The Mechanics program is fundamental for the development of society as it provides the knowledge for the design, implementation, and maintenance of machines, instruments, and processes, which drives industrial growth, science, and technology.
The Mechanical Engineering program at Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL) was established in 1959, and the Department of Mechanical Engineering was founded in 1961. In the 1980s, the Department of Mechanical Engineering evolved into the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Later, the faculty expanded, and three other engineering programs were established, leading to its renaming as the Faculty of Production Sciences and Mechanical Engineering (FIMCP). Currently, the Mechanical Engineering program is part of the FIMCP structure.
Mission
The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Production Sciences in its Mechanical Engineering Program trains upright and competent professionals, carries out quality research and knowledge transfer, cooperating with society to improve the quality of life and promote sustainable development.
Core Components of the Program
The Mechanical program has two focal points:
Mechanical Systems Design
Thermofluidic Systems Design
International Accreditation
ESPOL's mechanical engineering program is accredited by the ABET engineering accreditation commission since 2012.
The Mechanical Engineering program at ESPOL has received the EUR-ACE label, valid from october 26, 2023 until october 25, 2027. This achievement reassures the quality and relevance of our academic program, ensuring world-class training and our commitment to educational excellence.
* Undergraduate tuition/fees:
The Constitution of the Republic of Ecuador in its Article 356, among other principles, establishes that third-level public higher education will be tuition/fees free. Zero cost education is linked to the academic responsibility of the students.
Number of admitted students per academic year
Number of graduates per year
Number of enrolled students per academic year
Graphs show the figures in real time, at the time of the query
Curious, honest, thoughtful, analytical, tenacious, enterprising, caring students with basic knowledge in the area of physics, chemistry, and mathematics. Being willing to work under pressure both autonomously and as part of interdisciplinary collaborative groups.
Program Educational Objectives
The ME Program of ESPOL provides science, technological and general education so that its graduates, 3 to 5 years after graduation, are able to:
PEO 1. Contribute to the sustainable development of Ecuador through the professional practice of Mechanical Engineering.
PEO 2. Keep current with their profession and act with social and ethical responsibility.
PEO 3. Give support to innovation and entrepreneurship, management, and knowledge transfer in engineering fields.
Axes of the Mechanics career:
- Design of Mechanical Systems.
- Design of Thermofluidic Systems.
The learning outcomes of the Mechanics career are:
1. Ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex Mechanical Engineering problems through the application of engineering, science, and mathematics principles.
2. Ability to apply design of Mechanical Engineering systems, to produce solutions that satisfy specific needs, considering public health, safety and well-being, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental and economic factors.
3.a. Ability to communicate effectively in Spanish with diverse audiences (oral and written form).
3.b. Ability to communicate effectively in English with diverse audiences.
4. Ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities and make informed judgments, considering the impact of Mechanical Engineering solutions in the global, economic, environmental and social context.
5. Ability to function effectively in a team, whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, set goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
6. Ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use Mechanical Engineering criteria to establish conclusions.
7. Ability to acquire and apply new knowledge related to Mechanical Engineering, as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
8. Design real Mechanical Engineering solutions that propose unique value in response to specific needs considered from the point of view of those involved
First Year
Description:
It is a core course for Engineering, Natural Sciences, Exact Sciences, and Social Sciences and Humanities, students. Topics, such as, topological notions, limits and continuity of real variable functions, derivatives and their applications, antiderivatives and integration techniques, and the definite integral with its applications, are examined. This course is aimed to the development of student’s skills and know-how in the derivation and integration processes, as a fundamental basis for the following upper level courses in its academic training process
Description:
Physics: Mechanics is a basic, theoretical-practical training course aimed at engineering students, with laboratory experimentation activities, which provides the fundamentals of particle mechanics, rigid bodies and fluid mechanics, in an environment of active learning.
Description:
In this course, students apply the Design Thinking methodology to identify, analyze real-life problems or needs, to design innovative solutions. Students work in multidisciplinary teams to present solution proposals that add value to customers/users from private companies, public organizations and non-profit organizations.
