Paúl Herrera Email & Phone Number

Guayaquil, Guayas, Ecuador

As affiliated researcher at the Centro Internacional del Pacífico para la Reducción del Riesgo de Desastres (CIP-RRD-ESPOL), I am leading the development of a Study on Migration, Environment and Climate Change in the Coast of Ecuador, as a collaboration for the International Migration Organization (IOM-UN) which will be published in September 2024.

Guayaquil, Guayas, Ecuador

Senior Researcher at the Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL), affiliated (since its creation in 2015) with the Faculty of Life Sciences (FCV). Prior to that, I was tenured professor at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Production Sciences (FIMCP-ESPOL) since 2005.

Ecuador / Belgium

The VLIR Network is an international consortium that unites universities from both Ecuador (ESPOL, EPN, UCuenca, and UTN) and Belgium (UGent, KULeuven, UHasselt, UAntwerp). Focusing on areas such as biosciences, integrated water resources management, and innovation in education and technology transfer, the network fosters collaboration and knowledge.

Guayas, Ecuador

From 2017 to November 2022, I served as the Provost of ESPOL, where my main responsibility was overseeing its operations and academic projection. During this period, significant advancements were made to solidify ESPOL's leadership position in the Ecuadorian academic community. True to our culture, we promoted quality in all our activities. One of the most.

Guayaquil, Guayas, Ecuador

• Spearheaded the Center of Rural Research at ESPOL, overseeing the identification of cutting-edge research topics, securing funding through compelling proposals, and executing research projects.
• Fostered strategic partnerships with key research institutions and external entities, enhancing collaborative efforts and resource sharing.
• Directed the annual research agenda, ensuring meticulous implementation and reporting to university leadership and stakeholders.
• Successfully managed $1.3 million in grants, bolstering the center's research capabilities and outreach.
• Authored approximately 25 scholarly articles, with several published in prestigious international journals, reflecting the center's academic excellence.
• Honored with the Sion Raveed Best Paper Award at the BALAS conference (2008) and recognized by the Rotary Club for significant community contributions through research initiatives.

Guayaquil, Guayas, Ecuador

• Spearheaded the strategic development of graduate education, including the launch of innovative master's and doctoral programs, and secured essential resources for their execution.
• Formulated and enforced graduate education policies at ESPOL, aligning with national academic standards.
• Championed pedagogical advancements and professional development for faculty to elevate teaching methodologies.
• Achieved a milestone by initiating and securing approval for ESPOL's inaugural research-based master's programs and a pioneering doctoral program in computer sciences.
• Pioneered the creation of ESPOL's first digital platform for streamlined graduate education management.
• Authored the university's inaugural graduate education by-law, setting a precedent for academic governance.

Guayaquil, Guayas, Ecuador

• Main activities:
• Academic planning, including course scheduling and faculty assignments.
• Student enrollment, advising, and academic progress.
• Led curriculum development initiatives, ensuring cutting-edge content and relevance.

Singapore

• Engaged in rigorous peer-review to uphold publication standards.
• Identified and curated cutting-edge topics, serving as or appointing Guest Editors for special issues.
• Amplified journal visibility within academic networks.
• Spearheaded promotional efforts at conferences and professional gatherings.
• Aiming to achieve significant indexing milestones and elevate contribution quality by year-end.

Guayaquil, Guayas, Ecuador

• Lecturer at the Master in Health Management, Master in project Management (PMI Accredited), and MBA.
• Spearheaded the design and successful launch of a pioneering Master Program in Agribusiness, now internationally accredited and operational since 2015.
• Transitioned two core courses to e-learning post-pandemic, following completion of a 6-month Active-Flipped-Virtual learning training, enhancing the business school's educational offerings.
• Expert in Marketing Management and Market Research methodologies.

Ghent, Flemish Region, Belgium

Served as Visiting Professor for the prestigious International Master in Rural Development at Agrocampus Rennes, France, representing ESPOL, the exclusive Latin American consortium member.

Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador

• As founder and first Graduate Studies Coordinator of the Red de Universidades y Escuelas Politécnicas para Investigación y Posgrados (REDU), I was in charge of:
• Spearheaded collaborative initiatives to enhance research-driven graduate education across the university network.
• Orchestrated strategic efforts to elevate postgraduate studies within national educational authorities and institutions.
• Pioneered the network's inception, significantly influencing its formalization and the assembly of the inaugural coordination team.
• Strategically developed the network's organizational framework, establishing it as a national benchmark for research and graduate education collaboration over a decade, expanding membership from 12 to 38 universities.
• Championed graduate education advocacy at the national level, culminating in the adoption of specialized regulations by the Council of Higher Education in 2013.

Montevideo, Uruguay

• Establishment of an editorial board and the creation of comprehensive case studies for the "Conflicts in Water Resources" course in the LAC region.
• Successfully coordinated the development and implementation of a regional agenda to facilitate the course across various LAC countries.
• Achieved the publication of three pivotal educational resources: the main course textbook, a case study compendium, and an instructor's manual, contributing a chapter from my own research expertise in water resources.
• Ensured the course's robust testing and widespread replication, personally conducting training in over four countries and integrating the materials into relevant academic curricula.
• Championed the extensive dissemination and adoption of the course content throughout the LAC region, enhancing educational standards in water resources management.

Ghent, Flemish Region, Belgium

• Researcher at Project 4 on Sustainable Agricultural Systems within the VLIR-ESPOL Programme.
• Independently crafted a research proposal and established collaboration with Prof. Guido Van Huylenbroeck at Gent University.
• Engaged in doctoral research at the Faculty of Bioengineering Sciences, formerly known as the Faculty of Agricultural and Applied Biological Sciences.
• Completed rigorous doctoral training school and progressed to thesis defense on the Governance of Irrigated Systems from an Institutional Economics perspective.
• Achieved successful completion of doctoral training by 2001.
• Authored and published two research articles in prestigious journals, enhancing the project's visibility.

Guayaquil, Guayas, Ecuador

• As first research coordinator at the Centro de Investigaciones Económicas (CIEC-ESPOL) I:
• Spearheaded the establishment of ESPOL's Center for Economic Research, successfully orchestrating its operational framework and governance.
• Pioneered the organization of workspaces and protocols, enhancing collaboration among faculty and junior researchers.
• Drove the development and execution of key research projects, culminating in the publication of influential academic work.

Ph.D, Agricultural Economics

I completed my Ph.D. defense byJuly 2005 at the Department of Agricultural Economics / Faculty of Bioscience Engineering at Gent.

Pre-Doctoral Training (Master'S Degree Equivalent), Agricultural Economics

Department of Agricultural Economics at the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering at Gent University.

Máster, Business Administration, Marketing

Economista, Economics