Conference Agenda

Employability in automotive technical education has traditionally been associated with technical proficiency, often overlooking the structural role of soft skills in sustainable labor market integration. This study examines the relationship between soft skills development and employability among automotive mechanics graduates in Ecuador, with broader implications for Latin America, based on data collected between 2020 and 2025, with particular emphasis on the 2025 assessment cycle. A quantitative descriptive approach was employed through surveys administered to 90 graduates and 12 employers from the Instituto Tecnológico Bolivariano. Findings reveal a significant perceptual gap: while graduates report strengthened competencies in professional ethics (73.9%) and problem-solving (61.4%), employers identify deficiencies in these same areas (58.3%). The results further indicate that the quality and duration of pre-professional internships positively influence job placement outcomes. In response, the study proposes the Integral Technical Employability Model Based on Soft Skills (MIET-Soft), which integrates explicit curricular alignment, structured internships, contextualized performance assessment, and longitudinal employability tracking. The findings suggest that systematic integration of competencies such as communication, leadership, and teamwork is essential for sustainable employability in contemporary technical sectors.

This document outlines the need for virtual physical therapy as a complement to, and even a substitute for, in-person therapy, which faces limitations related to cost and other access barriers. A literature review, conducted using the PRISMA guidelines, establishes a starting point for the design of an intelligent virtual agent that enables patients to undergo autonomous and safe rehabilitation. The results showed exponential growth in interest in virtual therapy. Bibliometric networks revealed two approaches: a technical one for patient and scheduling management, and an evaluative one focused on clinical effectiveness. The literature review highlights the integration of the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence for structuring virtual therapists that guide physical and mental rehabilitation, the use of RGB cameras and MediaPipe as tools for evaluating movement accuracy remotely, and the use of Lifelong Learning (LLL) and serious games to personalize therapies and provide real-time feedback. In conclusion, intelligent virtual therapy expands access, reduces dependence on hospital infrastructure, allows for interaction with a degree of independence, and enables objective monitoring.

This study focused on pilgrimages as a form of religious tourism and aimed to achieve the following objectives: (i) to identify the main motivational factors of religious events centered on pilgrimages; (ii) to analyze the motivational dimensions that predict satisfaction in pilgrimage-based religious events; and (iii) to examine the motivational dimensions that predict loyalty in pilgrimage-based religious events. The study was conducted during the pilgrimage to the Virgin of Chaguaya in Bolivia. The sample consisted of 384 tourists surveyed in situ. The statistical techniques used included Factor Analysis and Multiple Regression. The results revealed four motivational dimensions: Tourism and Escape, Religious Experience, Belief Experience, and Shopping. In addition, specific motivations influencing satisfaction and loyalty among participants in religious events such as pilgrimages were identified, particularly the motivational dimensions of Religious Experience and Belief Experience. These findings contribute to planning and management guidelines for organizers of religious events and provide insights for academic literature