Universidad Técnica Luis Vargas Torres de Esmeraldas

What Universidad Técnica Luis Vargas Torres de Esmeraldas does

Universidad Técnica Luis Vargas Torres de Esmeraldas (UTLVTE) is a public technical university founded in 1970 and headquartered at the Nuevos Horizontes campus in Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador. The university operates across three physical locations — the main Esmeraldas campus, the La Concordia extension in Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, and a Mutile location — and delivers instruction through five faculties: Engineering, Social Sciences and Services, Administrative and Economic Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, and Pedagogy. It serves as the flagship public higher education provider for Esmeraldas Province and northern Ecuador, offering tuition-free undergraduate education under Ecuador's LOES mandate, free graduate master's programs (10 approved by CES), and continuing education courses. Beyond academics, UTLVTE delivers free legal aid through its Consultorio Jurídico, psychological and welfare services through Bienestar Universitario, and community programming via Radio UTLVTE.

The university operates a technology stack anchored by a Moodle-based Aula Virtual learning management system (with Google OAuth SSO), the proprietary SIAD academic management system (handling enrollment, grading on a 0–10 scale, and biometric faculty authentication), digital library integrations (e-libro, Lexis Ecuador, Biblioteca Digital Magisterio), an online Bolsa de Empleo job board, and 24/7 Radio UTLVTE streaming. The institution's primary revenue stream is Ecuadorian government funding via SENESCYT under the LOES framework; secondary revenue flows through EP-UTE-LVT-EP, a wholly-owned public enterprise (constituted 2016–2017) providing consulting, fiscalization, training, civil engineering works, and equipment distribution (including AC BOILERS industrial equipment) to government agencies and private clients. Customer segments span prospective undergraduate students, postgraduate professionals, government agencies (GADs, ministries, state enterprises), private sector firms (CNEL, EP-PETROECUADOR), and underserved populations receiving free legal and welfare services.

Name

Universidad Técnica Luis Vargas Torres de Esmeraldas

Legal name

Universidad Técnica Luis Vargas Torres de Esmeraldas

Website

https://utelvt.edu.ec

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Public technical university in Esmeraldas, Ecuador (founded 1970) delivering tuition-free undergraduate and graduate education across five faculties and three campuses, serving Esmeraldas Province and northern Ecuador through academic programs, free legal aid, welfare services, and a public enterprise providing consulting and engineering services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHALAK

Online Nonprofit Universities

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Distance & Online Universities

SECONDARYEDAHAFAB

Graduate Schools of Education (M.Ed., Ed.D., Ph.D.)

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Teacher Training Colleges (Education Schools)

SECONDARYEDAAAEAA

University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Continuing Education (Noncredit) & Lifelong Learning Programs

Keywords

• Public higher education
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate master's programs
• Virtual learning platform
• University consulting services

Headquarters

HQ city

Esmeraldas, Esmeraldas

HQ country

Ecuador

HQ region

Latin America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public Government Funding: As a public university (Universidad Técnica pública), the institution operates primarily on funding allocated by the Ecuadorian government through the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (SENESCYT). Revenue covers faculty salaries, infrastructure maintenance, and academic operations.
2. Tuition / Educational Services (Free Education): The university provides tuition-free education (gratuidad de la educación) for undergraduate students as mandated by Ecuadorian law. Revenue is not generated from tuition but the free education policy serves as a social inclusion mechanism.
3. Enterprise Publica UTE-LVT Services: The university's public enterprise (EP-UTE-LVT) generates revenue through consulting services, administrative and financial management, project fiscalization, training and seminars, civil engineering works, and educational projects for public and private sector clients.
4. Continuing Education and Training: Revenue generated through professional development courses in management, technology, languages, and business skills offered by the university's Lifelong Learning division to external clients and organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Universidad Técnica Luis Vargas Torres de Esmeraldas delivers tuition-free undergraduate education across five faculties (Engineering, Social Sciences and Services, Administrative and Economic Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, and Pedagogy), ten CES-approved master's programs, and continuing-education courses through its Aula Virtual Moodle-based platform. The institution also operates a wholly-owned public enterprise (EP-UTE-LVT-EP) that provides consulting, project fiscalization, civil engineering, and professional training to government agencies and private-sector clients. Support services include Radio UTLVTE streaming, Consultorio Jurídico free legal clinic, Bienestar Universitario welfare programs, a digital library, and the Bolsa de Empleo graduate job exchange.

