UPS's branch campus in Cuenca celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Local Sustainable Development undergraduate program. The ceremony was attended by university officials, professors and students.

The ceremony began with a speech given by Dalton Orellana, director of the program, who said "We celebrate 10 years of academic life, during this time professors and administrative staff have worked hard in the interest of our students and the local development of our region"

Professor Jorge Altamirano Sanchez, spoke about the history of the program. He said it started in 2007 in order provide people a new program to major in and without having to attend class on campus. He said this study mode has helped students who come from around the country and can work and study at the same time. 

Father Javier Herran, UPS president, presented the topic tilted: "Conocimiento-acción-comunicación en el desarrollo local" and explained what local and endogenous development is. 
"Planning is understanding and to understand communication is necessary, and the first result of the development process is social learning," he said. He congratulated the program, its teachers and students, and invited them to continue working for its progress of and the welfare of its students.

During the ceremony, a recognition was awarded to Fr. Javier Herrán Gómez, and to Professor Jorge Altamirano Sánchez, the first director of this program in Cuenca. .