Public university scenarios in Latin America

Abstract

This paper presents a set of scenarios for the debate on the future of the university in Latin America. In the first part, it describes some of the developments and components of higher education in the region, as well as elements of judgment for a prospective approach. The central idea is to analyze the different orientations of higher education institutions, and to this end, five scenarios are elaborated to outline their trajectories over the next 15 to 20 years. The main purpose of the prospective is to contribute to the discussion on change, as well as to define decisions and strategies to maintain or build some of these scenarios, but also to outline an overall vision based on the diversity that exists in the region in this fundamental sector for the formation of new knowledge, know-how and learning. From the perspective of this work, three of these scenarios are identified as the most desirable, because they would constitute a cross-cutting platform for proactive processes of transformation and solidarity integration in the medium and long term. At the end, some brief conclusions are presented, open, as intended, to the discussion on the future of our universities.