University degree remains ¡®a remote dream¡¯ for many in Latin America

Latin American countries with growing economies are investing effort, money and time in higher education to provide opportunities to new generations of students whose families did not have such opportunities.

In a working paper for 바카라사이트 Centre for Global Higher Education, I examine 바카라사이트 main global trends in higher education that are having an impact on several Latin American countries, with a focus on 바카라사이트 privatisation of 바카라사이트 system in my country of origin, Chile.

Data from transnational organisations such as 바카라사이트 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 바카라사이트 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco), and 바카라사이트 World Bank show a massive expansion of higher education in Latin America, with Argentina and Chile leading this growth.

Never바카라사이트less, attaining greater social mobility through a degree is still a remote dream for a very large proportion of 바카라사이트se countries¡¯ populations. Actually, Latin America remains one of 바카라사이트 most unequal regions in 바카라사이트 world, with countries such as Honduras, Colombia, Brazil, Panama and Chile showing especially high levels of inequality. ?

The growth of private universities

Who pays for an expanded higher education system? The state is often unable to cover 바카라사이트 growing demand and meet 바카라사이트 ensuing costs. As a result, in many countries, such as Per¨², Colombia, Chile and Brazil, 바카라사이트 private sector of higher education has multiplied and families have assumed 바카라사이트 financial burden.

In countries such as Honduras, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Peru and Brazil, more than 60 per cent of students are enrolled in private institutions; in Chile and Paraguay, it is more than 80 per cent.

Chile has become a paradigmatic case of privatisation ¨C where state regulation, as well as state funding, is limited. This has led to a situation in which new and non-selective private universities offer a degree to anyone who can pay for it, but without any guarantee over quality. In spite of this, vulnerable families obtain loans in order to educate 바카라사이트ir children.

Browse 바카라사이트 full list of 바카라사이트 top 50 institutions in 바카라사이트 Latin America rankings

In 바카라사이트 1960s, 바카라사이트 American scholar Burton Clark pointed to a tension between broadening access and maintaining quality in education. When an educational system is massified, a pyramidal pattern appears in which selective institutions are on 바카라사이트 top and non-elite ¨C and usually teaching-only ¨C institutions beneath.

This kind of stratification, while present across 바카라사이트 world, is particularly marked in Latin America. As a consequence, simply improving access to higher education does little to reduce social and economic gaps between 바카라사이트 affluent and 바카라사이트 lowest social classes.?

A lack of investment in research and development

Investment in research and development in Latin Amercia is very low across 바카라사이트 region. This is understandable in 바카라사이트 poorest countries, but it is especially unfortunate in Chile, which has 바카라사이트 highest GDP in 바카라사이트 region and is 바카라사이트 only South American country to be part of 바카라사이트 OECD. It is also difficult to explain in Argentina, Uruguay and Mexico ¨C three countries with comparatively rich economies.

Only Brazil is making financial efforts to invest in research and development at anything approaching an adequate level. And this investment seems to have had positive effects on research outputs, journal citations and global innovation indexes.

Brazil apart, low investment levels in research and development across 바카라사이트 region are reducing 바카라사이트 production of knowledge for social benefit. The low investment is also placing Latin America in a poor position in global rankings and this situation reinforces 바카라사이트 north-south divide.

Higher education in Latin America: time for a new model?

The ways in which higher education systems across Latin America have been developing, especially in countries in which 바카라사이트 private sector has grown without any guarantee of a quality education and where 바카라사이트 state is not investing enough in research and development as a strategic public policy, show that leaving 바카라사이트 system in 바카라사이트 hands of 바카라사이트 private sector is unsustainable.

When thinking about higher education in Latin America, we need to reflect on 바카라사이트 role of 바카라사이트 state and markets, and on citizens as being more than mere consumers. The kind of society we want is not necessarily based on a model of higher education that has originated in 바카라사이트 north.

Surely, in Latin America, we need higher education institutions that promote social benefit and equality across 바카라사이트 region.

Carolina Guzm¨¢n-Valenzuela is a researcher at 바카라사이트 Centre for Advanced Research in Education, University of Chile. She conducts research on 바카라사이트 impact of global transformations on 바카라사이트 contemporary university and also on university teaching-learning processes.

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