scholarly journals How COVID-19 Has Exacerbated Inequality in Higher Education in Brazil

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Pinto

Drawing on educational census data and a review of news articles and higher education policies in Brazil, this article examines the impact of COVID-19 on the access and retention of the low-income Brazilian population in higher education. Guided by the question, “What is the impact of COVID-19 on the most vulnerable population in Brazil in terms of access to, and retention in higher education?”, the paper is structured in two sections: the first offers a short historical overview of Brazilian higher education; the second examines the impact of the pandemic on student retention in higher education, looking at factors such as social isolation, job and income precarity, use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), internet access, and technological resources. I argue that distance education offered by private higher education institutions benefits the privileged students and that the effects of the pandemic are detrimental to the socially disadvantaged students since those who are in public universities do not always have access to technology, and those who study in private universities feel the impact of not being able to pay tuition fees, besides the loss of several jobs in different sectors. In conclusion, I recommend policy initiatives to improve access to higher education.

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
LEONARDO CIVINELLI TORNEL DA SILVEIRA

ABSTRACT This article analyses the widening access policies implemented by Brazil during the 1990s and in 2016. It cites and evaluates the different strategies used by the government, such as student loans, needs-based and race-based quotas. In the context of a highly privatized sector, in which for-profit higher education institutions account for over half of the existing higher education institutions in Brazil, the results display a relative growth in higher education access based on minorities and needs-based communities. However, it also showcases some trends not achieved as originally planned by the government (specially increasing higher education participation in regions other than the south and the southeast) and serves as a point requiring further research to evaluate the influence on the lives of students and graduates. This study uses government and publicly available sources to analyse the impact of this strategy over time.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 105-133
Author(s):  
Elena Pelinescu ◽  
Mihaela Simionescu

Abstract Objective: The main purpose of this research is to analyze and reveal if the recent policy measures in higher education carried in European Union member countries have had a significant impact on the labour market integration of university graduates. Methodology: We selected a set of indicators that were common in the 2015 and 2016 editions of Structural Indicators for Monitoring Education and Training Systems in Europe and could offer an image of intensity of higher education policies in relation with labour market at European level. We further used these measures to test for any significant effects of the policies on the integration of graduates in the labour market. Findings: We found significant effects of various policy measures in high education in the European countries. We estimate a positive role for factors like monitoring of completion rates, requirements for the staff to have higher education, presence of educational guidelines, and recognition of formal and informal learning for entry in higher education. Value Added: This is the first study to address the impact of high education policies carried in European countries on the integration of college graduates. The study is distinct through both the design of new measures of higher education policy in Europe as well through testing whether the intensity of policies carried for higher education has affected the employability of young graduates or not. Recommendations: The results of this empirical research allow us to make some recommendations for improving the insertion of young graduates on European labour market.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomi J. Kallio ◽  
Kirsi-Mari Kallio ◽  
Mira Huusko ◽  
Riitta Pyykkö ◽  
Jussi Kivistö

PurposeThis article studies the tensions between universities' accountability and autonomy in response to the demands of public steering mechanisms coordinating higher education institutions.Design/methodology/approachDemonstrating the tension between accountability and autonomy, the impact and relevance of public steering mechanisms coordinating higher education are studied via a survey with selected representative Finnish universities. The response rate was an exceptionally high 94%. In addition to the statistical analysis of the survey, open-ended questions were also analyzed to give a more in-depth understanding of the findings. The study uses paradox theory and institutional complexity as its theoretical lenses.FindingsThe empirical analysis of this study shows a considerable gap between the experienced impact and the experienced relevance of the steering mechanisms in higher education. The authors’ further analysis of the open-ended data shows that indicator-based funding allocation has undermined the perceived university autonomy. The authors highlight the paradoxical tensions of university autonomy and higher education institutions' steering mechanisms' requirement for accountability. Finding an acceptable balance between accountability and institutional autonomy plays an important role in designing higher education policies.Originality/valueThe authors found that even if a steering mechanism is experienced as impactful, it is not necessarily considered relevant. One of the key aspects in understanding the reasons behind this mismatch is related to university autonomy. Most impactful steering mechanisms become considered less relevant because they also endanger institutional autonomy. In this sense, it could be expected that steering mechanisms should better balance accountability and autonomy.


