On September 26th, the university's branch in Cuenca inaugurated the September 2016 – February 2017 semester for 64 detainees from Cuenca's penitentiary. 10 women and 54 men now officially begin their university studies and will major in Business Administration thanks to the community involvement project between UPS and the Ministry of Justice, which is also taking place in Guayaquil.

The inauguration was held in the university theater and was attended by UPS president Javier Herran, the Minister of Justice Lady Zuñiga, the Governor of Azuay Juan Cristobal Lloret, the undersecretary of Senescyt Lorena Araujo and the university's vice president in Cuenca Cesar Vasquez.

The event began with words from UPS president Javier Herran who said "Today as a university we have gone back to the principles of Don Bosco, there in Turin in 1840, when that man, our patron saint, felt that those abandoned young men were going through undesired roads. Don Bosco was committed to the education of those young men, and today we repeat that action in UPS-Cuenca". It was an emotional speech for Father Herran, who finished by saying "It is a special day because it is not only the inauguration of another academic year. Enjoy the happiness that you can get through science and knowledge, may this period be very successful".

Juan Cristobal Lloret, highlighted the importance of this action and the message of hope for detainees. "This is a new opportunity of having an educational process where you have the opportunity to become professionals", he said. Lorena Araujo then spoke about effort of the detainees who will be supported by senescyt in order to reach their goals and become professionals.
 
On behalf of the detainees, Jhoana said "Today we begin a new life, an adventure of knowledge. We know it isn't easy, but together we can handle anything. Together we can get through this new life experience."

Ledy Zuñiga, said she was pleased to have attended the inauguration which marks the beginning of a change in people's lives. She thanked the University officials for being committed to taking on this challenge, which will surely have positive results since we know detainees have perseverance and many will finish their university studies.

Cesar Vasquez, the university's vice president in Cuenca, gave Caty, Paola, Fabian, Jose, Angi and Jorge, who represented the detainees, the university's physical education uniforms.
Finally, the president of the business administration students, Karen Culquer, welcomed her new classmates and wished them great success.