Universidad Intercultural de las Nacionalidades y Pueblos Indígenas Amawtay Wasi

The Universidad Intercultural de las Nacionalidades y Pueblos Indígenas Amawtay Wasi (UIAW), commonly branded as Universidad Amawtay Wasi (UAW), is a public, intercultural and community-oriented higher-education institution in Quito, Ecuador. Its name combines Spanish with Kichwa: "Amawtay Wasi" means "House of Wisdom." It presents itself as "La Primera Universidad Intercultural del País" — the country's first intercultural university — and its declared mission is to recognize, value, promote and strengthen the knowledge and wisdom of Ecuador's Indigenous nationalities and peoples, as well as Afro-Ecuadorian and Montubio communities, who are described as the priority beneficiaries of the project. The university was founded in 2004 and is backed by the CONAIE (Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador) and the Instituto Científico de Culturas Indígenas. Its rector is Luis Fernando Sarango. It offers a range of agricultural, technical and intercultural study programs and also serves as a vehicle for general continuing education, particularly for Indigenous people. Its educational ideals include bilingualism involving at least one Indigenous language, the Andean concept of Sumak kawsay (good living), and other Indigenous worldviews. Amawtay Wasi operates a hybrid study model that combines virtual platforms with in-territory community work, allowing students across Ecuador to access higher education remotely. Its curriculum is built around "Espacios Académicos" that recover, revitalize and strengthen the knowledge of nationalities and peoples, and around "Desafíos Comunitarios" (community challenges) — face-to-face activities carried out in the community where the student lives, linking learners permanently and respectfully with a culture. The university also runs public academic and formative events (Ruraykuna) such as courses, workshops and conversations. Internationally, Amawtay Wasi has pursued partnerships around intercultural education and Indigenous knowledge. In May 2026 it held the international academic meeting "Territorios Vivos" with the University of Regina and the First Nations University of Canada, addressing language revitalization, ethnomathematics, knowledge sovereignty, intercultural education and the dialogue of knowledges, including community visits in the parish of Calderón. The institution frames such encounters as part of its commitment to internationalizing intercultural education and building knowledge from cultural diversity, respect and cooperation among peoples.

The Universidad Intercultural de las Nacionalidades y Pueblos Indígenas Amawtay Wasi was founded in 2004 in Quito, Ecuador, as an intercultural university oriented toward the knowledge systems of the Indigenous peoples of the Americas. It is supported by the CONAIE (Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador) and the Instituto Científico de Culturas Indígenas, and its rector is Luis Fernando Sarango. From its beginnings the institution framed itself as a project of the Indigenous movement rather than a conventional state university: its purpose was to serve Indigenous people in particular, while also offering general continuing education, and to organize teaching around bilingualism in at least one Indigenous language, the Andean ideal of Sumak kawsay, and other Indigenous concepts. Its academic catalogue developed along agricultural, technical and intercultural lines. Over time the university adopted a hybrid modality, combining virtual platforms with in-territory work so that students across the national territory could reach higher education. This model is expressed in two signature elements: Espacios Académicos, which recover, revitalize and strengthen the knowledge of nationalities and peoples, and Desafíos Comunitarios, face-to-face activities carried out in the community where the student lives, intended to link the learner permanently and respectfully with a culture. The university also runs Ruraykuna, a public programme of courses, workshops and conversations. In the 2020s Amawtay Wasi has emphasized internationalization of intercultural education. On 13 May 2026 it reported the international academic meeting "Territorios Vivos," organized with the University of Regina and the First Nations University of Canada. Over several academic sessions, students, teachers, researchers and representatives of peoples and nationalities exchanged experiences on language revitalization, ethnomathematics, knowledge sovereignty, intercultural education, the dialogue of knowledges and the strengthening of community processes from the territories. Canadian representatives took part in cultural exchange and community visits in the parish of Calderón, learning about local practices, knowledge and organizational dynamics. The university presents such encounters as consolidating academic alliances built on cultural diversity, respect and cooperation among peoples.

• 2026

  Held the international academic meeting "Territorios Vivos" with the University of Regina and the First Nations University of Canada (13 May 2026).

• 2004

  University founded in Quito, Ecuador, backed by CONAIE and the Instituto Científico de Culturas Indígenas.

Ecuador's first intercultural public university, built on Indigenous knowledge systems, bilingualism and community-based learning.

• Hybrid study modality

  Virtual platforms combined with in-territory community work, enabling students across Ecuador to access higher education.

• Espacios Académicos

  Processes for recovering, revitalizing and strengthening the knowledge of nationalities and peoples.

• Desafíos Comunitarios

  Face-to-face activities in the student's own territory, linking learners permanently and respectfully with a culture.

• Ruraykuna

  Public academic and formative activities: courses, workshops, conversations and more.

• 2019

  GM sues Fiat Chrysler over alleged union bribery

  General Motors filed a racketeering lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler, alleging that it bribed UAW officials to obtain concessions and advantages in labor agreements. Fiat Chrysler called the lawsuit meritless and said it would defend itself.

  Source

Read more

1. 1Inicio UAW - Universidad Amawtay Wasiuaw.edu.ec
2. 2Amawtay Wasi fortalece el diálogo internacional sobre saberes, investigación y territorios vivos junto a universidades de Canadáuaw.edu.ec
3. 3Universidad Intercultural de las Nacionalidades y Pueblos Indígenas (Wikidata)wikidata.org
4. 4Universidad Intercultural de las Nacionalidades y Pueblos Indígenas Amawtay Wasi (Wikipedia, German)de.wikipedia.org
5. 5GM sues Fiat Chrysler over alleged union briberyseattletimes.com
6. 6GM sues FCA, alleging bribery, corruption of union bargaining processeuronews.com
7. 7GM sues Fiat Chrysler for bribing union officialsjurist.org
8. 8UAW president steps down as GM sues rival over union briberytoronto.citynews.ca