Dr Carlos Ortega Maldonado

Carlos Ortega Maldonado is the first rector and founder of the Espiritu Santo University (UEES) and currently serves as its Chancellor. UEES is a 5-star university in the QS Stars program and ranked #1 in Ecuador by THE. In 1994 he founded UEES as a private university, since its inception the university has set the standard for higher education in Ecuador, managing to occupy the top positions in international rankings. It is renowned for its educational programs, particularly in the areas of medicine, business, economics, and law. The academic offer includes graduate and postgraduate programs across various fields of study, postgraduate courses in medicine and dentistry, and doctoral programs (PhD) in Business and Education.

Since the onset of the pandemic in Ecuador, Carlos devised ways in which the university could contribute to the country’s response. He took the initiative to establish the UEESCLINIC and UEESBIOLAB, a university teaching clinic and a biomolecular laboratory, both dedicated to providing essential care for patients requiring Covid-19 testing, as well as those who lacked access to intensive care beds in the local hospital facilities. Furthermore, he is currently leading the development of a groundbreaking project—a new University Teaching Hospital with a capacity of 150 beds.

Carlos Ortega Maldonado comes from a line of distinguished Ecuadorian educators, each leaving an indelible mark in the academic realm. His great-grandfather established Guayaquil’s first high school. His grandfather served as the rector of the University of Guayaquil, the largest university in Ecuador, on three occasions. Additionally, his uncle founded the Catholic University of Santiago de Guayaquil, where Carlos completed his professional studies.

He is a lawyer and has fourth-level studies in Strategic Management, Finance, and Communication, and obtained a PhD in Education. In recognition of his contributions to academia, he was awarded the title of Doctor Honoris Causa by Pacific University in Oregon. Moreover, the national government of Ecuador bestowed upon him the Medal for Merit in the Rank of Commander. He was the governor of the province of Guayas, president of the Transit Commission, president of the Legal Commission of the National Council of Universities of Ecuador, and vice-president of the Assembly of the Ecuadorian University System.

In addition to his duties as UEES Chancellor, he is the Honorary Consul of Japan, and a member of the National Board of Directors of the Society for the Fight Against Cancer (SOLCA).