Personal profile
Research Interests
The corpus of work analyzes education as a human-centered, dialogical, and decolonial project embedded in social justice. Across Pestalozzi, Decroly, Don Bosco, Freire, and transdisciplinary decolonial frameworks, the author examines how learner agency, holistic development, and the environment shape meaningful learning. Methodologically, the studies harmonize hermeneutic interpretation with qualitative analysis, bibliometric considerations, and occasional quantitative elements to illuminate how active pedagogy, decolonial pedagogy, and transdisciplinary approaches disrupt Eurocentric curriculums and promote inclusive, participatory classrooms. A recurring emphasis is on the role of schooling in addressing inequality, empowering youth, and fostering ethical reflection on technoscience, transhumanism, and the social responsibilities of knowledge production. The work advocates for student protagonism, intercultural dialogue, and the integration of pedagogy with community engagement, leadership, and social projects, arguing that education should cultivate critical thinking, solidarity, and humane visions of development. The research also surveys the Salesian preventive system and its applications in university contexts, highlighting music, consilience, and self-care as avenues for value transmission and social skills development. Overall, the author positions education as a transdisciplinary, intercultural undertaking that interrogates power structures, supports vulnerable communities, and seeks transformative, humanistic futures through reflective, ethical practice within institutions and beyond.
Key Topics:
- Education, Pedagogy, Teacher Training & Inclusion
- Research Methods, Measurement, Bibliometrics & Academic Practice
- Active/Freedom-oriented Pedagogy
- Decolonial and Transdisciplinary Pedagogies
- Hermeneutics, Philosophy of Education, Ethics
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 4 Quality Education -
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production -
SDG 13 Climate Action -
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Observatory of student participation and digital government for the strengthening of citizenship in Ecuador
Narvaez Villa, P. H. (Col), Perez Torres, J. A. (Col), Inga Ortega, J. P. (Col), Zuna Serrano, K. A. (PI), Mendez Reyes, J. M. (Col), Solano Paucay, V. M. (Col) & Marin Neira, M. D. (External)
10/03/26 → …
Project: Research and Development
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Humanism and Artificial Intelligence and their Ethical Foundations as a Basis for a University Training Proposal Focused on Human Dignity
Llerena Izquierdo, J. F. (Col), Lopez Chila, R. D. (Col), Benites Medina, R. M. (Col), Iza Villacis, V. A. (Col), Mendez Reyes, J. M. (PI), Guajala Agila, D. D. (Col), Rodriguez Pucha, I. A. (External), Chavez Gonzalez, M. M. (External), Tomala Calderon, B. M. (Col), Mejia Giler, M. A. (Student), Díaz Goya, P. M. (Student), Perez Reyes, P. A. (External), Alvear Vera, K. A. (Student), Escobar Palacios, S. E. (Col), Campozano Ortega, E. L. (Student) & Revelo Caicedo, S. O. (Student)
27/06/25 → …
Project: Research and Development
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Active Strategies and Critical Pedagogy from a Transdisciplinary Approach: A Theoretical Review and Systematization of Experiences
Llerena Izquierdo, J. F. (Col), Gonzalez Rivera, P. L. (Col), Iza Villacis, V. A. (Col), Iñiguez Magallanes, H. F. (Col), Pombo Bermeo, A. S. (Col), Mendez Reyes, J. M. (PI), Massuh Villavicencio, C. M. (Col), Guajala Agila, D. D. (Col), Rodriguez Pucha, I. A. (External), Jose Reyes, A. R. (Col), Panchana Macias, D. E. (Student), Diaz Labanda, J. I. (Student), Balladares Alvarado, G. N. (Student), Ciurliza Solis, A. E. (Student), Espinoza Moran, D. E. (Student), Mejia Giler, M. A. (Student), Díaz Goya, P. M. (Student) & Perez Reyes, P. A. (External)
27/06/25 → …
Project: Research and Development
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Application of Digital Strategies with Artificial Intelligence to Promote Financial Education that Strengthens Student Savings and Contributes to Sustainable Economic Development
Lopez Chila, R. D. (Col), Benites Medina, R. M. (PI), Mendez Reyes, J. M. (Col), Issa Morales, E. H. (Col), Vera Torres, D. E. (Student), Moyano Reyes, M. M. (Student) & Moran Burgos, N. B. (Student)
1/05/25 → …
Project: Research and Development
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Latin American and Ecuadorian Critical Pedagogy from a Transdisciplinary Approach: Challenges and Possibilities for 21st Century Education (PECRILAEC)
Gonzalez Rivera, P. L. (Col), Mendez Reyes, J. M. (PI), Massuh Villavicencio, C. M. (Col), Guajala Agila, D. D. (Col), Rodriguez Pucha, I. A. (External), Panchana Macias, D. E. (Student), Gonzalez Minchala, W. O. (Col), Diaz Labanda, J. I. (Student), Balladares Alvarado, G. N. (Student), Ciurliza Solis, A. E. (Student) & Espinoza Moran, D. E. (Student)
22/05/24 → 22/05/26
Project: Research and Development
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Analysis of the impact of financial education on the savings of university students in the south of Guayaquil
Álvarez, J. R. T., Medina, R. M. B., Reyes, J. M. & López-Chila, R., 2025, In: International Journal of Innovative Research and Scientific Studies. 8, 3, p. 1030-1037 8 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Aportes del Pensamiento Educativo de Decroly al Desarrollo de la Pedagogía Activa
Translated title of the contribution :Contributions of Decroly's Educational Thought to the Development of Active Pedagogy Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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Dignidad Humana y Alteridad: Una Lectura Hermenéutica
Translated title of the contribution :Human Dignity and Otherness: A Hermeneutic Reading Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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El Sistema Preventivo y su Aporte a la Educación Inclusiva en la Universidad Politécnica Salesiana
Translated title of the contribution :The Preventive System and its Contribution to Inclusive Education at the Salesian Polytechnic University Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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Entre el Transhumanismo y la Religión. ¿Es Posible Un Transhumanismo Religioso?
Translated title of the contribution :Between Transhumanism and Religion. Is a Religious Transhumanism Possible? Research output: Contribution to journal › Article