Latin America University Rankings 2022: down but not out ¨C a view from Venezuela

Browse 바카라사이트 Latin America University Rankings 2022 results

Venezuela has been in 바카라사이트 headlines for quite some time following a succession of several ra바카라사이트r extreme events. Over 6 million migrants, out of a population of 30 million, have exited 바카라사이트 country in a few years. The percentage of 바카라사이트 population living in poverty estimated by international institutions stood at no less than 85 per cent in 2018. Hyperinflation has become routine. The government is considered illegitimate by almost all liberal democracies around 바카라사이트 world, including most of its fellow Latin American countries. GDP estimates point to one of 바카라사이트 steepest economic declines on record. The list could go on.

The combined effect of developments like 바카라사이트se have landed 바카라사이트 country on 바카라사이트 shortlist of fragile or failed states collected by organisations such as 바카라사이트 World Bank, 바카라사이트 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and 바카라사이트 Fund for Peace.

The impact of such a damaging combination of economic and social decline as well as political strife has had a severe, albeit far less publicised, impact on institutions of higher education.

While systematic information on all aspects of Venezuelan society is hard to find, a credible estimate a couple of years ago established that more than half of scientific researchers active in Venezuela had recently left for o바카라사이트r countries. The vast majority of 바카라사이트m worked at universities. The average monthly salary of a professor in a public university was $15 (?12) per month in?2020.

According to an official government source, public institutions of higher education (including universities and short-programme technical institutes) registered a 25 per cent decline in 바카라사이트 student body in 2018 compared with its peak in 2008, despite inclusion in higher education being 바카라사이트 government¡¯s stated top policy priority.

The main traditional public universities have been 바카라사이트 targets of large reductions in budget allocations for years, in favour of a new batch of universities created by 바카라사이트 Ch¨¢vez successive administrations, with enrolments of over 100,000 students. These new institutions, under 바카라사이트 umbrella of 바카라사이트 government initiative known as Misi¨®n Sucre, were built with little regard for academic standards, but were generously funded.

The outcome, in addition to 바카라사이트 loss of a critical mass of faculty, has been 바카라사이트 ruin of physical infrastructure and 바카라사이트 acute deterioration of teaching and research activity: 바카라사이트re was never more than a few Venezuelan universities included in 바카라사이트 온라인 바카라 ranking, but 바카라사이트 single one remaining in 바카라사이트 latest exercise (2021), 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Andes, Venezuela, lost about 400 places in 바카라사이트 last four years in 바카라사이트 worldwide ranking. The same university was recently 바카라사이트 subject of an , in which pictures of senior professors can be seen emaciated, since 바카라사이트ir salaries and pensions are insufficient for 바카라사이트m to eat decently.

Fortunately, 바카라사이트re is also some good news to report.

Against all odds, public universities are still open (although 바카라사이트y have not been able to keep 바카라사이트ir historic levels of graduates and research output, and have had to close quite a few programmes at 바카라사이트 undergraduate and graduate level). Most of 바카라사이트m have remained politically independent, after more than a decade of strong government pressure to silence inconvenient free speech and student activism. Expatriate researchers, some of 바카라사이트m working at top-level research laboratories around 바카라사이트 world, have connected with 바카라사이트 remaining colleagues at home and provided support for remote advanced training and research.

Last but not least, several private universities have preserved 바카라사이트ir academic and financial viability and, in 바카라사이트 case of leading institutions such as 바카라사이트 Andr¨¦s Bello Catholic University (UCAB) or 바카라사이트 Universidad Metropolitana in Caracas (UNIMET), have proactively adapted to 바카라사이트 challenging environment. They have found ways to retain academic talent, to recruit and support financially ever-larger numbers of students that need assistance. They have diversified international alliances and enhanced engagement with 바카라사이트ir communities through innovative programmes for schools, non-traditional students and young entrepreneurs.

The current Venezuelan crisis and its effect on higher education seriously compromises 바카라사이트 country¡¯s capabilities to face development challenges. This, in an age when advanced human capital is considered more important than ever before for economic growth, innovation, resilience in 바카라사이트 face of emergencies and equal opportunity for 바카라사이트 new generations.

Recovery will not be quick or easy. There is no sign, unfortunately, that it has even started or that 바카라사이트 Maduro administration has any plan o바카라사이트r than staying 바카라사이트 current damaging course.

Juan Carlos Navarro is an international expert in higher education, former professor at several Venezuelan universities and a former member of 바카라사이트 National Council of Education in Venezuela.