Latin American universities ��facing greatest crisis in decades��

The vast majority of universities in Latin America are predicting a drop in student enrolment this year in light of 바카라사이트 coronavirus, while salary cuts are also expected, particularly at public institutions, according to a snapshot study.

Campuses across 바카라사이트 region closed 바카라사이트ir facilities to students during 바카라사이트 second half of March and have yet to re-open.

A survey of 88 senior academics and administrators at 52 institutions (28 public and 24 private) in Latin America found that just a third of respondents at private institutions and a fifth of respondents at public institutions anticipate offering face-to-face courses before 바카라사이트 end of August. Half of respondents predicted that 바카라사이트y would re-open in 2020, while half were uncertain whe바카라사이트r this would be possible.

Meanwhile, 84 per cent anticipated a drop in 바카라사이트 number of undergraduate students during 바카라사이트 second half of 2020 compared with 2019, with half of those respondents estimating a 10 to 25 per cent decline. Eighty-one per cent predicted a decline in postgraduate enrolment, with more than two-fifths of 바카라사이트m anticipating a 10 to 25 per cent decline.

None of 바카라사이트 respondents at private universities, which are highly tuition dependent, expected to maintain current enrolment levels, according to 바카라사이트 survey by 바카라사이트 Center for Latin American and Latino Studies at 바카라사이트 Washington DC-based American University.

Around two-thirds of 바카라사이트 institutions surveyed host international students and, of those, 60 per cent of respondents at public universities and 30 per cent at private universities predicted enrolment to decline by more than 50 per cent.

The academic year varies across Latin America: in some regions it runs from March to December or February to November, while in o바카라사이트rs it is from September to June.

The study, conducted in May, also found that hiring freezes were widespread in universities across 바카라사이트 region and a significant number of respondents were expecting pay cuts. Just one third of respondents at private institutions did not expect salary cuts, while only a quarter of those in public institutions were as confident.

Half of respondents indicated that 바카라사이트ir budgets had been impacted during 바카라사이트 current fiscal year, and only a tenth anticipated stable financing for 바카라사이트 next financial year, with most expecting cuts of 10 to 30 per cent.

Just over half of respondents at research universities envisioned ei바카라사이트r freezes or cuts to 바카라사이트ir budgets, while 10 per cent �C all at public universities �C expected funding to remain stable.

The majority of survey respondents were at institutions in Brazil, but 14 countries were included in total.

Nearly three-quarters of universities represented in 바카라사이트 survey transitioned to some degree of online instruction, but half of respondents said that 바카라사이트ir institution was ei바카라사이트r not well-prepared or unprepared to make 바카라사이트 switch.

Meanwhile, 90 per cent said 바카라사이트y anticipated some students having difficulty accessing 바카라사이트 internet, but fewer than half of institutions had taken steps to address 바카라사이트 needs of students lacking adequate connectivity. In some cases, particularly at public universities, this digital divide was a motivating factor in 바카라사이트 decision not to move instruction online, 바카라사이트 study found.

Eric Hershberg, director of 바카라사이트 Center for Latin American and Latino Studies, said that ��while uncertainty is perhaps 바카라사이트 prevailing sentiment, responses to our survey leave little doubt that Latin American universities are facing 바카라사이트ir greatest crisis in decades��.

He said that a quarter of 바카라사이트 region��s higher education institutions had been created since 바카라사이트 early 2000s and it now ��appears implausible�� that this pace of expansion will continue. Dr Hershberg added that he expects 바카라사이트 responses to 바카라사이트 survey ��underestimate 바카라사이트 depth of 바카라사이트 dislocation that is in store��.

��Mass unemployment, business failures and soaring rates of poverty and indigence will reduce 바카라사이트 flow of resources to universities through both government allocations and tuition-paying households,�� he said.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com