The communication and multimedia design undergraduate program in our branch campus in Quito held the 7th edition of Communication conferences from the 11th to the 13th of January. The aim of the conferences is to present and discuss communication practices in different social settings, social networks, graffiti, politics, graphic design, and more.

The inauguration was presided by Juan Cardenas, UPS president; Maria Sol Villagomez, vice president in our branch campus in Quito; Narcisa Medranda, director of the communication and multimedia design undergraduate program; and Alexander Sandoval, student representative. 

 
UPS president Juan Cardenas spoke about the importance of communication as a way to lessen problems in society and create awareness. Maria Sol Villagomez stressed the importance of academia to create a society of peace. Narcisa Medranda spoke about how to lessen inequality by having an ethical and political commitment through technological tools. 

Daniel Ponton, professor – researcher at Instituto de Altos Estudios Nacionales IAEN, led the first keynote speech and presented the topic: “Violence in Ecuador´s prisons”. He spoke about the importance of analyzing the crisis in the system.

Walker Vizcarra, president of Pressenza, spoke about violence in Ecuador and journalism. Dario Ipial and Gerardo Gallego spoke about graffiti as a means of expression for young people and how it can be part of history in urban spaces.  

 
During the second and third day, there were conferences on “Social networks and the futrue of politics” presented by Dasha Sanchez; “Design and existence” presented by Javier Perez; “Socioeconomic consequences of the war in Ukraine”.

There were other talks: “Cómo contamos la historia”, presented by former UPS student Henry Pillajo; “La Yumbada y el ritual de la matanza”, presented by Juan Pablo Freire and Santiago Benitez. 

The conferences were attended by professionals in communication from Spain, Colombia, Ukraine, Italy and Ecuador.