The project titled "Compañero Tutor" created by the Inclusive Education Research Group (Grupo de Investigación en Educación Inclusiva (GEI)) in the university's branch campus in Quito received a recognition award from the Trust for the Americas and the Organization of American States for being a project that favors equality of opportunities in learning processes. 

It is a pedagogical project where students become tutors of students with disabilities. It fosters the use of technology to reinforce learning, it has an inclusive approach and it is based on a social model of disabilities and acceptance of diversity. 

"This recognition is very rewarding because it praises the work of the university in benefit of people with disabilities  as well as other student groups that face inequality", said Miriam Gallego, member of the research group. 

The recognition was awarded during the National Congress on Inclusive Education in October; the congress was attended by experts in this field such as Mel Ainscow from the University of Manchester, England; Pamela Molina from the University of Illinois, USA and Cecilia Simón from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid,Spain.