The mining program trains professionals with academic excellence in capabilities, skills and abilities to design sustainable extraction projects of mineral resources, preserving the quality of the environment and promoting the social development of surrounding communities and society in general.

Mission
Contribute to improving society's quality of life with the training of upright and competent professionals in mining-metallurgy projects; with the development of research and innovation for the sustainable and equitable use of mineral resources.

Vission
To be an academic benchmark in the mining sector, with international excellence, of proactive and innovative leaders committed to society.

International Accreditation
The Mining  degree program is accredited by the ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission  and the European seal of international quality in engineering EUR-ACE.

The Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL) emerged as a response to the increasing demands for scientific and technical education in the country. It was created during the presidency of Dr. Camilo Ponce Enríquez, through Executive Decree No. 1664 published in the Official Registry on November 11, 1958. On May 25, 1959, 51 students officially began their academic life at ESPOL in two classrooms of the Casona Universitaria, under the direction of the first Rector, Ing. Walter Camacho Navarro, who was an Mining Engineer. It is worth noting that almost immediately after the creation of the Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, in 1959, the activities of what was then called the Department of Mines began.

In the last months of 1964, when the first graduate of the academic unit had just been released, it was called the Department of Geology, Mines, and Petroleum. A total of five students, divided into three groups of different levels, were pursuing the only degree offered to obtain the title of Engineer in Geology, Mines, and Petroleum. The department had two full-time professors, two part-time professors, one assistant for the only existing laboratory, and one janitor.

The Faculty of Engineering in Geology, Mines, and Petroleum was formed in 1983 in response to the need to create these three careers. Initially, ESPOL only had the Mining Engineering specialty within the area of Earth Sciences. The current name, Faculty of Engineering in Earth Sciences (FICT), was adopted in 1989 with four careers: Mining Engineering, Geological Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, and Civil Engineering, the latter replacing Geotechnical Engineering. With some changes and improvements in the curriculum and the Faculty, these four careers have been maintained until the present time under the name of the Faculty of Engineering in Earth Sciences (FICT), which was established in 1989.

Starting from this year, the student population in Mining Engineering at ESPOL decreased to the point where in 1995, only 2 students were enrolled in the program. At the time, other universities were facing similar situations, and some even closed this specialization. To address this issue, ESPOL optimized all available resources and the potential of the program by conducting promotional campaigns and revising the academic curriculum. Despite the challenges faced, the Mining Engineering program at ESPOL remained open, which was rare for this field nationally.

Subsequently, with the implementation of the National Exam for Higher Education and the research conducted in Mega-projects in the Mining area, the number of students increased, and by 2015, there were 134 active students enrolled in the program.

The mining program seeks curious, creative, analytical students with a critical spirit, logical abstraction capabilities and basic knowledge of experimental sciences and mathematics. Interested in research and the field of mineral and metallurgical resources.

http://www.admision.espol.edu.ec/proceso-de-admision/postulacion 

https://www.bienestar.espol.edu.ec/becas-y-ayudas-economicas 

SO1: The ability to identify, formulate and solve complex mining engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science and mathematics. 
SO2: The ability to apply mining engineering design to produce solutions that meet specific needs considering health public safety and well-being, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental and economic factors. 
SO3: The ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences. 
SO4: The ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in mining engineering situations and make judgments informed, who must consider the impact of mining engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental and social contexts. 
SO5: The 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. 
SO6: The ability to develop and carry out appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use mining engineering judgment to draw conclusions. 
SO7: The ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as necessary, using appropriate learning strategies. 
SO8: Formulate a value proposition that argues why those involved in a specific problem should adopt a proposed solution based on the advantages of the benefits over the disadvantages that it presents.

http://www.mallacurricular.espol.edu.ec/Malla/Imagen?codCarrera=CI003&lang=en&lang=en 

a) Apply technical and management capacities in Research–Development and Innovation (R + D + i) activities in the field of responsible use of surface and underground mineral resources in the national and international territory.
b) Design, plan, execute and direct mining–metallurgy projects in the short, medium and long term, integrating technical, environmental, economic and social information, according to the demands of society.
c) Apply current mining, environmental and labor regulations in the different phases of the implementation of mining–metallurgical projects.
d) Develop and apply environmental management, safety and occupational health systems in dedicated to small-scale, artisanal and large–scale mining activities.
e) Implement technological solutions for the optimization of mining-metallurgical processes, and the mitigation of impacts on nature due to the development of mining activities.

Occupational Profile

Design mining operations and projects, applying engineering and management knowledge. Manage, coordinate and supervise in a sustainable manner, operations and projects in deposit evaluation, geomechanics, mining exploitation, mineral processing and extractive metallurgy.

Have approved at least 48 credits in Vocational Training and Itinerary.
Have approved at least 26 credits in General and Complementary Education.
Have approved at least 31 credits in Basic Sciences and Mathematics.
Accredit a minimum experience of 336 hours corresponding to 7 credits of professional practices, divided into; 96 hours of community internships and 240 hours of pre-professional internships in the industry.
Pass the graduation process, equivalent to 8 credits.

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 Mining program. 

 In Mining, students have the ability to carry out activities related to geomatics (Topography and Geographic Information Systems), underground and surface mining operations, mineral treatment plants. It should be noted that the student's profile is designated according to his progress in the career, which is linked to the number of subjects passed.
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Profiles:

- Open Pit Operations Assistant: The student will be able to determine exploitation parameters in open pit mining. - Generate dimensioning of the machine park. - Design operations of starting, loading and transportation of minerals. - Design auxiliary operations in open pit mining. - Analyze operating costs of the open pit exploitation. - Optimize processes.

- Topography Assistant: The practicing student has the skills and knowledge to work within the company and execute the following activities: * Planimetric and altimetric surveys of open sky and underground works. * Topographic surveys for the calculation of mineral reserves and for the design of surface works.

- Mineral processing assistant: The student will be able to: - Control and take samples in conmination operations. - Control operations and processes in mineral benefit plant. - Carry out mineralogical tests for the control of mineral grades and control of mineral recovery processes.

- Occupational safety and environmental management systems assistant: The student will be able to: - Evaluate job positions from the point of view of worker safety and health. - Analyze the requirements of occupational safety and health management systems. - Verify compliance with the legal, environmental and safety framework of mining companies. - Analysis of production reports and tax reports of mining companies.

- Underground mining operations assistant: The student will be able to: - Design underground mining excavations. - Determine parameters of underground mining exploitations. - Design mineral grooving operations. - Design auxiliary operations in underground mining exploitations. - Control the pressure of the mine - Analyze operating costs in the underground exploitation. - Optimize processes.
 

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