Universidad San Carlos

Universidad San Carlos (USC) is a leading academic institution in Paraguay’s higher education sector for agrarian development and agribusiness. With more than two decades of experience, USC has distinguished itself in the training of professionals across agro-livestock, forestry, and food development, adopting an inclusive and innovative approach committed to promoting sustainability within the agribusiness sector.

To date, USC has graduated 6,730 students across various undergraduate programs, including Agronomy, Agricultural Administration, Forestry, Environmental Sciences, Food Technology, and Animal Science. Furthermore, it has trained more than 800 professionals in postgraduate programs both nationally and internationally. These programs include Master's degrees in Agribusiness and Rural Development, Education Sciences, Environmental Management, and Animal Production, as well as Doctoral programs in Agrarian Sciences and Education Sciences.

USC maintains an extensive national presence, with 11 strategically located branch campuses in key production areas, in addition to its central headquarters in Asunción. Seven of these branch campuses feature dedicated practice and research fields to strengthen students' experiential learning and entrepreneurial spirit. These goals allow to focus on developing technology-based enterprises that contribute to the welfare of rural populations and promote sustainable development.

One of USC's primary objectives is to contribute to societal transformation through the generation of scientific and technological knowledge, aimed at resolving pressing regional and national challenges. The university has executed various collaborative projects with national and international entities and institutions, such as the National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT), the WWF, the European Union, and USAID, among others. These collaborations have facilitated the establishment of key research and development centers, such as the Vegetable Clinic (Clínica Vegetal) and the Water Laboratory (Laboratorio de Agua), with a focus on innovation and entrepreneurship in the sector, through the use of knowledge-based decisions.

The Vegetable Clinic and the Water Laboratory, located at USC's central headquarters in Asunción, are structured under a Director (Biologist, PhD, Dr. Ana Rivarola), a Vice-Director (Biotechnologist, Alba Ramírez), and three laboratory technicians with backgrounds in Agronomic Engineering and Food Technology Engineering.