The university held the 11th edition of the International Poetry Festival "Ileana Espinel Cedeño" which brings together poets and writer from all over the world, Japan, Syria, Estonia, Latvia, Spain, USA, Mexico, Uruguay, Colombia, Chile, Cuba and Ecuador. 

The event was declared an Emblematic Festival by the Ministry of Culture and Heritage of Ecuador. About 80 poets presented their work to the hundreds of attendees. "This is a unique place to listen to the voices that are emerging throughout the world and where Ecuadorian poets can present their work," said Augusto Rodríguez, UPS professor and director of the subsidiary of Visor in Ecuador.

One of the attendees was Tyehimba Jess, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 2017. This was also an opportunity for new writers to present their work in the festival. Augusto Rodriguez was one of the organizers of this event which is now part of the World Poetry Movement founded in Colombia in 2011.