Systematization Toward a Tourism Collaboration Network Grounded in Research-Based Learning: Lessons Learned from an International Project in Ecuador

This article presents the systematization of an international research project between the Universities of Cuenca, Ecuador, and KU Leuven, Belgium, and how records were kept of the process and lessons learned beyond the specific content and results of the project. The project focuses on research-based learning as an approach to support tourism as a means of sustainable development in southern Ecuador. The initiative encourages the application of critical thinking and involves professors, students, communities, and decision-makers. The systematization process relies on verification documents, such as minutes, reports and recordings, which evidence the decision-making and implementation processes to elaborate the project successfully over several years. Through the systematization, it is evident how learning and cooperation relationships have been produced and how a platform has been developed to facilitate research, dissemination and transfer. Therefore, the experiences obtained through this systematization are valuable and transferable to other development projects and research teams.