Description:
This basic and general education subject presents grammatical structures to produce a simple paragraph based on a writing program. Additionally, it allows the identification of a specific argument in oral and written communication. It also considers learners’ personal opinions about different topics related to social, academic, and professional aspects. It includes the necessary vocabulary to make comparisons between present and past, books or movies description, creation of simple students’ profile, opinions about inventions, formal apologies and tell past events.
Description:
General Chemistry is a theoretical-practical course aimed at the basic training of professionals in the areas of Engineering and Natural Sciences, which provides a scientific basis of the matter and its interactions, and seeks to develop in students the ability to solve problems related to the content of the subject. It begins with an Introduction to Thermochemistry, then the analysis of the physicochemical properties derived from the state of aggregation of matter: liquids, solids and solutions, the study of the Kinetics and Equilibrium of reactions and solubility.
Description:
This subject of basic instruction is a theoretical-practical course that contributes to the learning of concepts of electricity and magnetism in an environment of active learning.
Description:
Vector calculus is a course aimed at the basic training of professionals in the areas of Engineering, Exact Sciences and Natural Sciences who developed problem-solving and problem-solving skills in the n-dimensional context. For this purpose, the course consists of 5 general themes: three-dimensional analytic geometry and functions of several variables, differential calculus of scalar and vector fields, optimization of scalar functions of several variables, line integrals and multiple integration, surface integrals and theorems of the vector theory; being the main applications of this course: the optimization of functions of several variables applied to practical problems, the calculation of lengths, area, volumes, work and flow, using objects of the plane and space.
Description:
This course introduces the fundamentals of technical drawing, with emphasis on the production of mechanical parts and assemblies. In addition, it describes the theory of projections and the representation of objects through auxiliary views, cuts, and sections. It also details the drawing rules regarding scales, lines, lettering, dimensioning, and standard formats. During the development of the course, drawings of machine elements, mechanical assemblies, structures, and distribution of areas in industrial plants are made by hand and in computer-aided design programs.
Description:
This professional training course for Mechanical Engineering describes the historical development of technology with its role in society and engineering trends at a national and global level. It includes the study and application of the engineering design process, focusing on the identification, formulation, and analysis of a problem, and ending with the construction and validation of a prototype of the best alternative solution.
Description:
This is a basic training course for engineering and science students, in which the study of matrices, systems of linear equations, vector spaces, linear transformations, spaces with inner product, eigenvalues and eigenvectors. The main purpose of the course is to contribute to the integral formation of the future professional allowing later, to take care of conceptual, social and technological necessities in the solution of problems and development of the abstract thought.
Description:
This subject of basic formation and general education presents the grammatical structures for the production of an academic paragraph, through the development of the writing program in a transversal way. In addition, it allows the identification of specific arguments in oral and written communication, considering the production of one's own criteria on different topics of a social, academic or professional nature. The necessary vocabulary is also applied to refer to the different forms of communication, share work experiences and the use of digitl technology, tell short stories about interpersoanl relationship and personalities, and comment on the future of the environment.
Second Year
Description:
The course presents students with strategies to solve common problems in various professional fields through the design and implementation of solutions based on the use of a programming language. It covers the basic principles so that the student can read and write programs; emphasizing the design and analysis of algorithms. In addition, it introduces students to the use of development and debugging tools.
Description:
This subject professional training course for the Mechanical Engineering program establishes the fundamentals for the selection of materials for specific engineering applications. Its content integrates concepts of materials science and engineering on the basis of the relationship between structure, properties, processing, and performance of materials in service, put into practice through laboratory tests and case studies. It presents a classification and description of the types of engineering materials and introduces aspects of nanomaterials and other advanced materials. Additionally, it introduces thermal treatments and failure modes of materials, which are variables to be considered during the process of materials selection and engineering design. Finally, it incorporates some economic, environmental, and social aspects related to materials science and engineering.
Description:
This entry-level professional training course for Mechanical Engineering presents the different processes that take place in a mechanical workshop and that are fundamental in the practice of Mechanical Engineering. It introduces the areas that make up the mechanical workshop as well as its organization and the industrial safety involved in it. The different measuring instruments and tools used in the conventional manufacture of mechanical parts are studied and the different processes and elements for the permanent or detachable joining of such parts. Finally, an extensive study of the different equipment, operations, and tools that make up conventional machining is carried out.
