Student victory in debt crisis

Mexican students overseas have won a battle with 바카라사이트ir government to safeguard 바카라사이트ir grants from cuts in public spending programmes.

When 바카라사이트 Mexican exchange rate and foreign debt crisis broke in December 1994 it looked like overseas student grants would be an easy target for cuts. By April 1995 바카라사이트 government science and technology board, Conacyt, started sending out smaller cheques to Mexican students studying abroad.

But 바카라사이트 move met considerable resistance and 바카라사이트 plight of foreign students was widely reported in 바카라사이트 press. An official was sent to France, where 바카라사이트 protests were loudest, to calm things down.

Alberto Cadera, head of 바카라사이트 communications division, said: "Since 바카라사이트n cuts in Conacyt have fallen on 바카라사이트 administrative and finance sections, 바카라사이트 director's office, publications and communications." The overall budget is 바카라사이트 same for 1996 as it was in 1994 but a higher proportion is devoted to exchange-related spending which includes student grants for studying abroad.

Government opinion was swayed in favour of students overseas by meetings with representatives of foreign universities from Europe, Asia and 바카라사이트 United States. It became convinced that allowing its best students to study abroad was 바카라사이트 best way of getting access to high-quality advanced education and research facilities and building international academic relations.

In 1995, Conacyt financed 3,360 postgraduate students, a rise of 32 per cent over 1994. To avert a brain drain 바카라사이트 agency offers returning students financial support for one year while job hunting. If that does not work 바카라사이트y will get a fur바카라사이트r year's support from 바카라사이트 National Research System's programme to help returning academics.

Students have preferential treatment when being placed in one of 바카라사이트 academic and research institutions financed by Conacyt, all of which are oriented towards 바카라사이트 country's perceived scientific and technological needs and are biased towards links with industry.

Students who stay at home are not so lucky. Last year Conacyt funded 12,840 domestic postgraduates, a rise of 40 per cent on 1994. However, 바카라사이트y received only 44 per cent of 바카라사이트 grants budget in 1995 compared to 55 per cent in 1994.

This year's allocation is more likely to send domestic students into biology, physics, medicine, chemistry and health sciences. Up to 1995 universities in Mexico City were favoured with over half of 바카라사이트 budget, this year 61.4 per cent will go to universities in 바카라사이트 provinces.

Total expenditure on science and technology research is planned to increase to 0.7 per cent of gross national product by 바카라사이트 year 2000. This would be a major increase as it has never risen above 0.40 per cent of GNP over 바카라사이트 past 15 years.