Ecuador acknowledges the need to improve infrastructure and resources for educational inclusion, but it faces challenges in effective implementation compared to developed countries that have made advancements in this area. The objective of this research was to map the regulations and practices related to the implementation of inclusive infrastructure and educational resources at the international level, identifying knowledge gaps and opportunities for adaptation in Ecuador. An exploratory theoretical review was conducted following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, using searches in academic databases and official documents. Qualitative and regulatory studies from the United States, Finland, Canada, and Japan were selected, analyzing 16 scientific articles and 11 official documents. The results reveal that Ecuador faces challenges in the implementation of inclusive regulations, particularly in infrastructure and resources, highlighting the need to establish national accessibility standards, invest in assistive technologies, and offer continuous teacher training to enhance educational inclusion. The research uncovered a negative cycle where the lack of effective implementation of inclusive regulations perpetuates inequality and reinforces institutional inertia. For successful reform, the regulatory structure, resource management, and educational culture in Ecuador must be addressed simultaneously.

This study analysed the behaviour of both economic and financial profitability of credit unions belonging to segment 1 in Ecuador, as well as its determinants. For this purpose, data from the financial statements of a sample of 30 credit unions between 2016 and 2022 were used by means of a multiple linear regression methodology using panel data with fixed effects after applying the Hausman test. The findings of this research showed that current liquidity and non-performing loans have a negative and significant effect on both economic and financial profitability while the past due portfolio has a positive and significant impact on the generation of profitability of the financial institutions under study. In addition, it was revealed that the rate of outflow absorption has a negative relationship with economic profitability but a positive relationship with financial profitability. Unlike previous research in the Ecuadorian context, this research is pioneering in presenting results that indicate that the determinants traditionally considered for nonfinancial institutions and banks are also valid for credit unions, even though they are organisations with different characteristics from the rest.

Foodborne diseases are a global health problem. Every year, millions of people die worldwide from these diseases. It has been determined that the high prevalence of these diseases is related to unfavorable socioeconomic conditions of the population. In this study, the relationship between foodborne diseases and socioeconomic conditions of the population was determined using principal component analysis as a multivariate statistical analysis technique. In this study, the socioeconomic variables of each Ecuador province and the prevalence of foodborne diseases (hepatitis A, salmonella, shigellosis and typhoid fever) during the years 2018 and 2019 were considered. The results show the relationship between foodborne diseases and the socioeconomic conditions of the population, as well as identifying regions more vulnerable to present high levels of prevalence of foodborne diseases, thus facilitating the implementation of social investment programs to reduce the prevalence of these diseases.

This study focused on the topic of competences and challenges faced by university teachers in Ecuadorian higher education. The objective of this study was to identify the essential competences that university teachers must possess to confront the current challenges in the Ecuadorian educational field. A mixed research methodology was utilized. A concurrent triangulation design (DITRIAC) was applied. The data collection technique was through documentary study and focus groups. Eight experts in Ecuadorian higher education participated as key informants. Among the findings, there was a consensus on 7 key competences (disciplinary mastery, pedagogical competences, technological skills, research and continuous updating, critical thinking development, ethical and social commitment, flexibility and adaptability to change). It was concluded that Ecuadorian higher education requires teaching professionals who not only master their disciplines and possess advanced pedagogical and technological skills, but who are also leaders in research, promoters of critical thinking, and exemplify ethical commitment and adaptability.