President Daniel Noboa signed the Executive Decree 182 by which the university residence program is created House U, aimed at public universities and polytechnic schools in the country. The measure, signed on October 15, aims to facilitate access to and retention in higher education through accommodation organized by the institutions themselves.
The plan contemplates subsidized accommodation and food all with students who travel from other provinces, with the goal of reducing dropout rates and improving equity. The Government will transfer resources to centers that meet the technical and management requirements established by the governing body of higher education.
What does the 'Casa U' program propose?
Casa U plans to implement residences in public universities and polytechnic schools, prioritizing those studying outside their place of origin. The goal is to create conditions that ensure academic continuity without economic or geographic barriers for students.
To do so, each institution must submit a implementation and management model to explain the operation of the residences, the subsidized food service and the internal control and evaluation mechanisms.
Funding and prioritization criteria
The central government will allocate and transfer resources to eligible institutions according to parameters defined by the governing body of higher education. Prioritization will be based on objective and verifiable criteria.
- Budget execution percentage for 2024 and the first half of 2025.
- Proportion of students from other provinces in the last five years, considering how many started, how many finished, and the average annual enrollment.
- Model of residence management which includes subsidized food.
- Ownership of an asset suitable property for the exclusive use of the program or the existence of a valid legal instrument that guarantees its availability for that purpose.
- Other requirements established by the governing body of higher education.
Likewise, it will be coordinated with the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) the source and availability of financing, in accordance with the favorable opinion issued and the observations that correspond to its responsible execution.
Schedule and responsibilities
The governing body of higher education, through the Council of Higher Education (CES), has a period of 30 days to issue the secondary regulations that will detail the operation of the program, including the entry and permanence requirements.
Once this regulation is published, universities and polytechnic schools will have another 30 days to present their management models. Each proposal will be reviewed and, if appropriate, approved individually within an additional 30-day period, establishing an agile implementation timeline.
The document came into force with its subscription in Santa Elena on October 15 and will be formalized with its publication in the Official Registry, a step that consolidates the applicability of this public policy.
Legal and tax framework
The decree cites the Constitution of Ecuador and the Organic Law on Higher Education (LOES), which recognize education as a right and guarantee equal opportunities in the higher education system, from entry to completion of studies.
In the budgetary field, it adheres to the principles of Organic Code of Planning and Public Finance, which requires predictable and automatic funding for public higher education and allows institutions to generate supplemental income for research and scholarships.
Expected impact on access and mobility
With Casa U, the Executive aspires to reduce attrition and to expand opportunities for young people in rural or remote areas, especially those who bear the costs of housing and living expenses when commuting to study.
The initiative favors higher education more inclusive and accessible, alleviating economic and mobility barriers, and aligns with equity policies that seek to ensure that place of origin does not affect the possibility of graduating.
What universities should prepare
Interested institutions will have to define a operational plan which includes accommodation capacity, access criteria, rules of permanence, management of subsidized food, and monitoring and evaluation protocols for the residences.
They must also prove the property availability for the exclusive use of the program, either by ownership or through a valid agreement or legal instrument that guarantees its use during the validity of Casa U.
Within this framework, Decree 182 articulates a scheme of University residences which combines public resources, clear prioritization criteria, and defined deadlines, with the aim of facilitating more students to access and remain in public higher education.
