Representatives from the Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas (ESPE) in Ecuador visited the University of Florida last week to deepen ties and lay the groundwork for expanded academic collaboration. Hosted by Professor Karla Saldaña Ochoa from the College of Design, Construction and Planning, the delegation, led by Alexander Robayo, Director of ESPE's Department of Geospatial Engineering, and Oswaldo Padilla, Director of the Geomatica Research Lab, followed up on a visit by ESPE Vice Chancellor Henry Omar Cruz Carrillo in 2024.
During a packed agenda, Robayo and Padilla met with UF leaders and faculty across disciplines and at the UFIC to explore opportunities for student and faculty exchanges, joint research projects, and funded faculty visits. ESPE is also in the process of finalizing an agreement with UF Student Life and plans to launch a virtual exchange program in the coming months.