Description:
In this subject, we study the development of the academic prosumer profile of the students, which should be consolidated throughout each individual's life, based on the processing of complex, holistic, and critical thinking. We aim to foster understanding and the production of academic knowledge through rigorous analysis of realities and readings from various academic/scientific sources.
Description:
This core subject of basic formation in the engineering degrees begins with the study of convergence criteria for numerical series and power series, providing methods for obtaining the latter. Next, analytical solving methods of ordinary differential equations of first and superior order are examined, including solutions in power series. Then, the Laplace transform is defined and used as a solving method of linear ordinary differential equations. As a final part, solving methods for solving linear ordinary differential equation systems are studied. The subject examines application problems of engineering and sciences modelled by ordinary differential equations and series and includes the use of software in a part of each practical session.
Description:
This subject of basic instruction and general education presents grammatical topics for the elaboration of an outline and a structured composition, through the development of the writing program in a transversal way. In addition, it allows the identification of arguments in oral and written communication on contemporary and academic topics. Additionally, appropriate vocabulary is applied to discuss issues related to different cultures, places where we live, everyday news, entertainment media, and past and future opportunities.
Description:
This professional training course is designed for engineering careers based on classical mechanics and presents the concepts, definitions, and laws of rigid body mechanics. The statics of particles in a plane and in space, equivalent force systems in rigid bodies, the equilibrium of rigid bodies, distributed forces, centroids, centers of gravity, moments of inertia are studied. In addition, the analysis of structures, forces in beams and cables, and friction are studied.
Description:
This is an introductory course for students of engineering programs based on classical mechanics that emphasizes the understanding and application of fundamentals thermodynamics. This course first covers diverse forms of energy and the properties of pure substances. Then, energy balance problems for closed systems and control volumes, and the application of the second law of thermodynamics to cycles. Finally, entropy is studied and its implications in the analysis of processes and cycles.
Description:
This is a training basic course training and provides the knowledge to the engineering and science student can convert data into information, associate everyday situations with statistical processes, and determine scientific conclusions through experimental observations, applying descriptive statistics, notions of probability, models of random variables and inferential analysis.
Description:
The Advanced Mathematics course is transversal and is aimed at the training of Mechanical Engineering students. The fundamental topics studied are: systems of orthogonal functions, Fourier series and differential clasical equations in partial derivatives. In the course, the student learns techniques and acquires skills to solve science and engineering problems formulated in terms of partial differential equations found in specific areas such as: momentum transfer, energy and matter exchange.
Description:
This subject of basic formation and general education, presents the grammar structures to produce a persuasive essay, through the transversal development of the writing programme. In addition, it allows students to identify specific arguments in the oral and written communication, as well as, to express their own opinions about different topics of social, academic, or professional fields. It also includes the necessary vocabulary to stablish a conversation, narrate situations of their environment, activities to reach their goals, analyze cause and effect and personal and professional opportunities.
Third Year
Description:
This transversal course addresses the conditions required to innovate and the process associated with developing an innovation from an entrepreneurial point of view. Subsequently, topics such as the identification of opportunities, value creation, and prototyping and validation of products/services proposals are reviewed, as well as the elements of the business model and financial considerations that are essential for the feasibility and adoption of an innovation. Finally, entrepreneurial competences and process associated with the development and adoption of an innovation are studied.
Description:
This subject of intermediate-level professional training for Mechanical Engineering constitutes the basis for the design of mechanical systems. This matter allows us to describe the behavior of rigid particles and bodies under the action of forces. Modeling and Newton's laws are used to study the motion of mechanical systems and their application to solving engineering problems. Finally, vibrations in mechanical systems of one degree of freedom are analyzed.
Description:
This course is an introduction to the mechanics of fluids, and contributes to the professional training of engineering students, with emphasis on the understanding and application of the concepts, laws and equations of conservation of mass, momentum and energy, integral, differential and dimensional analysis methods, and of the techniques for solving problems in the field of engineering. The topics to be covered include fundamental concepts, fluid properties, pressure distribution across fluids at rest and their applications, integral, differential, and dimensional analysis techniques for engineering problem solving, and study of incompressible viscous flow in pipelines and around blunt and aerodynamic bodies.
