The university's Continuing Education Center – Cayambe is currently holding two training courses aimed at members of the Ayora, Olmedo and Cangahua communities in Cayambe. The courses are organized by the Management of Local Sustainable Development major and the Geographic Information System Laboratory. The courses will end in April 2017.

The aim of the courses is to develop skills and provide tools in order to create proposals aimed at improving the management of the irrigation system so that people from these communities can optimize the use of water, improve agricultural production and as a result the quality of life of its people.

The courses are being attended by 66 farmers from three communities, the topics of the courses are: "Techniques and management of irrigation systems" attended by representatives from the Chambitola and Paquiestancia communities. This course provides basic aspects for managing a community irrigation system, creating proposals and designs, operation and maintenance of irrigation systems.

 The other course is titled "Managers of community irrigation systems", which is being attended by members of the Pesillo community. The aim of this course is to strengthen the management of the community irrigation system,  create proposals to improve the environment, technology, production and organization of the irrigation system.

The courses are theoretical and practical, the work is done in the communities and are guided by UPS technicians. At the end of the courses participants create a product.

For UPS professor Catalina Sandoval, the courses directly benefit 500 families that belong to the three participating communities and improves the development of the community, the canton and the country.