2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (28) ◽  
pp. 39
Author(s):  
Watende Pius Nyoni

In spite of the initiatives which have been taken by the government of Tanzania towards access to higher education for qualified students who came from low - income backgrounds, the studies and real situation reveal the reality of how this group of people has been denied to parity and fair for accessing higher education. Thus, Tanzania government has established Higher Education Students Loans Board with the Act No.9 of 2004 aiming at giving assistance to the students who got admission in universities, but came from low-income families with no financial strength to support their schooling. However, since its inception higher education loans board had failed to identify students from low-income background resulting in some students dropping out or postpone their studies as they look for other sources of funds. This article is qualitative in nature with the use of document analysis technique. The author uses relevant literature, officially published statistical data and various theoretical justifications for examining the impact of HE loan towards students from low-income background. The results of this study identified some challenges leading to a misallocation of fund to the needy students, application of Means Testing being one of them. Meanwhile, the author concludes with careful planning and effective use of means testing with a sustainable operational mechanism which will address the issue of parity and justice for the needy students in accessing higher education in Tanzania.


2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samson John Mgaiwa ◽  
Japhace Poncian

Public–private partnerships (PPPs) in education are presented as capable of resolving several issues of education provision, financing, management, access and quality. This paper aimed at analyzing the impact of PPPs on access to and quality of higher education in Tanzania. Secondary research was used to gather data and critical review of the data and its analysis made. The focus of the paper was on higher education financing and on private higher education institutions. The findings indicated that PPPs have had a positive impact on increasing access to Tanzania higher education. However, although private universities and university colleges are many in number, enrolment has continued to be higher in public universities. It was further noted that an increase in higher learning institutions and subsequent increase in access to higher education has not meant an improvement in the quality of education provided by the institutions. As such, PPPs have had no significant impact on the improvement of quality of education. This is mainly accounted for by the number and qualifications held by academic members of staff in private universities, the infrastructure as well as the programmes they offer.


Author(s):  
Felipe Andrés Patiño Sarmiento ◽  
Claudia Monica Prieto Díaz

ABSTRACTThis article is evidence analysis of higher education policies in four Andean countries: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Perú, in order to test these policies and their impact on contemporary society and to identify whether they respond to the needs of the population and contribute to meet the demands of society. Therefore, new policies established by multilateral organizations do they are placed directly in the learning processes within universities; whereby the field of study in higher education is enriched through knowledge and the impact of education policies in Latin America.RESUMENEl presente artículo propone un análisis de las políticas en Educación Superior de cuatro países de la región andina: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador y Perú, con la finalidad de contrastar dichas políticas y su incidencia en la sociedad contemporánea, así como identificar si éstas responden a las necesidades de la población y contribuyen a solucionar las demandas de la sociedad. Por lo anterior, las nuevas políticas establecidas por los organismos multilaterales hacen que se sitúen de manera directa en los procesos formativos al interior de las universidades; con lo cual se enriquece el campo de estudio en educación superior desde el conocimiento y la incidencia de las políticas educativas en Latinoamérica.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 299
Author(s):  
Ana Luísa Fonseca Rodrigues ◽  
Luísa Cerdeira ◽  
Tomás Patrocínio ◽  
Belmiro Cabrito ◽  
Pedro Mucharreira

Higher education institutions (HEIs) contribute substantially to the quality of life (QoL) of the regions where they operate and to the progress and sustainable development of a country. This research intends to have an innovative approach in the study of the HEIs’ impact on the QoL of regions by taking into consideration both qualitative and quantitative indicators. This study aims to identify, collect and systematize indicators that can be used to measure the impact of HEIs on QoL: on the demand-side based on expenditure (inputs) and the knowledge-based supply side (outputs). For accomplishing this, the authors carried out a literature review, an analysis of available statistical data in Portugal and interviews for the analysis and consolidation of indicators. The results will facilitate the measurement of the HEIs’ impact on QoL and regions and allow the elaboration of a matrix of reliable indicators, which will hopefully assist in the definition of new higher education policies.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document