Impact of bureaucracy on academic freedom and research development in technological higher education in Mexico

Abstract

This study examines how the bureaucratic regulations and policies of the Tecnológico Nacional de México (TecNM) limit academic freedom and the development of research. Through a qualitative methodology with a phenomenological approach, the perceptions of academics belonging to the National System of Researchers (SNI) were captured to explore how administrative procedures, regulatory rigidity and evaluation systems affect the academic autonomy and creativity of researchers. The results show that academics perceive an excessive bureaucratic burden that consumes time and reduces research productivity. In addition, evaluation systems focused on the quantity of publications generate pressure that compromises the quality of research. Lack of flexibility in resource management and barriers to establishing inter-institutional collaborations are other key factors that limit the innovative potential of researchers. The study concludes with recommendations to simplify administrative procedures, make research policies more flexible and foster an environment that promotes creativity and innovation in the TecNM.