National Polytechnic School

National Polytechnic School operates as a top public university which serves students in Quito the capital city of Ecuador. The institution operates as a major educational center for the Andean region which promotes scientific research and technological development together with engineering studies to create benefits for society and support national progress. The main campus which bears the name of former Rector José Rubén Orellana occupies an east-central location in the city while functioning as a principal hub for research activities and academic research programs. The university maintains rigorous academic requirements which enable it to achieve top national educational rankings while developing its students into critical thinkers and creative professionals.

The institution established itself as the second-oldest public university in Ecuador when President Gabriel García Moreno established it on August 27 1869 together with the Society of Jesus. The institution operated as a technical and scientific center which would modernize the country through its German Jesuit scientists who specialized in mineralogy and botany and chemistry. The university faced political upheaval which led to its closure in 1876 but President José María Velasco Ibarra restored operations at the institution in 1935 when he reopened it. The institution has developed from its original location in the historic city center to its present location at an extensive campus which serves as an essential part of Ecuadorian scientific heritage.

National Polytechnic School is ranked as the #3 top university in Algeria during 2026.