Description:
This course of professional training for engineering based on classical mechanics studies the relationships between external loads applied on deformable bodies and the effects they produce inside them, for their application in the design of machine elements and structures. Quantitative techniques are applied to determine the internal forces, stresses, and deformations caused by external loads acting on deformable bodies, as well as for the solution of statically indeterminate structural elements and the determination of critical loads of columns.
Description:
In this professional training course, machine elements are designed by analyzing the stresses generated due to external loads and comparing them with the material's resistance by applying failure theories and safety factors. It describes static failure, fatigue failure, and surface failure to perform a detailed analysis of parts in machines and structures. Adjustments, tolerances, and deformations are considered to design mechanical elements based on manufacturing and reliability criteria.
Description:
This engineering professional training course based on classic mechanics describes methods for the analysis of the kinematic and dynamic behavior, which represents the foundations for industrial machinery design. The first part of the course studies the movements of mechanisms and machinery with both graphical and analytical methods for the analysis of position, velocity, and acceleration. The second part of the course studies the forces that act over mechanisms and machinery by using methods such as the Newton-Euler and virtual work. Besides, it presents applications related to flywheels to regulate the energy distribution in machinery, and the static and dynamic balancing of rotating and reciprocating machinery.
Description:
This course is an intermediate-level professional training course for the area of the thermal sciences of Mechanical Engineering. The course presents the foundation for the analysis and design of thermal systems. The course intends to provide students with tools for the analysis of heat transfer engineering problems with an emphasis on the fundamentals of conduction, convection, and radiation.
Description:
This transversal training course for all students of the institution has five chapters. It introduces the key principles of sustainability and the path to sustainable development. Addresses ecological principles by deepen into biodiversity, ecosystems, human population and ecosystem services. Study the fundamentals of renewable and non-renewable resources as well as the alternatives for sustainable use. Analyzes environmental quality specifically in the air, water and soil components, delving into issues such as climate change, eutrophication and deforestation. Finally, it emphasizes on the economic axis with topics such as circular economy and on the social axis on topics such as governance and urban planning.
Fourth Year
Description:
Course description This course corresponds to professional training, where current electronic circuits, based on two- and three-terminal semiconductors and microcontrollers, are analyzed. The circuits and applications are focused to the conditioning of analog signals such as amplifiers and filters, power semiconductors, selection criteria of power supplies and DC-DC converters, digital electronics concepts and programmable microcontrollers.
Description:
This vocational course details the selection and design of mechanical elements: power screws, bolted joints, welded joints, mechanical springs, bearings, gears, brakes, shafts, and flexible elements for power transmission. From an initial conceptual design, material strength, failure theories, and technical standards are considered to arrive at a detailed design of a mechanical system. Emphasis is placed on the local availability of standardized parts, materials, and manufacturing processes, taking into account the economic reality of the environment.
Description:
This advanced-level course for the Mechanical Engineering program analyzes the fundamental contemporary principles of maintenance as well as its planning, execution, and control. In a complementary way, the codes and regulations that protect the physical integrity of the human being in the work environment are evaluated, especially during the execution of maintenance tasks.
Description:
This is an advanced-level mechanical engineering course that familiarizes the student with the typical components of hydraulic and thermal power plants. It covers the basic principles of operation and selection of motor turbomachines, namely pumps and fans, and generator turbomachines, namely turbines. It also studies power cycles in plants using thermal fluid machines, specifically internal combustion engines, steam turbines, gas turbines, or combined cycles for thermo-electric generation.
Description:
This advanced-level professional training course for Mechanical Engineering presents the different material removal manufacturing techniques that are of fundamental knowledge in engineering practice. It studies the most commonly used machining processes in the local industry and introduces the theories and mathematical modeling for the estimation of the forces and powers in the cutting processes. In addition, an extensive study of the cutting tools used in all these processes, their different constituent materials, and the variety of geometries available in the market is carried out. Finally, the automation of all these processes with CNC - CAM technologies is introduced.
Description:
This advanced-level professional training course for Mechanical Engineering involves various manufacturing processes used in the industrial sector for the manufacture of products from engineering materials. It relates the mass flow of the material with its transformation of shape and properties, from its entry as raw material to the finished product, considering the change in its structure and durability in-service conditions. Finally, theoretical fundamentals are integrated with laboratory practices, covering metallic and non-metallic materials such as ceramics, glass, plastics, and composite materials.
