Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo

The Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo (UNACH) is a public higher-education institution based in Riobamba, in the Chimborazo Province of Ecuador. It was formally established on 31 August 1995, growing out of earlier academic activity in the city: discussions about creating a local university date back to 1969, when a branch of the Universidad Central del Ecuador (UCE) opened a campus for the faculties of philosophy, literature and education sciences. The transfer of the buildings of the "La Dolorosa" seminary by Leonidas Proaño, the Roman Catholic bishop of Riobamba, to the UCE helped pave the way for the creation of UNACH. UNACH describes itself as a response to the city's need for a quality higher-education institution that would support the development of the region and the country. Its work is organized around four fundamental axes: academia, management, research, and community engagement (vinculación) with a view to innovation. The university offers 26 higher-education degrees as well as numerous certificates through four faculties: Engineering, Political and Administrative Sciences, Health Sciences, and Education Sciences. Admission to UNACH follows Ecuador's national higher-education access system. Prospective students must take the "Ser Bachiller" examination and then apply to their chosen program; places are allocated meritocratically according to the number of available spots and the applicants' scores. Students who obtain a place must complete a levelling course (curso de nivelación) before beginning the first semester of their academic program. The university also runs language instruction in English and French and participates in international academic mobility programs, including CRISCOS initiatives and bilateral agreements such as those in physiotherapy with the Universidad del Norte de Paraguay. As a public institution, UNACH is governed by Ecuadorian higher-education law, including the Ley Orgánica de Educación Superior (LOES), and its staff are employed under different legal regimes: the Labour Code for some workers, the LOES for academic staff (professors and researchers), and the Ley Orgánica de Servicio Público (LOSEP) for administrative personnel. The university states that its efforts have earned it places in international rankings such as QS, THE and THE Impact among the best universities in Latin America, as well as the SOLUDABLE distinction reflecting a commitment to the well-being of its community. It frames its mission around human, inclusive and diverse transformation, aligned with the Ecuadorian context and the 2030 Agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The origins of the Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo lie in mid-twentieth-century efforts to bring higher education to Riobamba, the capital of Chimborazo Province in central Ecuador. As early as 1969, the creation of a local university was discussed, and a branch of the Universidad Central del Ecuador (UCE) was established in the city, hosting faculties of philosophy, literature and education sciences. The transfer of the buildings of the "La Dolorosa" seminary by Leonidas Proaño, the Roman Catholic bishop of Riobamba, to the UCE provided physical infrastructure for this academic presence. On 31 August 1995, the Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo was formally founded, giving Riobamba its own public higher-education institution. According to the university's own account, it was created in response to the city's need for a quality higher-education institution that would serve as a space for learning and contribute to the development of the region and the country. From its foundation, UNACH organized its activities around four fundamental axes: academia, management, research, and community engagement (vinculación) oriented toward innovation. Over the following decades, UNACH developed a portfolio of 26 higher-education degrees and numerous certificates, structured across four faculties: Engineering, Political and Administrative Sciences, Health Sciences, and Education Sciences. It also built up postgraduate offerings, language instruction in English and French, and participation in international academic mobility programs, including CRISCOS initiatives and agreements with foreign universities such as the Universidad del Norte de Paraguay in physiotherapy. As an Ecuadorian public university, UNACH operates under the national higher-education framework, notably the Ley Orgánica de Educación Superior (LOES), and its admission process is tied to the national "Ser Bachiller" examination and a merit-based allocation of places. The university states that its work has earned it recognition in international rankings such as QS, THE and THE Impact among the best universities in Latin America, as well as the SOLUDABLE distinction for its commitment to community well-being. It aligns its institutional improvement efforts with the Ecuadorian context and the 2030 Agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals.

• 1995

  The Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo is formally founded on 31 August, following the transfer of the "La Dolorosa" seminary buildings by Bishop Leonidas Proaño to the UCE.

• 1969

  Discussions begin about founding a university in Riobamba; a branch of the Universidad Central del Ecuador (UCE) is established with faculties of philosophy, literature and education sciences.

Public regional university in Riobamba, Ecuador, positioning itself around academia, management, research and community engagement, with international ranking visibility (QS, THE, THE Impact) and the SOLUDABLE distinction.

• Undergraduate degree programs (26 degrees)

  Bachelor-level programs offered across four faculties: Engineering, Political and Administrative Sciences, Health Sciences, and Education Sciences.

• Postgraduate programs

  Postgraduate studies and doctoral scholarship opportunities advertised by the university.

• Language courses (English and French)

  Language instruction offered for the 2026-2S period.

• Academic levelling course (curso de nivelación)

  Mandatory preparatory course for all students who obtain a place at UNACH, before the first semester of their program.

1. 1Inicio » Universidad Nacional de Chimborazounach.edu.ec
2. 2Nosotros » Universidad Nacional de Chimborazounach.edu.ec
3. 3Trabaje con nosotros » Universidad Nacional de Chimborazounach.edu.ec
4. 4Estudia con Nosotros » Universidad Nacional de Chimborazounach.edu.ec
5. 5Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo – Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org