Ecuadorian researchers create new framework for Indigenous education

Researchers developed the Territorial Intercultural Learning Cycle to integrate Indigenous and ancestral knowledge into university curricula in Ecuador.

The initiative took place across the territories of Saraguro, Azogues, and Paltas in the Loja and Cañár provinces. The project aimed to move beyond simply documenting community knowledge to creating a system where local communities act as the primary authorities on their own traditions. This process involves six phases, including mapping living knowledge, intergenerational learning, and collaborative digital documentation.

The cycle produces intercultural educational materials and digital resources that students and community members co-design. Because the project focuses on ongoing implementation rather than standardized testing, the researchers suggest a community-governed assessment framework. This framework uses student portfolios and community validation to measure success. The process positions universities as learning partners rather than sole providers of information.