Description:
In this subject of advanced level professional course for Mechanical Engineering, the design of systems in thermal and fluid applications is analyzed, fundamental concepts of thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics are applied in real engineering systems. In addition, the knowledge acquired within the area of thermo-fluids in mechanical engineering is used in an integral way; applying the design methodology for the conception, modeling, and specification of heat exchange and fluid transport systems.
Description:
In this advanced-level course of professional training for Mechanical Engineering, the basic principles that govern the measurement systems for the most important physical variables of the mechanical processes used in the industry are presented. In the first part, the treatment of experimental data is reviewed and the need for calibration of the measuring instruments is analyzed. Subsequently, the principle of operation and the most important characteristics of sensors and transducers commonly used in industrial instrumentation are studied; and new developments and techniques applied in modern measurement and data acquisition systems for industrial process control.
Description:
This advanced-level professional training course for Mechanical Engineering establishes the criteria for the elaboration of projects with an industrial approach. It begins with the definition of the structure of a project, with emphasis on the technical and economic aspects. Then, the tools for planning and programming the assembly of equipment and machinery used in different types of industries are studied, according to the objectives and technical, market, and financial resources. Finally, the tools for evaluating the technical and economic feasibility of projects are reviewed.
Description:
Applied Control Systems is a course focused on the basic concepts for the analysis and design of feedback control systems. Covered topics include physics-based modeling of engineering systems, represented both in the frequency and time domains. At the end of the course, students should be able to design controllers and compensators of feedback systems, assessing their optimal performance, stability, and robustness. The experimental portion of this class incorporates the use of computational tools for the analysis and implementation of feedback control systems.
Fifth Year
Description:
In this capstone course, the Mechanical Engineering student carries out a project where the application of the profiles declared in the career is evidenced, developing processes of creativity, organization and relevance that involve them in a professional design experience. In the first part of the course, the needs of the client / user / public are identified, the problem / opportunity is defined, data is collected and critical design factors are analyzed. In the second part, alternative solutions are created framed in the regulations and restrictions of each user. It ends with the design of the feasible solution, prototyping and analysis and validation of results.
Additional
ARTS, SPORTS AND LANGUAGES ELECTIVE COURSES
1 credits - 1.9 ECTS
HUMANITIES ELECTIVE COURSES
1 credits - 1.9 ECTS
SELECTED ELECTIVE COURSE
3 credits - 5.8 ECTS
SELECTED ELECTIVE COURSE
3 credits - 5.8 ECTS
After 4 and a half years of study you will be able to:
- Design a mechanical or thermal system, component or process that satisfies specific needs, considering global and sustainability aspects.
- Solve complex engineering problems by applying the principles of engineering, science and mathematics.
- Analyze and interpret experimental results to facilitate the application of engineering judgment in the optimization of designs, systems or processes.
Occupational Profile
Puedes ejercer tu profesión en cualquier ámbito que involucre sistemas mecánicos y térmicos. Diseña, evalúa, instala o da mantenimiento a máquinas y sistemas mecánicos y térmicos.
Además, puedes desempeñarte en actividades y funciones administrativas y ejecutivas en los diferentes niveles empresariales, tanto en relación de dependencia como en libre ejercicio profesional a través de actividades de emprendimiento.
In order for the student to enter the graduation process, the following requirements must be met:
Having passed all subjects in the curriculum.
Having completed 336 hours of pre-professional practices and/or internships and community links.
Having completed their integrative project.
The Capstone Project is a culminating requirement for graduation. These projects provide students with the experience of applying acquired knowledge and skills to the needs of society, with a focus on sustainability.
The IDEAR Fair showcases all Capstone projects, offering students a valuable opportunity to showcase their work and hone soft skills such as communication and teamwork. It is also a space for students to network with potential clients and future employers.
Explore all of the Capstone projects completed by the Mechanical program.
DID YOU KNOW?
A Mechanical Engineer provides solutions around the design of components, mechanical systems, thermal and hydraulic systems, and manufacturing processes.
