Magazine: "Universidad verdad 69"; Cuenca and its urbanism

[Tito Asutdillo and Astudillo]

I think that an institutional magazine is something like its memory and constant reflection in the written word, affordable, this is well written to allow its reading and understanding; memory and synthesis of its achievements in the different moments of its existence and in correspondence with the purposes, objectives and goals set out at the beginning of its action, defined or redefined in the social evolution as a response to community aspirations. Because, "in the end," the reason for any institution is its active and more than positive incorporation into the social nucleus in which it is immersed and interacts.

I have in my hands the numbers 69 and 70 of the magazine "universidad verdad", of the University of Azuay, institutional kindness, since many years ago, which has allowed to closely follow the academic, cultural and social work of this house of higher education , which we see growing and transcending in prestige, year after year, for its seriousness, academic solvency, social and human commitment, which has this publication as a means of expression, which also includes the university thought of other higher education centers, personalities of recognized scientific career in the country and other nationalities. From its first publications, back in the decade of 80, when it was still the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador Headquarters in Cuenca, to date, it has been faithful to its format and monographic definition, because each issue dedicates its pages to a specific topic that It responds to the concerns of its academic units, as well as transcendental events or concrete problems of society. Really a very difficult task if you do not have the commitment of all its administrative, academic and human levels.

When Cuenca is experiencing a crucial moment in its urban development, which translates into social disenchantment and disorder, which reaches its maximum level of concern in mobility, in the rescue and conservation of its heritage assets, for example, it is good that a university institution , dedicate a publication to address this issue from the academic perspective. Universidad Verdad 69, has as a monographic theme: CUENCA AND ITS URBANISM, addressed, among others, in the following works: The public space as the protagonist of the search for urban sustainability, Esthetic Concordance of the Historical Center of Cuenca, Knowing the Historic Center of Cuenca between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries, About the investigation of popular architecture in Azuay and Cañar: reflections on the popular, the vernacular and the patrimonial during the last century, The peri-urban landscape as a system of spaces and interactions. Case study: San Joaquín Cuenca, Cuenca a modernity to the contrary, Compatibility of plates and surveys of origin - Destination in the plan of mobility and public spaces of the Cuenca canton, and more. A timely publication, a confirmation of the institutional commitment to society. A proposal that can contribute to a better understanding and management of urban and peri-urban development. And hopefully, an academic debate on this topic, vital, for the present and future of Cuenca. (OR)