# University of Cuenca

> university in Ecuador

**Wikidata**: [Q7895315](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7895315)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Cuenca)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/university-of-cuenca

## Summary
The University of Cuenca is a public university located in Cuenca, Ecuador, founded in 1867. It serves as a major academic institution in the country and is recognized for its contributions to higher education and research.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 1867 by the National Congress of Ecuador
- Located in Cuenca, Ecuador at coordinates -2.900515, -79.009001
- Has an elevation of 2,530 meters above sea level
- Official website: http://www.ucuenca.edu.ec
- Twitter handle: @udecuenca (verified account with 29,507 followers as of February 2023)
- ROR ID: 04r23zn56
- GRID ID: grid.442123.2
- Has received funding from Open Society Foundations for multimedia platform development
- Rector is Benigno Malo
- Part of the World Higher Education Database (IAU-017445)

## FAQs
### Q: When was the University of Cuenca founded?
A: The University of Cuenca was founded in 1867 by the National Congress of Ecuador.

### Q: Where is the University of Cuenca located?
A: The university is located in Cuenca, Ecuador, at an elevation of 2,530 meters above sea level.

### Q: What is the official website of the University of Cuenca?
A: The official website is http://www.ucuenca.edu.ec.

## Why It Matters
The University of Cuenca plays a vital role in Ecuador's higher education system as one of the country's oldest and most established public universities. Founded in the 19th century, it has been instrumental in developing academic talent and conducting research that addresses local and national challenges. The institution serves as a cornerstone for educational advancement in the southern region of Ecuador, providing accessible higher education to thousands of students. Its long-standing presence has made it a cultural and intellectual hub in Cuenca, contributing to the city's reputation as a center for learning and scholarship. The university's research initiatives, particularly in areas relevant to Ecuadorian society and development, help drive innovation and knowledge creation in the country.

## Notable For
- Being one of Ecuador's oldest public universities, founded in 1867
- Its high-altitude campus location at 2,530 meters above sea level
- Receiving international funding from organizations like Open Society Foundations
- Maintaining a strong social media presence with over 29,000 Twitter followers
- Serving as a key educational institution in Ecuador's southern region

## Body
### History and Foundation
The University of Cuenca was established in 1867 through legislation passed by the National Congress of Ecuador. This makes it one of the country's historic public universities with nearly 160 years of continuous operation. The institution was created to provide higher education opportunities in the southern region of Ecuador, particularly in the city of Cuenca.

### Academic Profile
As a comprehensive university, it offers a wide range of academic programs across various disciplines. The institution holds the ISN Identifier 0000000119452902 and is registered in multiple academic databases including ROR (04r23zn56) and GRID (grid.442123.2). It maintains a DOI prefix of 10.18537 for its publications.

### Research and Funding
The university has demonstrated its research capabilities through successful grant applications, including a significant award from the Open Society Foundations. In 2019, it received $100,000 to support the development of a multimedia platform for monitoring and visualizing homicide and feminicide data in Ecuador.

### Digital Presence
The University of Cuenca maintains an active online presence with its official website (http://www.ucuenca.edu.ec) and a verified Twitter account (@udecuenca) that has accumulated over 29,000 followers. The institution also provides RSS feeds through its web feed URL and maintains profiles on various academic and research platforms.

### Geographic and Physical Characteristics
Located in the historic city of Cuenca, the university sits at a notable elevation of 2,530 meters above sea level. This high-altitude location in the Andes mountains influences both the campus environment and potentially the research focus areas of the institution. The geographic coordinates are -2.900515 latitude and -79.009001 longitude.

### Administrative Structure
The current rector of the university is Benigno Malo, who leads the institution's academic and administrative operations. The university is classified as a public institution and is part of Ecuador's national higher education system.

## References

1. Directory of Open Access Journals
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. GeoNames
4. [Source](http://api.crossref.org/members/8281)
5. GRID Release 2016-05-31
6. Quora
7. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
8. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
9. [Open Society Foundations - Awarded Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships](https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?grant_id=OR2019-61402)
10. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)