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Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas - ESPE was formed by the merger of three service academies in 2013, but also admits civilians. it is spread around several sites in the environs of the Ecuadorian capital, Quito, and the volcano Cotopaxi,

That it continues to be called ESPE reflects the importance of the army¡¯s Escuela Politechnica del Ejercito, founded in 1922 to train military engineers. Renamed when it first admitted civilians in 1977, in 2008 it was classified as an "A" grade institution by Ecuadorian government assessors and in 2012 became a member of the national network of research and postgraduate universities.

It did not take part in the 2013 government assessment because it coincided with the merger with the aeronautical and naval academies, but regained "A" status in 2018. Proclaiming a mission to "contribute to national development and meet the needs of society and of the armed forces", it prides itself as "emblematic for its constant innovation and contribution to the productive development of Ecuador".

Around 40 per cent of the 14,000 students in attendance in 2017 were women.

It has particular strength in engineering with a research centre for nanoscience and nanotechnology, the defence technology-oriented army science and technical research centre and a centre for strategic studies.

In 2016 it received 20 acres of land from the Ministry of Defence for a science and technology park.

The mix of academics and service personnel in management leads to some distinctive career trajectories. In 2018 the Rector, Ramiro Pazmino Orellana, became commander-in-chief of the Ecuadorean army.