The Central University of Ecuador , is the oldest university and the second largest by number of students from the Republic of Ecuador . It is located in the north of the city of Quito , in the university citadel called also to understand their headquarters in the south of Quito, in the city of Santo Domingo de los Colorados , and the Galapagos Islands . Affiliated since 2012 to the Ecuadorian Network of Universities for Research and Graduate Studies . The Central University of Ecuador, traces its origins to the Central University of Quito. Which it originated from the union of universities: San Fulgencio founded in 1586 by the Augustinians , St. Gregory the Great founded in 1651 by the Jesuits and St. Thomas Aquinas , founded in 1681 by the Dominicans. On April 4, 1786 the merger of the Royal and Pontifical University of San Gregorio Magno (Jesuit) and The Royal and Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Dominica) agreed, establishing the Royal Public St. Thomas Aquinas University Quito. Once constituted the Great Colombia , higher education became a matter of state, and March 18 of 1826 on the General Law on Public Education approved by the Congress of Cundinamarca was decreed, among other things, that "In the capitals of Cundinamarca, Venezuela and Quito Central Universities embrace more extension teaching of Science and Art "will be established.