This is a best prospect industry sector for this country. Includes a market overview and trade data.
Last Published: 3/2/2017

Overview

The United States is Ecuador’s top higher education partner. In recent years, the two nations have witnessed robust and growing two-way academic exchange. Ecuador is one of the top five destinations for U.S. students in Latin America, hosting 3,699 U.S. students in 2014-15. During the same period, nearly 3,000 Ecuadorians studied in the United States.

In support of Ecuador’s higher education agenda and President Obama’s "100,000 Strong in the Americas" initiative, the U.S. government offers educational advising to Ecuadorian students, fosters linkages between Ecuadorian and U.S. universities, and provides technical assistance to Ecuadorian officials on university administration.

In 2015/2016, according to the Institute of International Education’s Open Doors® 2016, 2,889 Ecuadorians studied in the United States, representing a 3.3 percent increase from the previous year.

Sub-Sector Best Prospects

  1. English as a Second Language (ESL) programs.

  2. Summer and college preparation programs.

  3. One semester/year exchange program.

  4. Student recruitment for undergraduate and graduate programs for engineering, business administration, environment/energy, science, and design areas.

  5. Corporate training programs in management, as well as executive-level language proficiency programs.

Opportunities

The National Secretariat for Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (SENECYT) grants scholarships to Ecuadorians who wish to obtain a post-graduate or graduate degree in foreign institutions. The scholarships are focused on science, technology, telecommunications, engineering, architecture, construction, education, agriculture, veterinary, and medicine.

Nonrefundable funding from the national government scholarships cover the full cost of tuition, travel expenses and monthly allowances up to a maximum of USD 250,000. According to 2014 data, 10,000 scholarships were granted in the last seven years, with a monetary value of USD 267 million.

Scholarship recipients are required to return to Ecuador to work for at least twice the length of time of their scholarship.

Web Resources​

United States Department of Education, International Affairs Office (http://sites.ed.gov/international/?src=rt)
Ecuadorian Education Ministry

 2013- 142014-152015-16 (est.)
Number of Ecuadorian Students in the United States2,5782,7973,020
Percentage Increase   8.5%8%
Undergraduate1,3911,5161,637
Graduate701842909
Non-Degree274225243
Optional Practical Training212214231
Number of U.S. Students in Ecuador3,4383,6993,883
Percentage Increase 7.6%5%

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.