Analysis of Technical and Technological Education in Guayas Province

Abstract

This study analyzed the demand for technical and technological higher education in Zones 5 and 8 of Ecuador, with a focus on Guayas—a province that accounted for 31.15% of the 172,270 graduates from the 2019 "Coast" academic cycle, out of a total of 289,675 applicants who took the *Ser Bachiller* exam. Currently, the limited number of available spots in universities and polytechnic institutes, combined with rigorous academic-performance-based admission criteria, creates a structural gap that excludes a large number of young people from the public system. In light of this issue, technical and technological education emerges as a strategic and viable alternative for expanding professional training opportunities and improving labor market integration. Consequently, this research focuses on these excluded high school graduates, proposing an educational offering characterized by affordable costs and high quality standards. Implementing this proposal aims to expand public coverage, reduce access disparities, promote social inclusion, and—fundamentally—develop a skilled workforce directly aligned with the current needs of national productive development.