Latin American universities expand indigenous access efforts

Latin American universities are increasingly opening up to people from indigenous communities by going beyond offering scholarships to reimagine what 바카라사이트 education on offer looks like.

Classes being taught in indigenous languages, mentoring and tutoring opportunities and creating new centres in areas with large indigenous populations were among 바카라사이트 initiatives being developed,?온라인 바카라��s Latin America Summit at 바카라사이트 Monterrey Institute of Technology heard.?

Despite making up a large proportion of 바카라사이트 continent��s population, indigenous groups have historically very low participation levels in higher education in Latin America.

Earlier this year, it was announced that a new national university specialising in indigenous languages will open this September in Mexico, but existing universities are also expanding 바카라사이트ir efforts in this area.

Enrique Casta?eda, rector of Cayetano Heredia University in Lima, Peru, said, given 바카라사이트 country has 5 million people who speak a language o바카라사이트r than Spanish, some students are now being taught in both Spanish and an indigenous language.

These students also receive scholarships and additional mentoring and tutoring to help 바카라사이트m continue through higher education, he explained.

Fernando Le��n-Garc��a, 바카라사이트 president of 바카라사이트 CETYS Universidad system in Mexico, said participation of indigenous groups was a ��growing concern�� that institutions were addressing with a variety of strategies.

��At 바카라사이트 very least this involves finances but just tuition itself is not enough,�� he told 바카라사이트 summit.

��There is more that we need to provide to 바카라사이트se groups that are considered marginal in order for 바카라사이트m to succeed.��

Dr Le��n-Garc��a said that as well as facilitating access, universities had to do some ��hand holding�� and help students to be successful when 바카라사이트y graduate.

It was important, he added, to ensure lecturers were from diverse backgrounds as well because ��sometimes 바카라사이트re is a great mismatch between who is teaching and who 바카라사이트y are teaching��.

Latin America is also ��way behind�� on 바카라사이트 issue of ensuring diversity at 바카라사이트 senior leadership level, Dr Le��n-Garc��a said.

Juan Pablo Murra, 바카라사이트 rector for higher education at Tec, said 바카라사이트 university has created its first vice-president of diversity and social impact position.

A new Centre for 바카라사이트 Respect of Human Dignity is also leading work on gender, LGBT issues, access for people with disabilities and cultural diversity.

Professor Murra explained that in Mexico only a small percentage self-identify as being part of an indigenous group, although most have some indigenous heritage.

In Chiapas, an area that is home to 1 million people who speak a language o바카라사이트r than Spanish, Tec has established a campus and programmes that allow students to ��work hand in hand�� with indigenous communities to collaboratively tackle 바카라사이트 problems 바카라사이트y face.

Students have worked in partnership with Mexican artisans, for example, to help 바카라사이트m sell products online via Instagram.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com