University of the Pacific was founded on February 28, 1962 by a group of businessmen interested in promoting higher education to benefit the country and educate its youth. One of the university’s founding entities was the Jesuit Community, which is valued for its contributions and apostolic work.
The university’s founders include Juan Pardo Heeren, Enrique East Alvarez-Calderon, Federico Costa Laurent Garrat, Jorge Ferrand Inurritegui, Romulo Ferrero Rebagliati, James Freeborn Gautterin and other leading businessmen of the period.
From its beginnings, University of the Pacific has embraced internationalization. It has engaged in numerous activities with internationally prestigious universities through bilateral agreements and participation in multilateral networks and programs such as the SEKN Network, led by Harvard Business School and WGCP, in conjunction with Wharton School. It is important to emphasize that University of the Pacific is also a member of prestigious international accreditation institutions such as AMBA − The Association of MBAs.
The University is characterized by its democratic spirit. Proof of this can be found in the Intercampus meetings, which are debate forums led by well known political, intellectual and business figures from the country and abroad.
The Center for Research at University of the Pacific (CIUP), founded in 1972, studies the main socio-economic problems in the country and region, proposes solutions that are viable on the international scene and engages in consultancy work. The quality of this center’s academic and professional contributions has allowed it to earn recognition and a position of leadership in the country and the region.
UP’s students and graduates have won first place in important national and international competitions such as the Annual Competition for Social Responsibility, the Business Plan Project sponsored by AFP Prima, the L’Oreal e-strat competition, the Darden Competition, the Latin American Marketing Game among others.