en تخصصي Special پژوهشي Research <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:Source Sans Pro;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="line-height:107%">For centuries, management has been primarily addressed in businesses and government structures. However, this research approach has not been developed in Higher Education Institutions to strengthen their institutional structures in terms of quality, decision-making, management, and leadership. This study proposes a management model for the Postgraduate Program of the State Polytechnic University of Carchi (UPEC) for institutional strengthening. A mixed methodology was used, which combines quantitative and qualitative approaches applied in the Postgraduate Program of the UPEC, Tulc&aacute;n, Ecuador, with six interviews with directors and coordinators and a survey administered to a sample of fifty students from eight master&#39;s programs. Statistical tools such as Atlas.ti co-occurrence analysis were used for qualitative data, and the U Mann-Whitney SPSS test for quantitative data. The results revealed that the UPEC Postgraduate Program seeks academic excellence in its programs, and emphasizing the need to strengthen substantive processes such as research, internationalization, and quality assurance. Through a literature review, the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) model was identified as an adequate framework for the proposed management model due to its recognition of excellence and quality, particularly in the context of higher education.</span></span></span></span></div> EFQM, Institutional Strengthening, Management Model, Postgraduate, Proposal 45 64 http://johepal.com/browse.php?a_code=A-10-724-2&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Byron Bolívar Paguay Pinchao 10031947532846002189 0009-0004-1253-2343 Yes State Polytechnic University of Carchi (UPEC) Jairo Rivera Vásquez 10031947532846002190 10031947532846002190 No Simón Bolívar Andean University (UASB)