Community colleges : a model for Latin America? / Claudio de Moura Castro, Norma M. García, editors.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Castro, Cláudio de Moura.

García, Norma M.

Inter-American Development Bank.

Harvard University. Graduate School of Education.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Community colleges--Latin America.

Community colleges.

Community colleges--United States.

United States.

Latin America.

Genre:

Conference papers and proceedings.

Physical Description:

193 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Washington, DC : Published by the Inter-American Development Bank ; [Baltimore, Md.] : Distributed by the Johns Hopkins University Press, 2003.

Summary:

Heralded as one of the great educational innovations of the 20th century, community colleges have played a crucial role in democratizing and expanding post-secondary education. In the United States and Europe, one- and two-year education and training programs now absorb at least half of all high school graduates. Community Colleges: A Model for Latin America? explores how these institutions can help address the very challenges faced by post-secondary education in the region: an expanding and heterogeneous clientele, a lack of alternative social mobility options for people unable to attend traditional universities, and the need for more relevant curriculum that emphasizes knowledge and skills better attuned to the needs of the job market. The book aims to foster the development of effective community college models in Latin America by discussing the issues and obstacles from the North American experience in terms of financing, accreditation, prestige, and a regulatory and incentive framework. Latin America is far behind Europe and the United States in developing diverse, quality programs for its growing post-secondary population, which includes many people previously excluded from higher education. Schools that offer one- and two-year programs generally serve the least affluent and politically influential groups, so they often are short-changed in the allocation of funds. Yet, as demand for these programs grows, educators and ministries are left grappling to find new teaching methods, identify new markets for graduates, and better match students with real labor market demand. The community college model may be a source of inspiration for Latin America's efforts to reach out to this new educational clientele.

Contents:

Chapter 1 Community Colleges: A Model for Latin America? 5

Trajectory 8

Accessibility 9

Social Mobility 10

Innovations in Teaching 11

Financing Community Colleges: Who Pays the Bills? 14

Economic Benefits for Students 19

Accountability 19

The Changing Functions of Community Colleges 30

Chapter 2 Diversifying Post-secondary Education in Latin America: Limits and Possibilities 43

The Mosaic of Successes and Failures 49

Reluctant Differentiation and Private Growth 71

The Status Game and Academic Drift 80

The Elusive Transfer Function 102

Chapter 3 Is What's Good for the United States Good for Latin America? 119

An Inspiration for Latin America 119

Short-cycle Courses and Social Mobility 121

Commitment to Work with the Less Capable 124

Innovations in Teaching 125

The Market Imperative 126

Titles and Status 128

Bridges to Four-year Programs 130

The Intricacies of Certification and Accreditation 133

Policy Guidelines 135

Is the Community College a Viable Model for Latin America? 138

Appendix 1 Guidelines for Building a Community College 149

Appendix 2 Community College Funding in Texas 163

Appendix 3 Vocational Training in Oklahoma 171

Appendix 4 The Impact of SENAI Research and Development on Industry and Vocational Training 179.

Notes:

"Includes presentations from the international policy dialogue seminar entitled 'New Options for Higher Education in Latin America: Lessons from the Community College Experience.' The seminar was sponsored by the Inter-American Development Bank and the Harvard University Graduate School of Education, and held from September 4-8, 2000."--Acknowledgments.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

1931003467

OCLC:

53465594