Product overview

Universidad Técnica Luis Vargas Torres de Esmeraldas operates a comprehensive educational ecosystem consisting of core academic services and specialized units. The main platforms include AULA-VIRTUAL (Moodle-based virtual classroom) and SIAD (integrated academic-administrative system) for primary educational delivery and student management. The university provides specialized services such as the Consultorio Jurídico (free legal clinic), Bienestar Universitario (student welfare with medical, psychological, and scholarship services), and the Biblioteca (library with physical and digital resources). The institution also operates Radio UTLVTE as an online radio station and Bolsa de Empleo for graduate employment services. Additionally, the university's public enterprise (UTE-LVT-EP) provides consulting and fiscalization services for external projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AULA-VIRTUAL (Moodle-based virtual classroom) The university's Moodle-based virtual classroom platform providing online learning management for students and faculty, supporting course delivery, assignments, resource sharing, attendance tracking, and academic content access across undergraduate and graduate programs. Accessible via web and mobile app with Google OAuth login.
• SIAD (Sistema Integrado Académico Docente) Integrated academic and administrative system covering student enrollment, grade registration (on a 0-10 scale), biometric authentication, and faculty management. Accessible via the centralized online service portal for students, faculty, and administrative users.
• EP-UTE-LVT-EP (Empresa Pública de Gestión, Fomento, Desarrollo Integral, Prestación de Servicios Públicos y Provisión de Bienes) Wholly-owned public enterprise of UTLVTE providing consulting services in administrative and financial management, project fiscalization, scientific research, technology transfer, training and seminars, civil engineering works, and educational projects for public and private sector clients. Includes distribution rights for AC BOILERS industrial equipment in Ecuador.
• Maestría en Gestión Ambiental (Master's in Environmental Management) First master's program inaugurated by UTLVTE in October 2020, delivered online over two semesters. Part of the ten CES-approved master's programs portfolio.
• Undergraduate degree programs (5 faculties) Tuition-free undergraduate degree programs delivered across five faculties: Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Social Sciences and Services, Faculty of Administrative and Economic Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, and Faculty of Pedagogy. Open to high-school graduates via the Admisión process.
• Consultorio Jurídico (Free Legal Clinic) Free legal advisory service provided by law students covering civil, labor, rental, criminal, child and adolescent, constitutional, human mobility, and administrative law. Targets low-income individuals, people in human mobility situations, and priority groups.
• Radio UTLVTE (Online Radio Station) 24/7 online radio station broadcasting news, interviews, and cultural programming including pop, Latin, rock, jazz, blues, electronic, and ballad music genres. Reaches the university community and general public as an extension of academic communications.
• Bienestar Universitario (University Welfare Services) Student welfare services including medical and dental clinics, psychological services, social work, vocational guidance, scholarship administration (Becas), and student support programs. Includes access to UNICEF's Ágora learning platform and the COOPI/UNICEF Human Rights Learning Portal.
• Biblioteca (Library Services) University library providing physical and digital resources, including virtual libraries, book catalogs, and digital databases such as e-libro, Lexis Ecuador, and Biblioteca Digital Magisterio. Includes book loans, study areas, computer lab access, and training.
• Bolsa de Empleo (Employment Exchange) Online employment exchange platform connecting UTLVTE graduates with job opportunities, facilitating university-society linkage and graduate follow-up.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10 master's programs approved by the Consejo de Educación Superior (CES)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CONAGOPARE (Consejo Nacional de Gobiernos Parroquiales Rurales del Ecuador)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2021Inter-institutional cooperation agreement between UTLVTE and CONAGOPARE to strengthen institutional and individual capacities of Rural Parish Governments (GADPs) in Esmeraldas Province. The university provides advisory services, professional support for projects, and access to its public enterprise (EP-UTE-LVT) for financial and works consultancy. CONAGOPARE commits to prioritizing UTLVTE for advisory services and coordinating with parish governments for research activities.
• EP-PETROECUADOR and subsidiariescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017EP-UTE-LVT (the university's public enterprise) partnered with EP-PETROECUADOR and its subsidiaries to offer technical training courses for students and operators. The partnership aims to provide excellence in vocational training aligned with the petroleum industry's needs.
• AC BOILERS (Italy)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2017EP-UTE-LVT obtained distribution rights in Ecuador for AC BOILERS, an Italian company with worldwide experience in industrial boiler and process technology, enabling the university to distribute industrial equipment and technology solutions in the local market.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Universidad Técnica de Machala: Public university in Machala, El Oro Province, Ecuador. Comparable as a regional public university with multiple faculties, public enterprise extensions, and similar government funding model. Mid-sized public university counterpart.
• Universidad Técnica Estatal de Quevedo: Public technical university in Quevedo, Los Ríos Province, Ecuador. Comparable as a smaller regional public university with agricultural and engineering programs, government funding, and student demographic in rural/agricultural zones.
• Universidad Técnica de Cotopaxi: Public technical university in Latacunga, Cotopaxi Province, Ecuador. Comparable as a regional public technical university with multiple faculties, online learning, and similar public funding and gratuidad model.
• Universidad Técnica de Manabí: Public technical university in Portoviejo, Manabí Province, Ecuador. Closely comparable as a regional public technical university with multiple faculties, mixed on-campus and online delivery, and government funding model. Comparable scale and target student demographic (coastal Ecuador).
• Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí: Public university in Manta, Manabí Province, Ecuador. Comparable coastal public university with similar faculty structure, regional focus, and government funding model. Competes for similar coastal Ecuador student population.
• Universidad Técnica del Norte: Public university in Ibarra, Imbabura Province, Ecuador. Comparable as a regional public university with multiple faculties, technical and pedagogical programs, and government funding. Direct competition for students in northern Ecuador.
• Universidad Técnica de Ambato: Public technical university in Ambato, Tungurahua Province. Comparable as a public technical university with multiple faculties, graduate programs, and online learning extensions. Draws from similar regional student demographic.

Broad incumbents

• Universidad Central del Ecuador: One of the oldest and largest public universities in Quito, Ecuador. Comparable as a public university with multiple faculties, gratuidad policy, and government funding, but at a much larger national scale and broader disciplinary coverage.
• Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas - ESPE: Major public university in Quito/Sangolquí, Ecuador with military affiliation. Comparable as a public technical university with graduate and research programs, but at significantly larger scale and broader geographic reach, competing for top technical students.
• Escuela Politécnica Nacional (EPN): Major public polytechnic university in Quito, Ecuador. Comparable as a public technical university with broader engineering and science programs, but operates at a much larger scale, draws from national talent pool, and serves as a benchmark for technical education in Ecuador.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/utelvt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/universidad-t%C3%A9cnica-luis-vargas-torres-de-esmeraldas

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Universidad Técnica Luis Vargas Torres de Esmeraldas