from ESPOCH and the Central University of Quito spent long time to work in Pavia to finish their thesis work. Then in 1999 started a project with the Universidad Politecnica Salesiana in Quito for the opening of a modern laboratory in the analytical field and was considered necessary to prepare experts in the different tecniques. For these reasons started a two year Master with professors of both countries. Few students could finish the studies for different reasons: they were working-students, the fees were too high etc.

8. MINISTERO DELL'ISTRUZIONE, DELL'UNIVERSITÀ E DELLA RICERCA SERVIZIO PER L'AUTONOMIA UNIVERSITARIA E GLI STUDENTI PROGRAMMI PER L'INCENTIVAZIONE DEL PROCESSO DI INTERNAZIONALIZZAZIONE DEL SISTEMA UNIVERSITARIO (D.M. 8 maggio 2001 n. 115 - ART. 10) COLLABORAZIONI INTERUNIVERSITARIE INTERNAZIONALI Programmazione 2001-2003 prot. INT01AD024 PROGETTO DI TIPOLOGIA A Universita' degli Studi di PAVIA MASTER BIENNALE UNIVERSITARIO INTERNAZIONALE DI II LIVELLO IN “ SCIENZA E TECNOLOGIE PER UN UTILIZZO SOSTENIBILE DELLE RISORSE BIOLOGICHE NON TRADIZIONALI ”

10. FOREIGN PARTNERS ITALIAN PARTNERS Università Tecnica Particular de Loja ECUADOR Signed agreement ITALY ITALY nº Institutions / Universities Country Kind of agreements 1. 2. Università Politecnica Salesiana ECUADOR Signed agreement nº Institutions / Universities Kind of agreements 1. Università degli Studi di Ferrara Signed agreement 2. ONG VIS (Roma) Signed agreement

12. Number of the Partecipant to the Master Maximum number 20 students of the two Countries N° of the applications: 10 Ecuadorian students of the following Universities Politecnica Salesiana in Quito 4 Central in Quito 1 Tecnica Particular de Loja 5 3 Italian Students of the Universities of Pavia 1 Novara (then renounced) 1 Salerno (then renounced) 1

13. OBTAINED FINANCIAL BUDGET FROM MIUR Euro 147.500,00 FROM VIS Euro 43000 LESS OF THE REQUESTED AMOUNT SO THAT WE HAD TO CHANGE THE STRUCTURE OF THE MASTER

14. MOBILITY OF THE PROFESSORS AND THE STUDENTS Italian Professors: only few went to Ecuador for teaching and, when possible, was used e-learning. The professors came to Ecuador only for the organization of the Master, for some specific courses and at the end for setting-up some of the new instrumentations and the thesis preparation in some field. Ecuadorian professors : no travelling to Italia. Ecuadorian Students: all the students came to Italy for the second semester of the first year to follow the courses, to make stages in the fields of their interest and start the thesis work in the italian labs. This decision was very appreciated since for most of the students was their first time in Europe and they had the opportunity to live a different reality. In this way we saved money of the forseen travelling of the italian professors and gave the opportunity to all the students to stay in Italy for six months. They had also the opportunity to visit institutions and industries in the neighbourhood. Italian student: the only one worked as volunteer in Ecuador for the VIS project in Macas.

15. Formal Didactics 1 credit = 9 hours Total 65 credits Tutorial Formation guidata 1 credit = 15 hours Total 19 credits Thesis 1credit = 15 hours Total 36 credits -------------------------------- in two years Total 120 credits Corresponding as requested to hours Total 1410

16. RECOGNITION OF THE STUDIES It is worth noting that the scientific and cultural agreement between Italy and Ecuador was signed in 1957 and therefore no post-graduate degrees have been mentioned. A new agreement should be signed and this could be the opportunity to insert the recognition of Ph.D. and Master degrees. Until now it is possible that each Italian University can evaluate the curriculum of studies of an applicant and recognize for each single student the admitance to Ph. D. or Master courses The titles of this Master issued from the Universidad Politecnica Salesiana is officially recognized as two years Master (or Maestria) approved by Conuep the December 13, 2000 as a prosecution of the first Master. The periods and the courses of the italian students in Ecuador and of the ecuadorian students in Italy will be recognized in both Countries as formative credits. Could be better that only one kind of certificate (in this case the Italian one) could have the same value in Italy and in Ecuador but until now this seems to be impossible and remains a dream.