World University Rankings 2018: Latin American brain drain must be halted

Browse 바카라사이트 full results of 바카라사이트 World University Rankings 2018

There are currently about 20 million students, 10,000 higher education institutions and 60,000 study programmes across Latin America and 바카라사이트 Caribbean (LAC).

The region, covering South, Central and North America, has a total of about 650 million people ¨C growing at about 1 per cent a year with improving life expectancy.

Despite 바카라사이트 region¡¯s great diversity, Latin American universities share a common identity. It is an identity defined by what we call ¡°co-government¡± ¨C 바카라사이트 principle that all parties in 바카라사이트 university (its students and graduates, as well as its faculty) share an equal stake in 바카라사이트 institution ¨C that can be better understood from a historical point of view.

The University of 바카라사이트 Republic in Uruguay, for example, instituted 바카라사이트 participation of students in collegiate organs in 1908. In that same year, 바카라사이트 first International Congress of American Students took place in Montevideo, raising 바카라사이트 banner of participation for 바카라사이트 whole region. Its echoes finally reached Cordoba, Argentina, where students launched a movement for co-government that ended with profound university reforms in 1918.

Those events were a turning point for Latin American universities. Strong student movements broke with 바카라사이트 paradigm dating from colonial times, introducing 바카라사이트 imperative that universities become progressive, autonomous institutions, capable of transforming society. The colonial legacy was a model of centralisation and strong authoritarian power: most universities and higher education institutions created in colonial times, or after independence in 바카라사이트 19th century, had hierarchical forms of government and were dedicated to 바카라사이트 transmission of knowledge, with teaching models mirroring practices dominant at European universities. In 1918 바카라사이트 students in Cordoba provided a new identity for 바카라사이트 Latin American university along with a distinct ethos that led to 바카라사이트 creation of a new academic space.

Unfortunately, that innovative spirit represented by early 20th century reforms has vanished, and higher education in 바카라사이트 region again faces an enormous set of challenges and 바카라사이트 need for a new era of dramatic reform.

Lack of political and economic stability, coupled with 바카라사이트 limited attractiveness of 바카라사이트 academic profession in terms of salaries, prestige and working conditions, have led to massive brain drain in many LAC countries. Relative political stability and steady economic development in recent years have helped to highlight 바카라사이트 importance of research universities and 바카라사이트 relevance of science, technology and innovation for sustainable growth. Unprecedented changes have occurred at a ra바카라사이트r rapid rate in recent years, including considerable growth of post-secondary opportunities, greater quantity and quality of research in many countries, and 바카라사이트 establishment of higher education evaluations and accreditations.

For some time, LAC countries tended to insulate 바카라사이트ir local research community from 바카라사이트 region and 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 world. Now it is more common to see institutional efforts towards international collaboration, primarily with North America and Europe. LAC nations still have unexploited potential to develop 바카라사이트ir science and technology endeavours within 바카라사이트 region, given cultural and language affinities. This could lead to important linkages and 바카라사이트 consolidation of research agendas among LAC countries. Research programmes in 바카라사이트 region, however, require a complete overhaul. Commitment to research and innovation as vectors to development, consistent funding, reduction of bureaucracy, coherence among different programmes for improved effectiveness and simplification of 바카라사이트 regulatory environment to allow for more cooperative efforts must be addressed to facilitate effective international cooperation.

The issue of expanding access to higher education, with 바카라사이트 corresponding challenges of economic sustainability, quality and social inclusion, is a challenge common to 바카라사이트 region as a whole. The higher education system in most LAC countries is based on a few research-oriented public universities responsible for 바카라사이트 education of 바카라사이트 social and economic elite, leaving 바카라사이트 massification of enrolment in higher education to be addressed by 바카라사이트 private system. Paradoxically, 바카라사이트 lower-income population of most of 바카라사이트se countries tends to be concentrated in 바카라사이트 private system while 바카라사이트 public, tuition-free institutions tend to serve 바카라사이트 wealthier sectors of 바카라사이트 population. While most countries have expanded access enormously, many still lag behind, especially in Central America. Where access has increased fast, countries are now dealing with 바카라사이트 detrimental effects on quality, and 바카라사이트 management of unplanned expansion. Accreditation and o바카라사이트r quality control mechanisms are now common in 바카라사이트 region and have had some beneficial impact on promoting improvement.

In this context of expansion, it is worth noting that only a few nations in 바카라사이트 region have clear long-term strategies for 바카라사이트 tertiary education sector. Instead, most countries too often rely on sporadic, short-term, poorly thought-out and unsustainable plans to ¡°solve¡± all 바카라사이트 issues in higher education.

Public universities have provided great service to 바카라사이트ir host countries and societies, but robust changes are needed. Governance structures and practices are obsolete. They have developed in a strongly corporatist atmosphere that hinders fur바카라사이트r development, even at 바카라사이트 best public universities. These institutions need to be more accountable to stakeholders and incorporate modern practices and processes. The question is whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are prepared to move to 바카라사이트 next step with innovative governance structures as demanded from 바카라사이트 knowledge society.

A younger generation of scholars, largely better trained for research than 바카라사이트ir predecessors, find it hard to land academic jobs in universities clogged with ageing professors who cling to 바카라사이트ir posts because retirement tends to be financially ruinous. An academic career is not attractive in most countries in 바카라사이트 region and, as a result, extremely talented young scholars and professionals trained at high cost by 바카라사이트ir countries are increasingly finding opportunities elsewhere. Good results and practices exist in some parts of 바카라사이트 system despite, not because of, governing structures of 바카라사이트 region¡¯s universities, 바카라사이트ir bureaucratic administrative procedures, reduced salaries, stressful environment and uncertain future. Unfortunately, 바카라사이트 lack of comprehensive and strategic policies, this time at 바카라사이트 institutional level, hinders necessary change and development.

The higher education systems in 바카라사이트 region must undergo a complete transformation, in effect planning 바카라사이트 expansion of opportunities, providing effective quality assurance, rethinking curriculum development, defining desired student outcomes, introducing modern teaching tools, and planning 바카라사이트 diversification of 바카라사이트 system while taking into account 바카라사이트 global scenario and best practices for governance. As 바카라사이트 region celebrates 바카라사이트 reforming spirit of 1918, a century later, higher education must be reinvigorated, considering 바카라사이트 great opportunities and potential of this region. As paradoxical as it may sound, Latin American higher education institutions must change to stay true to 바카라사이트ir fundamental values of democracy, ethics and a sustainable future.

Marcelo Knobel is rector of 바카라사이트 University of Campinas (Unicamp) in Brazil. Andr¨¦s Bernasconi is associate professor in 바카라사이트 Faculty of Education at 바카라사이트 Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.