The progress of universities to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) has been fundamental, but there is still a long way to go for an effective contribution. This study seeks to identify the main challenges of higher education institutions in Ecuador for achieving the SDG based on the analysis of a case study. Given the multiplicity of contexts and the dynamism in these institutions, this research was conducted from a qualitative approach. For this work, the opinions and reasoning documented in the situational diagnosis of the institution under study were considered to learn about the contribution and challenges of the University of Guayaquil in the achievement of goal 4.7 of Agenda 2030 within the framework of sustainable development and quality assurance for the exercise of substantive and management functions. The results reaffirm the importance of ensuring education for sustainability, so it becomes necessary to identify, from a comprehensive approach and with the characteristic of lifelong learning, the internal and external coverage of training programs, analyzing the competencies, commitments and roles of the university community towards society in the areas of intervention: teaching, research, institutional policy and social leadership.